Recommendations and guidelines for obstetric anesthesia in Belgium.

• An evaluation of the parturient is recommended before any anesthetic or analgesic procedure. • An anesthesiologist or anesthesia resident performs this evaluation. • The entire parturient file must be available in due time to the attending anesthesiologist. • If the parturient has no significant medical (ASA Physical Status Classification 1 or 2), surgical or obstetrical history, the pre-anesthetic evaluation, including a history and a physical examination, may be performed on the day of the analgesic or anesthetic procedure. • If the parturient has a significant medical, surgical or obstetrical history, information of the anesthesia team by the obstetrician is recommended, as early as possible. In these cases, a planned preoperative consultation is recommended for the patient.