Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
C-section with General Anesthesia | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I am having a scheduled c-section with the birth of my second child. I had an unplanned c-section with my first, they tried an epidural but that didn't work so I had general anesthesia. The more I think about it the more I don't want to be awake for my second c-section. Is it possible to have general anesthesia without trying something to keep me awake first?— Worried in Manitowoc, Wi | | | ANSWER |
February 28, 2002 | | | Dear Worried,
It is often very tempting to do whatever worked last time, and avoid having to face something new. You made it through general anesthesia, and the prospect of being awake for surgery is the unknown. I don't know exactly what your concerns are. If you are worried about being anxious during surgery, they can give you a sedative in your IV line as soon as the baby is born, and you can drift off to sleep. On the other hand, you may be very excited to be able to hear your baby's first cry this time around, and you may not want to drift off right at that point.
But if you look at risk, there is no question that you should have a regional anesthetic like an epidural or spinal for your repeat cesarean. General anesthetics occasionally have a major complication, and general anesthesia in pregnancy is even more risky than going to sleep for surgery at other times. Also, the medication that puts you to sleep passes through the placenta and reaches the baby, and can inhibit the baby from starting to breathe at birth. An epidural or spinal is a much safer alternative.
Talk to your doctor about your concerns, so he can answer all your questions. Hopefully getting more information will allay some of your worries and make you feel able to choose the safer alternative of regional anesthesia for your upcoming c-section. Good luck to you--and congratulations!— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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