“Which anesthesia is better for C section?”
I am a 28 year old female. I want to know which anesthesia is better for C section?
7 Answers
If you want to be awake when the baby is born, then spinal or epidural. Ditto if you want your husband/boyfriend there with you in the OR. OTHERWISE whatever you prefer and your OB does not mind.
For planned C Sections, the safest and preferable anesthetic is a spinal anesthetic.
Studies show an increase in uteroplacental blood flow with epidurals. You need to consult with the anesthesiologist to see if this approach is best for you.
For a scheduled, non-emergent, C/S spinal/epidural anesthesia is usually recommended. This technique allows you to be awake to bond with your baby right after birth, and the baby is not made sleepy from a general anesthetic. You should have a consultation with a physician anesthesiologist to be sure that your individual health concerns are considered when making a recommendation for anesthetic technique.
If it is a routine scheduled C-Section, then regional anesthesia via epidural block (catheter placed in your mid-lower back area to provide anesthesia) is the preferred method of anesthesia with mild sedation if necessary. This allows you to be awake, with no transfer to anesthetic agents to the baby.
When deciding the type of anesthesia for a C-section, the diagnosis is very important. And we make the choice of what anesthesia is best indicated, either geta or regional.
Although I do not do Anesthesia any more, I will tell you that in pregnant patients is always better avoiding placing a breathing tube on your throat, as such regional anesthesia is always better. A combined technique, where you get a spinal anesthesia plus an epidural for post-op pain is the best choice.
