In order to fully understand labor analgesia especially regional methods of providing labor analgesia, the anatomy of the pain pathways involved in labor pain should be appreciated. Approximately 15 to 25 percent of deliveries are by cesarean section and there is a worldwide trend to use regional anesthesia due to increased safety with this method of anesthesia compared to general anesthesia. Ideally pain relief in the laboring parturient should provide complete analgesia without endangering the mother or fetus in any way. It should be easily administered and not interfere with the progress of labor or complicate the labor. Regional analgesia is the most effective method of providing labor analgesia for the mother currently available. They are contraindicated in parturients with coagulopathy or are on anticoagulant therapy, hypovolemic parturients, those with infection either around the site of injection or systemic sepsis, those with certain anatomical abnormalities like arteriovenous malformation within the spinal canal. Anesthesia for cesarean section can be in the form of a general anesthesia or a regional anesthesia.