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Labor & delivery

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are local anesthetics (numbing drugs) that are injected into specific areas to help alleviate pain. Typically, their effects last for less than 2 hours. The following are descriptions of the nerve blocks that can be used during labor:

Paracervical
Local anesthesia is injected into the cervix. It is used most often during the active and transitional periods of labor. If you have a paracervical block, your baby’s heart rate and response will be closely monitored.

Pudendal
Local anesthesia is injected through the vagina into the tissue surrounding the pudendal nerve. This numbs the vagina, rectum and perineum (the area in between). It is used just before delivery. This block is typically well-tolerated by the baby – this may be so because it is given just before delivery and less effects are passed along to the baby.