Our anesthesia care team works with expectant mothers and their obstetric care team to develop an effective plan to manage pain during labor.
Women and their family members can discuss any questions with a board certified anesthesiologist on the day of their delivery. Or, you can talk to your OB/GYN about arranging a meeting with an anesthesiologist in advance of your due date.
During Labor
In most cases, epidural anesthesia is used to provide anesthesia for labor and childbirth. An anesthesiologist is available 24 hours a day to place an epidural if desired. Most patients experience little or no discomfort during this safe, extremely common procedure.
Epidurals are placed in your labor room, for your comfort. During an epidural, anesthetic medication is injected into the tissue that surrounds nerves as they exit the spine. This will numb you from the waist down and decrease the pain you feel during labor.
During a Cesarean Section
Women scheduled for Cesarean delivery - also known as a C-section - meet with a member of the anesthesia care team during pre-operative testing. Your anesthesiologist will also meet with you on the day of your C-section and stay with you throughout your procedure.
Most C-sections are done under spinal or epidural anesthesia so that you can be awake to enjoy the birth of your child. If you desire, your spouse, partner or labor support person may also stay with you during the procedure.
Your anesthesiologist will also come up with a pain management plan using multi-modal analgesia to manage your pain after your operation and to keep you comfortable during your recovery.