Research by hospital pharmacist Tika Thio reveals that local anesthesia during childbirth poses no harm to the baby.
Some newborns appear ashen-colored at birth. This stems from methemoglobinemia, where the blood absorbs too little oxygen. Pediatricians previously suspected a link to the mother's sedation.
During an episiotomy, Prilocaine is the standard local anesthetic. Concerns existed that it might cross the placenta and trigger the blood disorder in the baby. Tika Thio's rigorous study debunks this entirely. Local anesthesia is completely safe for both mother and child.
