Effects on the Baby of Maternal Analgesia and Anaesthesia

Discusses the potential effects on the baby of the various forms of intervention that may be offered during parturition - in particular, concerning the forms of analgesia and anaesthesia on offer, which are often in the control of the mother.

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Expectant mothers often ask their attendants about the potential effects on the baby of the various forms of intervention that may be offered during parturition. The most frequent questions concern the various forms of analgesia and anaesthesia on offer, because their use is within the control of the mother. Hitherto there has been no attempt to gather in one book such information as may enable those caring for mothers, whether anaesthetists, obstetricians, midwives, or general practitioners to give informed answers to these questions. In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the means of assessing the well-being of the baby, whether technological or clinical, both before and after birth. Many of these techniques have been used in an attempt to elucidate the effects of maternal analgesia and anaesthesia on the baby and Dr Reynolds has assembled a team of international experts to review the state of our understanding in this important subject.