YOUR DELIVERY
- If you have a cesarean delivery or have an epidural placed for labor, an anesthesia provider will be involved in your care.
- If you have any significant medical conditions or have had any major complications during your pregnancy, the anesthesia team will be made aware of your history prior to your delivery. Otherwise, you will meet your anesthesia provider when you come in to the hospital to give birth.
- There are two types of anesthesia commonly administered on the Labor and Delivery floor. Which type you receive depends on the type of delivery you have:
Cesarean Delivery- regional anesthesia (epidural or spinal) or general anesthesia
Vaginal Delivery- regional anesthesia (epidural)
- Regional anesthesia involves either an epidural or spinal:
Epidural - a small area of your lower back is numbed with a local anesthetic. After finding the epidural space with a special needle, a catheter is placed so that you can receive continuous medication for pain control.
Spinal - a small area of your lower back is numbed with a local anesthetic. After locating the spinal space with a special needle, medication is injected to numb the area where the incision is made for the cesarean delivery. No catheter remains in the back.
- General anesthesia will only be done when necessary under unique circumstances due to certain risks of this type of anesthesia to the mom and the baby.
- Your anesthesia provider will discuss the type of anesthesia you will have along with the risks and benefits. After answering all of your questions, you will be asked to sign an informed consent for anesthesia.
