Is nitrous oxide used in medical practices?

Nitrous oxide has been used as an analgesic in dentist offices for a long time, and it works. So, people thought, why not use it to help women in labor? Laughing gas is a popular analgesic used during labor in northern Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. It is also becoming more common in the US, where hospitals in more and more states are starting to offer it as an alternative to the epidural.

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Why use laughing gas instead of an epidural?

Laughing gas is an inexpensive pain relief option, and it doesn’t pose any risks or adverse side effects to the baby either. The main advantage is that it can be used continuously. Women can even walk around while in labor, thanks to its potent analgesic effects. Also, laughing gas is less painful than an epidural. If you choose a different way to deal with pain, you can stop using nitrous oxide anytime.

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How does laughing gas work for women during labor?

Laughing gas will not completely numb body parts like an epidural will. It won’t help with pain as much as narcotics do. Most of the time, laughing gas is seen as a temporary way to forget about pain: You might still hurt, but it won’t bother you or worry you as much.

There aren’t any preparations required for laughing gas. You can eat and drink as normal up until labor. You won’t have to wait for an anesthesiologist to set you up as you do with an epidural. Instead, a trained nurse can show you how to breathe through the mask. Since you’ll be holding the mask to breathe when you need to, plus, it’s up to you when and how much of the drug you take.

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The benefits of using nitrous oxide during labor

Practitioners say that when nitrous oxide is used a lot in labor and delivery wards, it helps women feel less pain and less anxious. Laughing gas can help you relax and stay still while a doctor puts a small tube into your spinal column to set up an epidural. This can be uncomfortable or scary because it involves putting a tube into your spinal column.

It eases your needle phobia if you don’t like the idea of getting an IV. Offer a small amount of pain relief during the most painful parts of labor and pushing if you aren’t using other painkiller medications (practitioners often recommend taking a breath of the gas about 30 seconds before a contraction starts to get the maximum effectiveness). It helps you relax and focus on your new baby while your doctor checks your perineum or stitches up tears after labor.

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