The total blockade comes with the biggest potentially fatal complication of an epidural or intrathecal anesthesia. Many women choose this type of spinal epidural or intrathecal anesthesia during labor to block all labor pains. The primary symptom is hypotension. Hypotension is low blood pressure. Nausea is usually the first symptom of hypotension. A nurse will be able to intervene when the vital machine shows the blood pressure dropping. This why hospitals always have someone connected throughout labor to a vital signs machine when having an epidural or intrathecal anesthesia.