Question

The nurse prepares a client for a cesarean section. The client asks how the anesthesia is going to affect her baby. Which answer by the nurse is best?

a - The overall dosage of anesthesia is lower for a client undergoing cesarean section
b - The dosages of sedatives and hypnotics are lower for a client undergoing cesarean section
c - The amount of narcotic given is decreased in a client undergoing cesarean section
d - all medications are routinely withheld prior to the cesarean section.

Answer 1

The dosages of sedatives and hypnotics are generally lower in a cesarean section to ensure minimal effects on the baby. Anesthetics are used to cause unconsciousness, with careful consideration before administration by the nurse and anesthesia professional.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best answer provided by the nurse to the client's question regarding how the anesthesia during a cesarean section will affect her baby would be that the dosages of sedatives and hypnotics are generally lower. This is important because it minimizes the potential for any drugs crossing the placenta and affecting the baby. Anesthetics are used to induce a state of unconsciousness and lack of sensation, with modern practice often involving a combination of drugs for their synergistic effects, which can include a separate approach to both induction and maintenance using both injections and gaseous anesthesia. Those administering anesthesia are careful to balance the mother's needs for pain control and unconsciousness with the safety of the baby. Prior to the administration of any anesthetic agents, the nurse and anesthesia professional will review key concerns for the patient's recovery and care, including potential effects on the baby.