For extreme nervous patients undergoing a c section, is general anesthesia better or taking a light sedative? can sedative be given before spinal?

General anesthesia: For c-section is potentially dangerous for mom and baby and should only be used in an emergency or as a last resort. This is because changes in mom's airway occur with pregnancy, and are significant by the time she is ready to deliver. Mild sedation can be given with a spinal, but cautiously, because many of these drugs cross the placenta and affect the baby.

Sedatives: In general any sedative before c-section is not a good idea as it can theoretically worsen your baby's chances of transitioning to life outside the womb without a problem. General anesthesia in a pregnant woman has its problems also, spinal is definitely the more highly recommended route. Your best bet is to have a good support system with you and to not work yourself up by whatever method works.

Usually No: Any medications given to mother can potentially harmfully affect the infant. For this reason sedatives are not usually given to mother before c-section. The use of general anesthesia is considered less safe than regional anesthesia for the mother.

C-section : Safety is a priority and regional anesthesia is safer for c-sections. Patient can be sedated with versed if it is nessasary. General anesthesia is rarely done, mostly for emergencies , for failed regionals or debilitated patients, who can not cooperate. Effects of sedatives can be reversed in newborn in rare situations where it becomes nessasary.

You can safely: Have a general anesthetic if you want for a cesarean section. If you take the sedative versed it will probably block your memory of the birth.