When you’re pregnant, countless questions and doubts come to mind, about both the baby and your own body. In fact, the two are really one and the same, since what happens to one inevitably ends up affecting the other as well. And that’s why so many questions arise when it comes to anesthesia during pregnancy. Is it harmful to the baby? Are there specific types of anesthesia that can be used during pregnancy? What is forbidden and what isn’t? In this article we will address all these questions and clarify the main doubts regarding anesthesia during pregnancy. But before understanding how this may or may not affect a pregnant woman’s body and her baby, it’s necessary to know how anesthesia works.

Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is a type of medical procedure used to prevent pain so that other procedures can be performed, especially surgical ones1. There are basically four types of anesthesia:

  • Local anesthesia: Numbs only the area where the procedure will take place. It is used for simpler cases.
  • Regional anesthesia: Used to numb a limb or the trunk, but without loss of consciousness. It is one of the most common for surgeries.
  • Sedation: This type of anesthesia is usually used for procedures such as colonoscopy and endoscopy, with the patient losing consciousness for a certain period.
  • General anesthesia: This is the strongest type of anesthesia. In addition to preventing pain throughout the body, the patient also loses consciousness. It is used for more complex and lengthy surgeries.

Anesthesia is usually administered intravenously, but there are also some that are given by inhaling the medication. The anesthetic medication passes into the bloodstream and reaches the brain, where the pain signals it sends are modified, making surgical procedures possible. How long each anesthesia lasts will depend on the type of procedure being done, the dosage of the medication, and how it is administered.

Risks of Anesthesia During Pregnancy

Now that you know exactly how anesthesia works, it’s easier to understand why some are recommended for pregnant women while others are not. And by recommended, we mean it’s better not to use them, even if it’s not forbidden. But what does that mean? Let’s explain further. In general, any type of anesthesia does not present major problems, that is, the risks of anesthesia during pregnancy are low, but this depends on a range of factors, so risks do exist2. There is a risk of malformation of the baby, for example, but even with general anesthesia, it’s almost the same as when a woman does not take anesthesia. Another very low risk is the mother’s death, which is less than 1% of cases. The greatest risks are of miscarriage and premature birth. The likelihood of miscarriage when a woman is anesthetized is about 6%, a number that can go up to 11% if the anesthesia is given in the first trimester of pregnancy. Another concern, premature birth, should also be taken seriously, since there is an 8% chance of it occurring when a pregnant woman undergoes anesthesia. So how should you deal with this situation knowing that anesthesia can be harmful to the baby? As we said before, it will depend on a number of factors. Of course, if you can avoid it and only get anesthesia after pregnancy, that is most recommended. However, there are urgent situations where the procedure is absolutely necessary, as not doing so could pose a great risk to the health of the woman and the baby. The doctors will evaluate everything and will generally make the decision that causes less harm to both mother and baby.

Which Anesthesias Are Allowed During Pregnancy?

When we talk about anesthesia during pregnancy, it’s a broad term, since, as we’ve seen, there are several types. Usually, general anesthesia is stronger and, consequently, carries a greater risk for both woman and baby. Regional or local anesthesia presents a much lower percentage of risk, although the risks do exist and require a medical evaluation. Each case is different, and each situation calls for a different approach.

Is It Allowed to Have Dental Anesthesia During Pregnancy?

Yes, since it is a local surgery. However, your dentist needs to know that you are pregnant. This is because there are certain substances called vasoconstrictors that are often used with anesthetic medications and can raise blood pressure3. This can cause issues, since pregnant women already have higher blood pressure than normal and many end up having problems because of it. If the dentist administers the anesthesia without this substance, there will be no problems. It is very important for pregnant women to visit the dentist, as oral health should not be neglected during pregnancy. However, it is recommended that such treatments be performed only during the second trimester of pregnancy, since in the first trimester the fetus is still forming and any medication the woman takes can affect this. In the third trimester, the problem is due to the mother’s heightened anxiety to see her baby and the various distractions that late pregnancy can bring. For this reason, the second trimester is always the most recommended.

Anesthesia at the Time of Birth

Anesthesia can be used for both vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections, although it’s more common in procedures involving surgery. Anesthesia should only be used in vaginal births when there is excessive pain during the process and it threatens the safe progress of labor in some way. In other cases, birth should proceed naturally. In the case of a cesarean delivery, regional anesthesia is used so that the lower part of the body is numbed and thus ready for surgery. This procedure does not pose risks to the baby, because cesareans are typically scheduled in advance and are thoroughly analyzed by doctors before being performed. Pregnancy is inevitably a period full of doubt, especially for first-time mothers. At certain times these doubts are even more frequent, such as when a woman needs some sort of treatment that requires anesthesia, like dental treatment, for example. However, as you have seen, anesthesia during pregnancy is not something that is completely forbidden or that will necessarily bring you harm, although you do need to pay attention to the type of medication being used and how it is going to be administered to you. The best thing to do is to clear up all your doubts with your doctor before undergoing any kind of treatment. That way, you can have anesthesia with much more peace of mind, knowing that it will not negatively affect you or your baby. See also: Reaction to Postpartum Anesthesia Photo: Mass Communication Specialist