Before the world had the healthcare advances that are available today, pregnant women did not have the option to minimize the pain of childbirth to the extent they can now. Nowadays if desired, women can experience virtually no pain during childbirth. They have options available that can help dull and numb the pain of giving birth. The most common of these methods is known as the epidural analgesia. This is a process in which a catheter is placed in the woman's back and medicine that numbs the lower half of her body is pumped into it. This helps by drastically reducing the pain she has to endure during both labor and delivery. Over the years many studies have been conducted to find information that will help women better understand the benefits and risks of this pain reliever. Although getting an epidural is a way to relieve the pain during labor and help women relax, it can also lead to many complications during the labor and birthing process that can cause harm to both the mother and baby. As medicine continues to become more advanced, it can often make women choose risky options to fix a temporary problem. As availability increases, so does the percentage of women taking advantage of the medical practices. The amount of women that receive epidurals has grown to "at least 60 percent of American women" (Phillips). One of the most common complications that accompany the epidural process is interference with fetal rotation. The medicine being pumped into the woman's back interferes with her natural hormones that turn the baby's head so that it can come out easily. When the baby is stuck in an undesirable position for birthing, the doctor has to use tools to help guide the baby out. Women that receive epidurals have a "six times higher risk of instrumental deliveries  than women who deliver naturally. Another common risk that accompanies epidurals is the potential to cause the woman's blood pressure to drop. Epidurals can cause "dilation of peripheral blood vessels  causing a drop in fluid volume. If a drop in blood pressure occurs, doctors will often times have to "administer oxygen, [and] increase the flow of intravenous fluids  to maintain the safety of both the mother and baby. The decision to receive an epidural is a decision that relieves temporary pain but can also lead to unnecessary stress on the mother and baby causing potential harm to both of them (Tamagawa). Considering the fact tha