Childbirth educator
Dietician
An anaesthetist is a doctor who has specialised in the administration of anaesthetics. This qualification requires a further 6 years of training after a medical degree, to enable the person to become a specialist anaesthetist. In the maternity care system an anaesthetist is usually involved with putting in an
epidural or a
spinal anaesthetic for pain relief during labour or for a Caesarean birth or administering a
general anaesthetic.
NOTE:Obstetricians and midwives are able to administer
gas or
narcotic injections for pain relief or a local anaesthetic for putting in
stitchesfor the woman after the birth (if required).
In their senior years of anaesthetics training, they are known as anaesthetic registrars when they work in large public maternity hospitals to provide care for women who are choosing Medicare funded services in Australia. They are usually rostered on at the hospital and provide any anaesthetic services that are required during their shift. Public hospitals also have a nominated anaesthetic consultant available to assist the anaesthetic registrar if this is required. You can read more in
Doctors working in the public health system.
In some smaller metropolitan and rural public hospitals, the anaesthetic registrar and/or consultant are usually 'on call' to come in (rather than being rostered on a shift). In some cases, they will only come in to administer an epidural if it is needed for a medical reason (such as a Caesarean birth or if complications arise eg. very high blood pressure). This means an epidural may not always be available for women who are simply requesting them for pain relief. If you feel you may want an epidural, ask your caregiver what the arrangements are at your birthplace and the expected availability of the anaesthetist.
Women with private insurance and their own obstetricians are usually attended by a visiting anaesthetic specialist working in their own private practice.