Spinal Anesthesia And Its Role In Childbirth

Spinal anesthesia is used during childbirth to reduce and relieve pain.

All mothers feel anxious to some degree as their due dates approach. Fortunately, major advances in medicine have made childbirth safer.

Still, it is important for new mothers to be fully informed about making the best decisions when the time comes.

There are different types of anesthesia that doctors use during childbirth, depending on the circumstances. Some of the best known are:

• General
• Epidural
• Local
• Spinal anesthesia, also known as spinal cord or intradural block

What all these types of anesthesia have in common is that they relieve pain.

When surgery is needed, there are certain types of anesthesia that can also make a person completely unconscious and unaware of what is going on around them.

During a vaginal birth, spinal anesthesia reduces pain.

In case of a cesarean section, the uterus stops contracting. Within 15 minutes of application, the middle and lower parts of the body lose all feeling.

Anesthesia blocks all stimulation of the nerves, making it impossible to feel or move the parts of the body that it affects.

Spinal anesthesia techniques

For physicians to administer spinal anesthesia, the patient must lie on their side. A sterile needle is placed directly in the spine.

To do this, the anesthesiologist must find the exact position where two vertebrae meet. The position of the needle may vary depending on the desired effect.

Once the needle is in place, the specialist injects a local anesthetic through the skin, cellular tissues and ligaments, directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.

The spine is anesthetized, which prevents pain signals from reaching the brain.

During this process, the patient must remain very still to avoid possible injuries.

If expectant mothers feel extreme pain during the injection, doctors should stop the process of spinal anesthesia.

In these cases, there may be a risk to the affected area.

Benefits of spinal anesthesia for childbirth

Of all the various forms of pain relief available for childbirth, spinal anesthesia uses the least anesthetic to achieve its effect.

This means that the amount of the drug in the body after birth is very small.

A spine does not cause damage to any organ or pose a risk of breastfeeding.

Spinal anesthesia has a faster effect than an epidural, so it is very useful in cases where every minute counts.

This type of pain relief also decreases faster so the mother is able to recover faster.

This means that new mothers are able to bind to and care for their newborn free from the after-effects of anesthesia.

Another benefit of spinal anesthesia in patients is that there is no need to leave a catheter. One injection is enough.

Possible side effects of a spinal block

In a few cases, side effects from this type of pain relief may occur. Fortunately, they are usually not serious.

Some of the symptoms of a bad reaction to anesthesia may include:

• Headache and intense migraine
• Back pain

• Nerve damage
• Allergic reaction
• Infection
• Difficulty urinating
• Low blood pressure

A positive birth experience

Both spinal and epidural pain relief are widely used for childbirth.

The main difference between the two types is that spinal anesthesia consists of a single injection using a fine needle that reaches into the spine itself.

The effect on nerve signals is absolute and the anesthetist can adjust the duration.

If the expectant mother has been to all of her medical examinations and is aware of her state of health, spinal anesthesia is completely safe.

As long as the patient is not allergic to the anesthetic, there is unlikely to be any contraindications to the use of a spinal block.

When the time comes to choose pain relief for childbirth, a healthcare professional should explain the procedure and choose the best alternative.

The goal is always to ensure the best and healthiest birth experience for mother and baby. Whether the mother has a vaginal birth or a caesarean section, the result is the same: A new life.

For most mothers, the best birth experience is one without too much pain. But some women still decide to give birth without pain relief.

Every one of us knows our own bodies and has the right to make choices.