Epidurals were in their infancy when I had my first baby. In fact, there were only a couple of ­hospitals in which they were available. Despite their newness, I wanted one, so opted for the ­ Westminster Hospital and had both my sons there.

One worked, one didn’t, but I’ve always advocated epidural analgesia – an injection in your back to stop you feeling pain in childbirth – even though in the beginning they attracted negative publicity.

The latest story is optimistic: having an epidural during labour results in a marked reduction in serious ­complications in the first few weeks after birth. So much so that Bristol ­University researchers ­recommend expanding access to epidural analgesia to all women to improve maternal health.

These serious complications include heart attack, heart failure, sepsis and hysterectomy, and are referred to as severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

In the UK, SMM has almost doubled from 0.9% of deliveries in 2009 to 1.7% in 2018, suggesting if all women have access to epidural analgesia, ­particularly those at greatest risk of SMM, maternal health would radically improve. An epidural is recommended for women with known risk factors for SMM, such as obesity, certain ­underlying conditions, or those having more than one baby.

These women are said to have a “medical indication” for epidural ­analgesia in labour.

Women delivering prematurely also carry a higher risk of SMM.

A team from the universities of Glasgow and Bristol set out to determine the effect of epidural on SMM. They looked at factors including ­mother’s age, ethnicity, weight, smoking history and pre-existing conditions, as well as birth location and gestational age at birth.

Of the 125,024 (22%) who had an epidural in labour, 35% had a ­reduction in SMM. Greater reductions were seen among women with a medical ­indication for epidural (50% risk reduction) compared to those without (33% risk reduction) and in women delivering preterm (47% risk ­reduction). What accounts for this staggering improvement?

Closer monitoring of women, less stress in labour, avoidance of the need for general anaesthesia for caesarean section, and faster escalation to necessary interventions.

But among the 77,439 women in the study at higher risk of SMM, only 19,061 (24.6%) actually received an epidural.

Professor Rachel Kearns, lead author from Glasgow University, said: “Our research reveals that epidural analgesia during labour is linked to a substantial decrease in severe maternal health complications.

“This finding underscores the need to ensure access to epidurals, particularly for those who are most vulnerable – women facing higher medical risks or delivering prematurely.

“By broadening access and improving awareness, we can ­significantly reduce the risk of serious health outcomes and ensure safer childbirth experiences.” Hear, hear!