Obstetric Anesthesia (Pain-Free Birthing)

The Obstetric Anesthesia Service at Brigham and Women's Hospital is recognized as one of the finest departments of its kind in the world. From the most routine births to the most complex, we are ready to take care of every mother who delivers her baby at Brigham and Women's Hospital. We realize that the birth of your child will be one of the most important experiences in your life, which is why we are committed to making this event as safe and comfortable as possible for you and your baby. The Obstetric Anesthesia Service covers the labor and delivery unit 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week to provide specialized care for you.

The Division of Obstetric Anesthesia at BWH will support any decision you make regarding pain relief during labor and will provide you with the information you need to answer any questions you may have. Our goal is to make the labor and delivery experience safe and pleasant for you and your baby.

Anytime you are on the labor and delivery floor, you can request to talk to one of the obstetric anesthesiologists. If you have a medical condition that may have an impact on anesthesia during your labor and delivery, your obstetrician or midwife will ask us to talk to you. This may occur days or weeks before you are due to deliver. The anesthesiologist will spend a few minutes interviewing and examining you to become familiar with your medical history. This insures that if you need or choose anesthesia for any reason, we will be prepared to provide the best possible care for you. A discussion with the anesthesiologist in no way obligates you to have "anesthesia". Our desire is to provide you with the best possible information so you can make the most informed decision for you and your baby.

William Camann MD
Director of Obstetric Anesthesia

Bhavani Shankar Kodali MD
Obstetric Anesthesia Web Author and  Editor

 Our Staff and Services
Our Obstetric Anesthesia Staff