Background: Anesthesia guidelines reconunend regional anesthesia for most cesarean sections due to the risk of failed intubation and aspiration with general anesthesia. However, general anesthesia is considered to be safe for the fetus, based on limited evidence, and is still used for cesarean sections. Methods: Cohorts of cesarean sections by indication (that is, planned repeat cesarean section, failure to progress, foetal distress) were selected from the period 1998 to 2004 (N = 50,806). Deliveries performed under general anesthesia were compared with those performed under spinal or epidural, for the outcomes of neonatal intubation and 5-minute Apgar (Apgar5)