Part of planning a family is considering your birthing options. There are several settings women can consider, and I recommend a low intervention hospital setting if this is your preference. As your due date approaches, you will also want to familiarize yourself with the natural and medical options for childbirth pain relief. From the common epidural, to local anesthetics and drug free approaches like Lamaze, it’s important to discuss your pain relief options with your ObGyn or Midwife.
One new option that is now available to moms in Kansas City is nitrious oxide also known as “laughing gas.” As with many medical interventions, it does have some risks, but overall it is considered safe to use during labor. In high concentrations, nitrous oxide is a weak anesthetic. In low doses, it is a drug used for anxiety relief and relief of pain. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), research supports the reasonable efficacy, safety and beneficial qualities of N2O or nitrious oxide as an analgesic for labor, and its use as a widely accepted component of quality maternity care.
Here are the facts about nitrous oxide:
What is Nitirous Oxide?
Nitrious Oxide is a gas and can be used for labor pain. It is a mixture of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen that is inhaled through a mask. It is used widely in dental offices at a much higher concentration.
How Does Nitrious Oxide Work?
While laboring in the hospital, each patient is in charge of administering her own nitrious oxide, so it gives more control over managing pain to her comfort. Holding the mask over her nose and mouth, a woman begins to inhale about 30 seconds before a contraction begins. By inhaling before a contraction starts, the nitrous oxide effectiveness will be optimal about the same time a contraction reaches its peak.
After a contraction subsides, the patient can remove the mask and begin to inhale regular room oxygen.
Does Nitrious Oxide Have Any Side Effects?
Some women report nausea or dizziness but taking a few deep breaths of room air will quickly eliminate these effects. One great advantage is that, although a minimal amount of nitrious oxide may cross the placenta, it has not shown to have any effect on the baby(ies).
How Does Nitrious Oxide Feel When Being Used?
Individual patient experiences will differ but most women report that nitrious oxide helps “take the edge off” of the contractions and allows them to cope with labor better. It can also help to lower anxiety which can in turn help the overall labor process.
My patients have told me that the benefits of nitrious oxide are that it is self-administered, easy to use, fast acting and doesn’t interfere with labor or the ability to push or breastfeed. Nitrious oxide isn’t recommended for everyone. Those who cannot hold their own facemask
Or women with a B12 vitamin deficiency should not use nitrious oxide. Consult with your OB/GYN or family practice physician to discuss if this is right for you.
Nitrious oxide is now offered at Research Medical Center and Overland Park Regional Medical Center. HCA Midwest Health provides a variety of pain management options. Learn more about our low intervention options and meet our midwives here.
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Aubree Remsburg, CNM, is a Certified Nurse Midwife with Research Medical Center – part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider.
HCA Midwest Health delivers more babies than any other hospital system in the Kansas City region. In fact, more than 6,000 moms from across 13 counties choose to deliver their babies with us each year. Our four birthing centers across Kansan City offer spacious maternity and birthing suites to gourmet meals to music playlists, we keep moms comfortable and relaxed while they await baby’s birth. Find an OB/GYN or Midwife at hcamidwest.com/uniquedelivery.
