INFOGRAPHICPREGNANCY

What Is Anesthesia?

By Josey Murray
Reviewed by Alyssa Quimby, M.D.
November 21, 2024
anesthesia noun Medication given to block physical feeling, including sensitivity to pain.

Anesthesia is a type of medication used to help prevent or block pain. Doctors may give you anesthesia during delivery to help you feel less pain. There are different types of anesthesia used during childbirth:

  • Local anesthesia eliminates pain in a small part of the body. Your healthcare team may give you an injection of local anesthesia in the pelvis during the pushing part of a vaginal delivery.

  • Regional anesthesia numbs a larger region of the body. An epidural (or epidural block) is a regional anesthesia that helps eliminate the sensation of pain below the waist. Epidurals may be used for vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections.

  • General anesthesia puts you to sleep and is used during surgeries. For birth, it’s only used for rare emergency situations.

If you’re interested in exploring your pain relief options, talk to your doctor.

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