What is spinal anesthesia?

Spinal anesthesia may be used for forceps delivery, cesarean section or tubal ligation, but is generally not suitable for providing comfort during labor.

To do a spinal anesthetic you may be asked to lie on your side or sit up, depending on the circumstances. The anesthesiologist or CRNA numbs the skin and inserts a small needle between two of the lower backbones, well below the level of the spinal cord where there is any chance of injury. The needle enters the spinal fluid and medication is placed there.

You will soon notice that your legs and hips become numb. You will not be able to move your legs while the anesthesia is working, and any pain from labor contractions will disappear. The numbness will last one to two hours and then wear off.

There are two reasons why spinal anesthesia is not used for pain relief during labor: (1) no plastic tube is left in place, so it is not possible to give more medication over the course of a long labor; and (2) the lower half of the body becomes so numb with spinal anesthesia that you cannot push the baby out at the time of delivery.