The claim

「Epidurals cause chronic back pain and lower the child’s IQ」

Verdict

Myth

A Cochrane systematic review comparing epidural analgesia with other approaches found no difference in long-term backache (RR 1.00). Postpartum back pain owes far more to posture changes in pregnancy, ligament laxity and hours of carrying a baby. A few days of soreness at the injection site is normal.

Sources

  1. Cochrane · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. (2018). Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(5), CD000331. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000331.pub4

    Direct source · Peer-reviewed paper · checked 2026-08-02

Related claims · Pregnancy

Further reading