Anesthesia options for your delivery
Do you want to experience every nuance of childbirth—even the “not so comfortable” aspects? Or would you prefer as little discomfort as possible? Or are you somewhere in between? At Riverview, all types of OB anesthesia at varying levels are available. Discuss them with your physician to help determine what’s best for you. Here’s some information to get you started:
- Epidural Anesthesia - numbs a large area of the body, usually from the waist down, and can be used for labor and delivery, cesarean section, and forceps delivery.
- Pudendal and Local Anesthesia - are both given as an injection in the vaginal area around the nerves that supply the birth canal.
- General Anesthesia - where the patient is completely asleep, is sometimes chosen for cesarean deliveries when an epidural is inappropriate.
- Medications - can lessen contraction pain and help in relaxation.