In plain words
Spinal anesthesia is a single injection of numbing medicine into the fluid around the spinal cord, in the lower back. It works quickly, often within minutes, and numbs the body from the chest or belly down for the length of the procedure. Mothers usually stay awake and may feel pressure or tugging, but not sharp pain. It is common for planned births. Because it is a single injection, a catheter is not usually left in place the way it is with an . Some people feel a drop in blood pressure afterward, which the team watches for and treats. It is one of several options for pain control, and the anesthesia team talks through the choice with each mother.
The deeper version
Spinal anesthesia is neuraxial blockade produced by a single intrathecal injection of local anesthetic, often with an opioid adjunct, into the at the lumbar level. It yields dense sensory and motor block within minutes. It is distinct from epidural anesthesia, which uses a catheter and bolus or infusion delivery. Principal adverse effects include maternal hypotension from sympathetic block, managed with fluid and vasoactive agents, and in a small minority. The American Society of Anesthesiologists obstetric anesthesia guidance (2016) and ACOG Practice Bulletin 209 (2019) address neuraxial techniques in labor and delivery, and spinal technique is standard for cesarean birth.
Where it comes up
- Planning a cesareanGetting Ready for Birth
- What happens in a cesareanBirth and the First Days
- Pain options: from breathing to epiduralGetting Ready for Birth
What mothers here say about spinal anesthesia
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 209: Obstetric Analgesia and Anesthesia, 2019
- American Society of Anesthesiologists — Practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia, 2016