Anesthesia during a cesarean

Various factors may influence the choice of anesthesia during a c-section. However the most common ones used are an epidural or spinal anesthesia. In these types, you will be numb from your nipple line down but will be awake during the birth of your baby.

If your baby needs to be delivered quickly due to an emergency situation or if an epidural or anesthesia is not adequate, general anesthesia may be necessary .

If you already have an epidural  catheter in place and require  a c-section,  you will simply receive a stronger dose of local anesthesia through your catheter.  If you are scheduled for an elective cesarean delivery or a c-section becomes necessary before you have an epidural or spinal pain relief ,  four options are available.  These are :

• Epidural anesthesia
• Spinal anesthesia
• Combines spinal-epidural anesthesia
• General anesthesia

Spinal anesthesia is usually not used alone because it’s  beneficial to have to have an epidural catheter in place to deliver pain medication after the surgery. General anesthesia is normally used in emergency situations when there isn’t   sufficient time to perform regional anesthesia or if the condition prevents the use of a spinal or epidural anesthesia.

After the c-section, you  will routinely receive a medication known as  Duramorph through your epidural catheter that will give you pain relief for more than 24 hours. You may also be given medication to control your pain through IV or by mouth .