Nitrous Oxide for Pain management

flabride04

I just read an article from NPR about how Nitrous oxide is offered to delivering moms in most developed countries except in the U.S.  50% of mothers in the UK use it to alleviate pain and tress during delivery, 60% in Finland, and widely in Canada.  There are no side effects to the baby and the only side effects for the mom are nausea in some.  You are still able to move around and much less likely to have an unplanned c-section.  If you google it there are a few articles out there.  Has anyone on here heard of this or used this?  I wish it were more readily available here.

jteneback

My mom used it in 1974 in Europe.  She and my dad were talking about the experience and they agreed it wasn't really a good thing to do, don't know why they felt that way.  She did make it sound like the pain relief wasn't that great.  I think most people here prefer the epi, which I know is less common overseas.

GenaBoBenaWife

I was given this when I had 2 teeth pulled & it didn't do a damn thing for my pain or stress, so I can't imagine it helping much during labor.

Gina418

I already signed up for my epi!

flabride04

Thanks for the feedback girls!  I can see how it wouldn't help much for the pain but it might be nice to take the edge off of the whole ordeal if you don't plan on having an epi?  The thought of the epi freaks me out but sounds like it's the way to go...

flabride04

Love the t-shirt on your dog by the way!  So adorable!

CakeBatter

flabride04:

The thought of the epi freaks me out but sounds like it's the way to go...

From a needle phobic who has been there, done that....getting a big long needle jabbed in my spine was a relief compared to labor pains.  Then again, I do have a low pain tolerance.   The first words out of my mouth when the anesthesiologist introduced himself were "Oh, thank God".  And I'd even had 2 shots of Stadol at that point.  Honestly, it's only a temporary pinch and it's over quickly.  I'd rather bear that than the seemingly never-ending contractions.

ManiacMcGee

I used to do whippets (nit oxide) in the parking lots before concerts for fun.

Needless to say, I would NOT want that to be my birthing experience not to mention it wasn't exactly all that pain-reducing IMO. 

flabride04

That is reassuring to hear from a fellow needle phobe!  I will keep telling myself that. 

KCKSarah

ManiacMcGee:

I used to do whippets (nit oxide) in the parking lots before concerts for fun.

Needless to say, I would NOT want that to be my birthing experience not to mention it wasn't exactly all that pain-reducing IMO. 

 

LOL.  They sell it in balloons don't they?

weelass24

ManiacMcGee:

I used to do whippets (nit oxide) in the parking lots before concerts for fun.

Needless to say, I would NOT want that to be my birthing experience not to mention it wasn't exactly all that pain-reducing IMO. 

This, except I knew a guy with a tank and we used to fill up huge balloons and do them out of there.

comfortable

I can understand your idea about having it if you're not having an EPI - may have to look into that.  I can see it taking the edge off (I remember having it when having my wisdom teeth removed years ago - didn't help with the pain itself, but did put my nerves at ease).  

mollymurphy

I've only had nitrous once, when I was being trained to use it for patients myself...and I can't imagine wanting to feel like that during labor. 

When we use it for patients in dentistry, it's not for pain relief: it's for relief of anxiety and relaxation. Use of local anesthesia for pain relief is still necessary. I can't imagine that it does much for the pain...I think the best you'd get is some distraction from the discomfort (and some nausea, if you're me.) 

LaceFace14

Lurking out from TTCAL. I live in Canada and I used it during labour with my DD. It did take the edge off the pain and really had me focus on my breathing. I think its great if you dont want to have an epi but want a little something.

flabride04

comfortable:

I can understand your idea about having it if you're not having an EPI - may have to look into that.  I can see it taking the edge off (I remember having it when having my wisdom teeth removed years ago - didn't help with the pain itself, but did put my nerves at ease).  

 

Me too!  All the stress went away the minute they gave it to me. 

flabride04

LaceFace14:

Lurking out from TTCAL. I live in Canada and I used it during labour with my DD. It did take the edge off the pain and really had me focus on my breathing. I think its great if you dont want to have an epi but want a little something.

 

I have heard that it is very common in Canada, and a lot of other countries.  I still wish we had the option here.  None of the hospitals in my area offer Nitrous for deliveries.  Thanks for the input, I was hoping to hear from someone that used it during their delivery!

flabride04

LaceFace14 - I am new to all of this and I just figured out what TTCAL stands for.  So sorry for your loss. 

LegalLadyBug

I had this when I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed and it was horrible. It didn't work for me, it actually had the opposite of a calming effect and made me shake uncontrollably and I couldn't stop crying. I wouldn't use it even if it was an option.