Pain management is an important aspect of any surgical procedure. In this article, we discuss pain medicine and anesthesia used before, during, and after a c-section.
What Type of Pain Medicine Will I Have After My C-Section?
You will meet with an anesthesiologist the day of your surgery to talk about the types of anesthesia, what to expect and any questions or concerns you may have. There are two main types of anesthesia for cesarean delivery: regional and general.
Regional Anesthesia
Most c-sections are done with regional anesthesia (numb from the chest down) so that you can be awake and hold your baby right away. This also limits the amount of anesthesia your baby gets. It is usually done by giving you an injection in your back. Commonly used types of regional anesthesia include spinal, epidural, or a combination of both.
Risks and side effects of regional anesthesia may include:
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Decrease in blood pressure.
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Headache.
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Itching.
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Shivering.
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Local anesthetic injected into a blood vessel.
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Nerve damage.
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Abscess (infection) or hematoma (blood clot) at the site of injection or in the spinal or epidural space.
After surgery, you will likely receive a TAP block anesthetic. (More information about this is on page 7). Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure.
General Anesthesia
It is unlikely that you would need general anesthesia for a planned cesarean delivery. General anesthesia means that you would be completely sleeping with a breathing tube and would not be awake for the birth of your baby. We prefer to use regional anesthesia for cesarean births, but occasionally general anesthesia is needed based on your medical history. In this case, your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits to this type of anesthesia.
TAP Block
After surgery, you may receive a TAP block anesthetic (numbing medicine injected into your belly). You will still be numb from anesthesia and will not feel the injection. The TAP block reduces pain from your surgical cut for 48 to 72 hours. Less pain means you’ll need less opioid pain medicine. It will also be easier to move, walk and care for your baby. Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits with you.
Contact MetroPartners OBGYN
If you have any questions about your specific c-section, it’s best to consult your provider. Give MetroPartners OBGYN a call and schedule an appointment today if you are in need of gynecological surgery.