The Effect of Epidural Analgesia on Maternal and Neonatal Birth Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis of 129 Cases

Background: The aim of this study was to compare maternal and neonatal birth outcomes in pregnant women who re-ceived epidural anesthesia during labor and those who did not.Methods: The study included 129 term pregnant women. The women were divided into two groups based on whether they received epidural anesthesia (Epidural group: n=57, Control group: n=72). Demographic characteristics, delivery times, maternal outcomes (mode of delivery, episiotomy, hemoglobin decrease), and neonatal outcomes such as birth weight, APGAR scores, and neonatal intensive care requirements were retrospectively evaluated.Results: No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of age (24.40±5.09 vs 25.61±5.68, p>0.05) and gestational age (38.65±1.40 vs 38.69±1.47, p>0.05). The second stage of labor was significantly longer in the epidural anesthesia group (38.18±25.50 min vs 24.27±13.50 min, p=0.001). The episiotomy rate was higher in the epidural anes-thesia group (61.4% vs. 51.4%). Birth weight (3230.73±438.89 g vs. 3208.60±384.86 g), 1-minute APGAR score (8.40±0.74 vs 8.43±0.65), and 5-minute APGAR score (9.47±0.66 vs 9.44±0.65). Hemoglobin decrease was similar in both groups (1.44±0.97 g/dL vs 1.41±0.81 g/dL).Conclusions: Epidural anesthesia prolongs the second stage of labor and was not independently associated with in-creased episiotomy rates. However, it has no adverse effect on neonatal outcomes and is safe in terms of maternal bleed-ing. Epidural anesthesia can be used as an effective and safe option for labor pain management.