There are two types of anesthesia used for C-sections—regional and general.  Regional anesthesia refers to the use of an epidural or a spinal block and is used for most C-sections.  General anesthesia means you will be put off to sleep with intravenous medications and kept asleep with a combination of IV medications and anesthesia gas.  Because most mothers prefer to be awake during the birth, regional anesthesia is used more often then general anesthesia.  However, general anesthesia takes effect faster than both spinals and epidurals, making it the anesthestic of choice during emergencies.  It is also used when a woman has a medical condition which excludes her from receiving an epidural or spinal. 

If you are having a scheduled C-section, the information below will give you an idea of what to expect on your delivery date.  Otherwise, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about C-sections.

Scheduled C-sections

After you are admitted to the hospital, you will meet with the anesthesiologist assigned to your surgery.  The two of you will discuss your medical history and options for anesthesia.  Spinal anesthesia is used for most scheduled C-sections because it is easier to place and more reliable than epidural anesthesia.  However, another type of anesthesia may be more appropriate for you based on your medical history. 

You will then go back to the operating room and be connected to our monitors and have the spinal placed.  Over the next few minutes, you will get numb from your toes to your chest.  After the nurse washes your skin and puts up the surgical drape, the surgeon will test to make sure you are completely numb before begining surgery.  You are allowed to have one companion in the operating room with you once the anesthesia has taken effect.  It is normal to feel some pushing or tugging during the surgery even if the spinal is working perfectly. 

Once your baby is delivered, he will be taken over to the warmer to be cleaned off and quickly examined by the nurse.  He will then be wrapped in a blanket and brought over for you to hold.  We try to let you bond with your baby as long as possible, but he may need to go to the nursery for closer observation.  After the surgery has ended, you will go back to your room to recover.  Your nurse will monitor your vital signs and make sure you are comfortable as the spinal anesthesia wears off.