Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Located on or over the dura mater.
- noun An injection into the epidural space of the spine.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Situated upon the dura mater: as, the epidural space, an interval between the periosteum which lines the spinal canal and the dura mater of the spinal cord.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective anatomy Situated on or outside the
dura mater . - noun medicine An injection of
anaesthetic into the epidural space of thespine , especially associated with pain relief duringchildbirth .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective on or outside the dura mater
- noun regional anesthesia resulting from injection of an anesthetic into the epidural space of the spinal cord; sensation is lost in the abdominal and genital and pelvic areas; used in childbirth and gynecological surgery
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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"There's no way to clean up after, the epidural is a bitch to administer in such tight quarters and they don't even make maternity space suits."
Queers in Space rabid1st 2004
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The nice thing about epidural is that if a C-section is necessary, additional medication can provide for a stronger anesthetic level.
Surgery Concerns for Children « Happy Healthy Hip Parenting 2009
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An epidural is better than narcotics too, because it doesn't get into the baby's bloodstream.
Pregnancy update: 33 weeks ScienceWoman 2006
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Realizing that, by this time, I'd been awake for 24 hours straight, she said, "Get the friggin 'epidural and get some sleep!"
Archive 2006-04-01 2006
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Realizing that, by this time, I'd been awake for 24 hours straight, she said, "Get the friggin 'epidural and get some sleep!"
Three Years 2006
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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have stated that among all options for medicated pain relief, the epidural is the most effective for reducing pain, while allowing the woman to stay alert and actively participate in her labor.8 Among women who receive epidural pain medications, almost all (98.8 percent) have significant pain relief for at least some of their labor.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn Penny Simkin 2010
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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have stated that among all options for medicated pain relief, the epidural is the most effective for reducing pain, while allowing the woman to stay alert and actively participate in her labor.8 Among women who receive epidural pain medications, almost all (98.8 percent) have significant pain relief for at least some of their labor.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn Penny Simkin 2010
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This can lead to something called an epidural haematoma, where blood builds up between the outer covering of the brain and the skull, with consequent pressure on the brain itself.
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While the epidural was a blessed relief last time, to go from feeling just fine and dandy to heavily drugged and numb and not quite in control made me uncomfortable -- a reminder of why I was such a big dork in college, someone who thought pot was just a little too intense of a high and who always turned down the chance to try anything stronger.
amalah . com 2008
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If you so much as say the word 'epidural' to me, I get numb in my lower back just thinking about that experience.
Archive 2009-07-01 Loukia 2009
chained_bear commented on the word epidural
Usage, with off-color, off-topic verbal joke here.
July 17, 2009