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Spinal Block for Childbirth
Treatment Overview
Spinal anesthesia (spinal block) is a way to control pain using anesthetic medicine. It causes complete loss of feeling and muscle control below the waist. A spinal block is often used for an assisted delivery (such as a cesarean section or a delivery with forceps). Or it can be used when a delivery is happening fast. The benefit of a spinal block is that it works quickly.
A spinal block is similar to epidural anesthesia. But the anesthetic for a spinal block is injected in a single dose into the fluid around the spinal cord. A spinal block may also be called a saddle block. It numbs the area that would come into contact with the saddle of a horse.
Like an epidural catheter, a spinal block must be given by an anesthesia specialist.
Current as of: February 16, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & John M. Freedman MD - Anesthesiology
