Can a labor epidural be used for Cesarean delivery?
Some women who go through labor might eventually require a Cesarean delivery. This can be due to non-urgent factors (labor not progressing), or urgent factors (mother or baby’s condition is at risk). If an epidural catheter has been in place and functioning well, most of the time the anesthesiologist can put additional medicine into the catheter to make the numbness adequate for surgery. As with spinal anesthesia, it is normal for the body to feel numb from the lower chest down to the feet. Again, this is considered the right amount of anesthesia to keep you comfortable for the operation. If the epidural does not work, it may be replaced, or spinal or general anesthesia may be used. This choice depends on the urgency of the situation. This is, however, uncommon. Will I feel anything if I’m awake for the operation? With a spinal or epidural anesthetic, you should not feel any pain with the operation. Being awake, you will still be aware of movements occurring in your lower body. Specifi
