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Nitrous Oxide for Pain Relief in Labor

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Nitrous Oxide for Pain Relief in Labor Share with Women Share with Nitrous Oxide for Pain Relief in Labor What is nitrous oxide and how is it used for labor? Nitrous oxideisknown by most peopleas“laughinggas.” Manydentistsuseittohelp with pain duringdental care.For labor pain, half nitrous oxide gas is mixed with half oxygen andbreathed throughamask or a mouth- piece.Many women in Europeand other countries, suchasCanadaandAustralia,useittohelp copewithpain in labor.Itisso common that in some countries as many as8in 10 women usenitrous oxidetohelp with labor pain. Women in these countries have been using this method ofpain relief in labor safely for manyyears. Nitrous oxidehasn’t been used as often in the United States, butthatischanging. How does nitrous oxide work to relieve pain during labor? The nitrous oxideis mixed in special equipment, andyoubreathe it throughamask or mouthpiece.You hold yourownmask, so youdecidewhentouseitand how much you need. Youstart to breathe in the gas mixture about 30 seconds before a contraction begins. Starting to breathe the gasbefore a contraction begins helps the gas to workbestaboutthesame time the contraction reaches itspeak, so youget the greatestamount of relief. Youcan putthemask or mouthpiece down between contractions anduseitonand off asyouchoose. How much does nitrous oxide help with labor pain? How well nitrous oxideworks isdifferent for every woman,butatleasthalf of women who useitsay it is helpful and they would choosetouseitagain. Some women say that it “takes the edgeoff” of the peak of the contractions, enoughthatthey are abletocopewiththeirlabor better.Others report more pain relief. Nitrous oxidealso lowers anxiety. This helps youfeelless tense duringcontractions, whichmay alsohelp youcopewithpain better. Some women donotfind nitrous oxidehelpful enoughordonotliketheway it makes them feel. Theycan chooseto try other options to help their labor pain.Other pain relief methods can still be used after using nitrous oxide. How will I feel while I am using nitrous oxide? You might feeldrowsy, lightheaded, or a little silly while you are using nitrous oxide.This is why it got the name laughinggas. Because you mayfeel a little unsteady, a family member or staff person should always beinthe room while you are breathing the gas. Thesearecommon sideeffects that should goawayquickly when you stopbreathing the gas. Some women feel nauseous, and other medication can be given to makethenausea go away if needed. Rarely, women say theyfeel restless or confused at times. Does nitrous oxide have any bad side effects? Youcan pass out for a minute ifyou takeintoomuch gas. For this reason,youshould betheonly person controlling the amount ofgasyou receive. When you are the only person holding the mask or mouthpiece,your hand will slip awayfrom the mask or mouthpiece, andyou will no longer breathe in the gas ifyoustart to get sleepy. Thisprotectsyoufrom passing out. Does nitrous oxide affect my baby? Nitrous oxideis the only pain relief methodusedfor labor that isclearedfrom your body through your lungs. As soon asyoupullthe mask away, the effectofbreathing the gas isgone within a few breaths. Noextra monitoring is neededfor you or the baby because you are using nitrous oxide.Ifyoudidget too sleepy, a monitor to check youroxygen levels might be placed on your finger.Nitrous oxideissafe for your baby, soifyour baby’s heart rate isbeingchecked intermittently (off and on) rather than continuously (all the time) with a fetal monitor, that isstill okay. If becauseof arisk factor it isbesttohave your baby checkedcontinuously with an electronic fetal monitor, nitrous oxideisstill safetouse. 1526-9523/09/$36.00 doi:10.1111/jmwh.12103 c 2013 by the American CollegeofNurse-Midwives 727 g Does nitrous oxide affect labor progress? or . No, nitrous oxide does not haveany effectonyour uterus (womb) or contractions. Will my provider be administering the nitrous oxide? No.The nitrous oxidemask or mouthpieceis always held by the laboring woman and only the laboring woman. Youbreathe in the gas asyoufeelyou need it.Youset the mask or mouthpiece down when youdon’t feelyou need to breathe the gas. Can I be out of bed and use nitrous oxide? Yes. As long asyou are steady on your feet,you maybe up and aboutinyourroom.Youcan stand at the bedside, harewithwomen sit on the commodeorthebirth ball, andso forth.In some hospitals, the equipment isplugged into a wall so .s you would need to be near where the nitrous oxide comes outof the wall to useit. Can I use nitrous oxide while I am in the tub? www Different places ofbirth and health care providers will have different policies on if and how nitrous oxide can be used while you are in the tub. Youshould talk to your provider and/or the place youplan to give birth for specifics. Can I use nitrous oxide and have intravenous (IV) opioid medications (such as fentanyl) at the same time? Different places ofbirth and health care providers will have different policies on if and how other medications are used with nitrous oxide.Youshould talk to your provider and/or the place youplan to give birth for specifics. Must I choose between either using nitrous oxide OR having an epidural? No. Some women mayusenitrous oxide before they haveanepiduralplaced. Usually the epidural and nitrous oxidearenotused at the same time.You maychoosetousenitrous oxide firstand then movetoadifferent type ofpain relieflater in labor. Are there any reasons I could not use nitrous oxide? Yes. Youcannot usenitrous oxideifyou: r cannot hold yourownfacemask or mouthpiece. r have pernicious anemia (a vitamin B12 deficiency) and take vitamin B12 supplements. r haveafew other rare medicalconditions that your provider will assess youfor when takingyourmedical history. For More Information Childbirth Connection http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10188 The Best Chance http://www.bestchance.gov.bc.ca/birth/giving-birth/pain-relief-options.html Thispagemaybereproducedfornoncommercialusebyhealthcareprofessionalstosharewithclients.Any other reproduction is subject to the Journal ofMidwifery&Women’s Health’s approval. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, the Journal of Midwifery&Women’s Health suggests that you consult your health care provider. American College of Nurse-Midwives 728 Volume 58, No.6,November/December 2013.
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