Caption

For editorial use only. Surgeons lifting a baby from the womb, at the final stage of a caesarean delivery. A caesaran section enables the delivery of a baby through an incision made in the abdominal and uterine walls. In this case the mother was given an epidural anaesthesia, which involves the injection of anaesthetic into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord. After the operation analgesic drugs (painkillers) are given to the mother. The recovery period tends to be quicker if epidural anaesthesia is used rather than general anaesthesia.