Ropivacaine 0.2% is a local anaesthetic drug and will be administered as a single bolus dose of 8ml of 0.2% ropivacaine followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of 0.2% ropivacaine using the On-Q® elastomeric pump. The bolus dose of 8ml of 0.2% ropivacaine will be administered via a multiport, silver-impregnated catheter (6-10cm) placed above the rectus muscle parallel to the fascial incision, using a preloaded syringe. The infusion will be delivered by the On-Q® elastomeric pump pre-set to deliver 8ml/hr of 0.2% ropivacaine for 72 hours post-operatively.

Normal saline will be administered as a single bolus dose of 8ml of normal saline followed by an infusion of normal saline using the On-Q® elastomeric pump. The bolus dose of 8ml of normal saline will be administered via a multiport, silver-impregnated catheter (6-10cm) placed above the rectus muscle parallel to the fascial incision, using a preloaded syringe. The infusion will be delivered by the On-Q® elastomeric pump pre-set to deliver 8ml/hr normal saline for 72 hours post-operatively.

The On-Q® elastomeric pump automatically and continuously delivers a regulated flow of 0.1% or 0.2% ropivacaine or normal saline locally to the surgical site for 72 hours post-operatively. The infusion will be delivered by pre-setting the On-Q® elastomeric pump to deliver at the rate of 8ml/hr for 72 hours post-operatively.

Pain with movement will be assessed using the self-report mini-McGill pain questionnaire, consisting of the first 15 questions of the McGill questionnaire, scores 0-3 points for each. It can theoretically range from 0 to 45, with 45 correlating with worse pain.

The intensity of pain at rest will be measured using a visual analogue pain scale (VAPS). Subjects will be instructed to indicate the intensity of the pain by marking on a 100-mm vertical lines with terms describing the extremes of pain intensity. The lines are anchored with "no pain" at the bottom and "worst imaginable pain" at the top. Higher scores indicate higher intensities of pain.

Breastfeeding success will be measured using LATCH scores. The LATCH system assigns a numerical score, 0, 1, or 2, to five key components of breastfeeding: "L" is for how well the infant latches onto the breast, "A" is for the amount of audible swallowing noted, "T" is for the mother's nipple type, "C" is for the mother's level of comfort and "H" is for the amount of help the mother needs to hold her infant to the breast. The theoretical range of the Latch score is 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate higher success with breastfeeding.

The cesarean section incision and the catheter insertion site will be evaluated. Any catheter or infiltrate-related issues like wound infection and seroma formation will be noted. It will be reported as number of issues. Wounds will be assessed for infection or dehiscence. Clean wound lines with no evidence of infection indicate better healing.

At the 6 week and 3-month follow-up phone calls the participant will be asked about the presence of wound dysesthesia (numbness, tingling, burning, pricking, allodynia, or hyperesthesia), occurrence of infection, dehiscence, and keloid formation.

A cost analysis will occur for the inpatient stay. Costs to be assessed include cost for preparation of the drugs and devices, monitoring/supervision costs based on nursing and physician interventions and cost of days spent in the hospital.

Patient satisfaction will be assessed by using the visual analog scale (VAS). The visual analog scale (VAS) for satisfaction is a horizontal line 100mm long. At the beginning and the end, there are two descriptors representing extremes of satisfaction. The subjects will be asked to rate their satisfaction by making a vertical mark on the 100mm line, where, 0= least satisfied and 100=most satisfied. Higher scores indicate higher levels of satisfaction.

The total dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in mg will be recorded for each of the first three post-operative days and after discharge as indicated, along with a cumulative total. Higher doses of NSAIDs usage indicate higher intensities of pain.

The amount of opioid use will be quantified in terms of morphine equivalents given in mg both by post

-operative day and with a cumulative total. Higher amounts of opioid use indicates higher degrees of pain.

Subjects undergoing cesarean sections will receive a bolus dose of 8ml normal saline followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of normal saline using the On-Q® elastomeric pump for 3 days after the cesarean section.

Total of all reporting groups

Subjects undergoing cesarean sections will receive a bolus dose of 8ml of 0.2% ropivacaine followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of 0.2% ropivacaine using the On-Q® elastomeric pump for 3 days after the cesarean section.

Subjects undergoing cesarean sections will receive a bolus dose of 8ml normal saline followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of normal saline using the On-Q® elastomeric pump for 3 days after the cesarean section.

The intensity of pain during 20° straight leg raise will be measured using a visual analogue pain scale (VAPS). Subjects will be instructed to indicate the intensity of the pain by marking on a 100-mm vertical lines with terms describing the extremes of pain intensity. The lines are anchored with "no pain" at the bottom and "worst imaginable pain" at the top. Higher scores indicate higher intensities of pain.

