A nurse is reinforcing teaching about epidural PCA with a client who is in active labor. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?

A. "The machine is programmed to prevent you from administering more than a safe dose.": Epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) devices are programmed with specific lockout intervals and maximum dose limits to prevent overdose. These safety parameters ensure that even if the client presses the demand button repeatedly, medication will not be delivered beyond the prescribed safe range. This reduces the risk of excessive opioid administration. B. "During medication administration, you will not be able to move your legs freely.": Modern epidural analgesia for labor uses low concentrations of local anesthetics combined with opioids to provide sensory blockade while minimizing motor blockade. Many clients retain partial motor function and are able to move their legs with assistance. C. "This method of pain control will shorten the second stage of labor.": Epidural analgesia does not reliably shorten the second stage of labor and, in some cases, may slightly prolong it due to decreased maternal urge to push. While it provides effective pain relief, it does not directly enhance uterine contractility or fetal descent. D. "This type of anesthesia commonly causes a postpartum headache.": Post–dural puncture headache is associated with inadvertent dural puncture during epidural placement, not a common expected outcome of properly administered epidural analgesia. The incidence is relatively low and occurs only if cerebrospinal fluid leakage develops.