A 35-year-old pregnant female at 40 weeks gestational age presents with pain and regular uterine contractions every 4-5 min. ON arrival, the patient is in a lot of pain and requesting relief immediately. Her cervix is 5 cms dilated. What is the most appropriate method of pain control for this patient?: (A) Intramuscular morphine, (B) Pudendal block, (C) Local block, (D) Epidural block
Answer is D. When complete relief of pain is needed throughout labor, epidural analgesia is safest and simplest.