The drop of participants at 72 hours reflects patients who were discharged early, prior to the 72 hr Visit. Other missing values occurred when patients could not be located at the scheduled time because they were not in their room.

Post-operative pain will be measured using a numerical pain scale (NPS). Subjects will be asked to indicate the level of pain with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate higher intensities of pain. Participants will report intensity of pain at the week 6 and 3 month time points through a telephone call.

The difference reflects the number of patients who were lost to follow up at 6 weeks and 3 months.

Incisional pain will be measured using a visual analogue pain scale (VAPS). Subjects will be instructed to indicate the intensity of the pain by marking on a 100-mm vertical lines with terms describing the extremes of pain intensity. The lines are anchored with "no pain" at the bottom and "worst imaginable pain" at the top. Pain scores range from 0-100, so the change in pain score (post- minus pre-) can theoretically range from -100 to 100. A negative score indicates an improvement in pain. Higher scores indicate higher intensities of pain. Participants will report intensity of pain 2hrs post intervention, 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr, and 72hr post-intervention.

The differences in the number of participants reflect patients who were discharged earlier than 72 hours and patients whose assessments could not be completed because they were not available (out of the room, etc). All 0 values are real reports of "no pain", which was the median score for Outcome 3. None of them represent missing values or NA.

Pain with movement will be assessed using the self-report mini-McGill pain questionnaire, consisting of the first 15 questions of the McGill questionnaire, scores 0-3 points for each. It can theoretically range from 0 to 45, with 45 correlating with worse pain.

The differences in number of participants reflect patients who were discharged earlier than 72 hours and patients whose assessments could not be completed because they were not available (out of the room, etc. )

The intensity of pain at rest will be measured using a visual analogue pain scale (VAPS). Subjects will be instructed to indicate the intensity of the pain by marking on a 100-mm vertical lines with terms describing the extremes of pain intensity. The lines are anchored with "no pain" at the bottom and "worst imaginable pain" at the top. Higher scores indicate higher intensities of pain.

The differences in number of participants reflect patients who were discharged earlier than 72 hours and patients whose assessments could not be completed because they were not available (out of the room, etc. )

The time to dosing with the first rescue medications like, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and morphine, for breakthrough pain will be noted. A shorter time to dosing indicates an increased intensity of pain. It will be recorded in hours post intervention.

Breastfeeding success will be measured using LATCH scores. The LATCH system assigns a numerical score, 0, 1, or 2, to five key components of breastfeeding: "L" is for how well the infant latches onto the breast, "A" is for the amount of audible swallowing noted, "T" is for the mother's nipple type, "C" is for the mother's level of comfort and "H" is for the amount of help the mother needs to hold her infant to the breast. The theoretical range of the Latch score is 0 to 10. Higher scores indicate higher success with breastfeeding.

Data was not obtained/recorded by nurses during shift and some patients were not available (out of the room, etc).

The cesarean section incision and the catheter insertion site will be evaluated. Any catheter or infiltrate-related issues like wound infection and seroma formation will be noted. It will be reported as number of issues. Wounds will be assessed for infection or dehiscence. Clean wound lines with no evidence of infection indicate better healing.

At the 6 week and 3-month follow-up phone calls the participant will be asked about the presence of wound dysesthesia (numbness, tingling, burning, pricking, allodynia, or hyperesthesia), occurrence of infection, dehiscence, and keloid formation.

A cost analysis will occur for the inpatient stay. Costs to be assessed include cost for preparation of the drugs and devices, monitoring/supervision costs based on nursing and physician interventions and cost of days spent in the hospital.

Patient satisfaction will be assessed by using the visual analog scale (VAS). The visual analog scale (VAS) for satisfaction is a horizontal line 100mm long. At the beginning and the end, there are two descriptors representing extremes of satisfaction. The subjects will be asked to rate their satisfaction by making a vertical mark on the 100mm line, where, 0= least satisfied and 100=most satisfied. Higher scores indicate higher levels of satisfaction.

The total dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in mg will be recorded for each of the first three post-operative days and after discharge as indicated, along with a cumulative total. Higher doses of NSAIDs usage indicate higher intensities of pain.

The amount of opioid use will be quantified in terms of morphine equivalents given in mg both by post

-operative day and with a cumulative total. Higher amounts of opioid use indicates higher degrees of pain.

Subjects undergoing cesarean sections will receive a bolus dose of 8ml of 0.2% ropivacaine followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of 0.2% ropivacaine using the On-Q® elastomeric pump for 3 days after the cesarean section.

Subjects undergoing cesarean sections will receive a bolus dose of 8ml normal saline followed by an infusion of 8ml/hr of normal saline using the On-Q® elastomeric pump for 3 days after the cesarean section.