Unborn babies can feel pain, so during surgical procedures they are given a general anaesthetic. For microsurgery such as unblocking heart valves, the mother usually has a local anaesthetic.
'It's very much safer, if the mother can tolerate it, to do it under local anaesthetic. Their partners and friends are there, they can watch the procedure, and they know the staff and setup in the unit. And they tend to be very brave!' Helena Gardiner
