(HealthDay News) -- An epidural is an injected anesthetic often used during labor and delivery to ease the pain of childbirth.

The Nemours Foundation mentions these possible risks of an epidural:

• Increased difficulty pushing during labor (although a doctor can adjust the medication to compensate for this).
• A drop in the mother's blood pressure.
• Headache.
• Rarely, problems urinating for the mother.
• Some bleeding in the mother.
• Slow heartbeat in the fetus.