In this article, we have presented an overview of obstetric analgesia and anesthesia. If one central theme could be developed, it shoud be that analgesia either for labor and delivery or cesarean section must be chosen and performed with absolute exactness and safety. There is no margin for error. The ultimate goal should be delivery of obstetric anesthesia in such a way that the best qualified professional is responsible for establishing the services in the hospital. Such service must provide contiguous around-the-clock coverage for tertiary hospital centers. On the one hand, most anesthesiologists are not well suited to many of the special demands of the obstetric suite, and, on the other hand, many obstetricians lack the full understanding and capabilities that the anesthesiologists possess. One solution for this dilemma might be to encourage obstetric colleagues to seek anesthesia training in order to organize obstetric anesthesia coverage.