Abstract: Objective To analyze the effects of epidural analgesia on postpartum urinary retention and neonatal outcome. Methods A total of 100 cases of puerperae who delivered from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected. According to the admission time, 50 cases from May 2018 to may 2019 were categorized into the control group （spontaneous delivery）, and 50 cases from May 2019 to May 2020 into the study group （painless vaginal delivery）. The delivery time, postpartum complications （postpartum urinary retention and postpartum hemorrhage）, fever during childbirth, and neonatal Apgar score were compared between the two groups. Results The time of the first and second stages of labor in the study group were longer than those in the control group （P<0.05）. The neonatal Apgar scores at 1 min, 5 min, and 10 min after delivery in the study group were not different from those in the control group （P>0.05）. There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of postpartum urinary retention and postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups （P>0.05）. The incidence of intrapartum fever in the study group was higher than that in the control group （P<0.05）. Conclusion The use of epidural analgesia has no significant effect on the outcome of newborns, and can reduce postpartum complications, but it is likely to prolong the first and second stages of labor.

Key words: Epidural analgesia, Postpartum urinary retention, Neonatal outcome, Delivery outcome