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Anesthesia for Labor and Delivery
Thank you for choosing St. Anthony’s Medical Center to welcome your new baby. Our goal is to make your childbirth experience a safe, pleasant and memorable event.
You have many choices to make regarding your birth experience. If you choose to have an epidural for pain relief during labor, the anesthesia department will work with you, your doctor, and your labor and delivery nurse to help you make the best decisions for you and your baby.
At St. Anthony's, anesthesia services are provided by South County Anesthesia Associates.
- A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is available 24 hours a day and will provide anesthesia for your delivery.
- A board-certified anesthesiologist is available in the hospital at all times.
The CRNA and the anesthesiologist work together as a team to provide your obstetrical anesthesia.
Questions About Anesthesia?
We realize that you may have many questions and concerns regarding anesthesia during labor and delivery. We strongly recommend you take advantage of the following opportunities, especially if this is your first child, so that you are informed and aware of the options available.
Childbirth Classes: Epidural information is included in all of the Lamaze Classes. Please register during your fourth month of pregnancy and plan to attend during your seventh month. Please call 1.800.554.9550 to register.
There is also an excellent educational and informative Web site: www.painfreebirthing.com (designed and maintained by Harvard’s Medical School, Division of Obstetric Anesthesia) that you may visit. If you are unsure or have questions—this Web site is very helpful, especially for first time moms, and it is available in several languages.
Should you go into labor before you have had a chance to attend a childbirth class or explore the Web site above, you may view an anesthesia educational film in the labor and delivery department.
Special Conditions
There are certain medical conditions in which regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) may not be suitable for you. If you have a bleeding or clotting disorder, an infection on your back, or have had back surgery you may not be eligible for spinal or epidural anesthesia. Please have your physician contact the anesthesiologist if you have any of the above conditions or any other significant medical problem in order to consult with you and your doctor beforehand.
For information or a physician referral, please call 800.554.9550 or visit our online physician referral.
At St. Anthony's, our vision is to be the area's premier health care organization — and your first choice for health care services.