Obstetric Anesthesiologist - Winston-salem, NC

What is Obstetric Anesthesiology?

Obstetric anesthesiology is the area of medicine that provides anesthesia during obstetric procedures. Obstetric anesthesiologists administer anesthesia to pregnant persons for pain management during labor and delivery. They are experienced in treating high-risk pregnancies, patients with spine, cardiopulmonary, and neurologic diseases, and persons undergoing delivery complications. Obstetric anesthesiologists work in hospitals, labor wards, and other childbirth facilities and may provide pain relief in the following circumstances:

Childbirth, including Cesarean delivery
Delivery-related gynecologic surgery
Birth complications, such as hemorrhage (excess bleeding) and preeclampsia

Before, during, and after childbirth, obstetric anesthesiologists monitor patients' vital signs and physical wellness and may modify levels of anesthesia as necessary. Most obstetric anesthetics are administered through a catheter needle during labor. Obstetric anesthesiologists may perform or administer the following anesthesia techniques:

Epidural analgesia, a continuous dose of anesthesia which may be adjusted throughout labor
Spinal-epidural analgesia, a single dose of anesthesia providing pain relief for about an hour
General anesthesia, an anesthesia that induces temporary unconsciousness (infrequently used in obstetrics)
Pain relief after cesarean and vaginal delivery, where small amounts of anesthesia are given after cesarean and particularly painful vaginal deliveries

Obstetric anesthesiologists frequently are part of a peripartum (the few weeks shortly before and after giving birth) care team composed of medical professionals such as obstetricians, perinatologists, delivery nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, and neonatal specialists.