ABSTRACT
HISTORIC NOTES In 1847, Dr James Young Simpson first administered chloroform to a woman during childbirth. The practice of obstetric anesthesia has changed markedly since. In 2006, about 60% (2.4 millions) of laboring U.S. women chose and received epidural or CSE analgesia. Women in labor now receive analgesia, rather than anesthesia, with the goal of enabling maternal mobility during labor. Refined anesthetic techniques for women requiring CD have decreased substantially the number of maternal deaths directly related to anesthesia.
