This prospective observational study evaluates and compares the effects of spinal and general anesthesia techniques used during elective cesarean section on neonatal cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO₂) during the early transition to extrauterine life. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to continuously monitor neonatal cerebral oxygenation for the first 16 minutes after birth. Neonatal heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), cerebral fractional tissue oxygen extraction (cFTOE), umbilical cord blood gas parameters, birth weight, and APGAR scores were also recorded.