Nitrous Oxide During Labor

sosweet487 · March 2016

Has anyone tried this with their previous deliveries or has plans on doing it? My doctor brought it up during our last appointment and I was wanting to get first hand account from other ladies who have done it before.

tgortney · March 2016

I'm also interested to know since I didn't even know it was an option. I was told in Lamaze class that narcotics was an option

dsmith211 · March 2016

I'm having the baby at a birthing center so no epidural available to me... This is however. I've never had it before so I just speak from what my midwife has said, but I like that it's self administered so you can't have too much and that its supposed to dissipate quickly so it doesn't affect the baby and any effects to you wear off quickly. Also, it's supposedly more of a dissociative effect to remove you from the pain than actual pain relief... Not sure if it is something I want to utilize yet, but it is there if I want it.

avidkeo · March 2016

Its the first choice of pain relief in NZ. I'm aiming to use this because it doesn't affect baby and wears off almost as soon as you use it. My understanding is it fell out of favour there, but is coming back into fashion?

gampster · March 2016

All I know is that the women on the show Call the Midwife loved it

AdorkablePixie · March 2016

I wish that was an option for me! My hospital doesn't do that.

dsmith211 · March 2016

avidkeo said:

Its the first choice of pain relief in NZ. I'm aiming to use this because it doesn't affect baby and wears off almost as soon as you use it. My understanding is it fell out of favour there, but is coming back into fashion?

This pretty much. I think once people became aware of the epidural it started to fall out of use here. MIL had DH in Canada and she said she thinks she remembers it being an option for her then. I know here it's more available in birthing centers bc it doesn't require an anesthesiologist, but at least in my area I know of 2 hospitals specifically that are starting to use it again as well. Only issue is pretty much no health insurance covers it here bc it's not really widely used so if you use it then it's out of pocket. Luckily, at least in my case, it's not too terribly expensive.

lionstigersbears · March 2016

My midwives office delivers at a local hospital and they just finally got this in December after a seven year negotiation with the anesthesiologists! I guess the short version of the story is that it's not as readily used in the U.S. due to a lack of manufacturers who "mix" the gases and make the equipment for it. It has been widely used in Europe and other areas of the world for a long time, with tons of research that shows the benefits and safety. I guess another factor impacting availability in the US was related to some issues in the 80's (I think?) related to the administration without proper equipment and ventilation so it was impacting hospital staff.

As for experience - the midwife explained it in a similar way as @dsmith211 - that it not so much removes the pain but changes how you feel about it. With DS I hit a wall and got 1 dose of Fentanyl and I can share it was similar...I still felt everything, but I didn't care as much. My biggest complaint against it (besides that I don't love that it likely had an impact on DS) was that I felt pretty out of if for awhile after the birth, in combination with blood loss. If I need pain relief this time around I'm very glad there is a nitrous oxide option since it wears off so quickly!

kp90 · March 2016

Didn't know this was an option in some places. I'll have to check with my doctor.. idk about during labor but I know its my go to for dentist procedures! Every time.

kwrightnb · March 2016

They offer it here at the hospitals around me! All I know is that you have to breathe in very deeply (a lot of woman says it helps them breathe through the contractions because your sucking in the gas and breathing so steadily) a lot of woman have also told me that it makes you feel a little drunk and some puke. But some woman love the feeling and it really helps with instant pain relief !
Doesnt hurt to give it a try, I think I will if the pain gets too intense.

lionstigersbears · March 2016

kp90 said:

Didn't know this was an option in some places. I'll have to check with my doctor.. idk about during labor but I know its my go to for dentist procedures! Every time.

Yep! The concentration if 50/50 instead of 70/30, to protect against getting too little oxygen at a time you really need it!

nerdymama15 · March 2016

Never heard of it for labor/delivery, but I have used it at the dentist and I usually end up almost falling asleep. I think I used it like twice at the dentist and then I had to stop b/c it raises my anxiety even more. When I was six years old I had my tonsils taken out and I remember in the recovery room a nurse putting a mask over my face and I remember not being able to breathe and panicking and it brings back that memory everytime. I can't fathom having that while trying to deliver a baby. But that is just me. For others it might be a nice/good thing.

zanaerob1 · March 2016

@nerdymama15, they don't use a mask during L&D, they have a long tube that you hold onto, and you can put it in your mouth and breath the gas when you want to. It's used a LOT in Australia, because you literally start breathing on the tube at the beginning of a contraction, take nice deep breaths and it takes the edge off, but for most people once the contraction stops and you stop breathing the gas it wears off almost instantly. And has no effect on the baby. It doesn't work for everyone, some people feel sick or dizzy with it, and some people find it just doesn't help. But for a lot of people it's pretty magic.

js8812 · March 2016

My friend in Canada has recently used this for her last two children and said it really takes the edge off. She also said it helped her focus on her breathing. I'm definitely going to ask if it's available at my hospital.

dshannah · March 2016

My sister in the UK had an epidural for Baby #1, but Baby #2 came too quickly for an epidural so they used "gas and air" (which is what they called the nitrous oxide). When it was all said and done, she said she'd have preferred the epidural, but the nitrous oxide took the edge off and was an enormous help.

When I asked my OB about it she categorically said no, because it does affect the baby. I might ask for a second opinion, though, given what some of you ladies have said.

lalala2004 · March 2016

As someone trying to go med-free, I see this as a compromise. My hospital only recently started offering it. I see this as my first response to any feelings like I can't handle labor, as opposed to going straight for an epidural.

dsmith211 · March 2016

nerdymama15 said:

Never heard of it for labor/delivery, but I have used it at the dentist and I usually end up almost falling asleep. I think I used it like twice at the dentist and then I had to stop b/c it raises my anxiety even more. When I was six years old I had my tonsils taken out and I remember in the recovery room a nurse putting a mask over my face and I remember not being able to breathe and panicking and it brings back that memory everytime. I can't fathom having that while trying to deliver a baby. But that is just me. For others it might be a nice/good thing.

The mixture used at the dentist is different than the one used in L&D. 70/30 vs I think 50/50 at the dentist so there is more oxygen in the concentration, so that might make a little difference. Also, at least in my case it has to be self administered to make sure you don't get too much. No one else can touch the mask or tubing. Only you can if you really want it. That being said, I was told that some people still don't like it and can react to it in different ways so it may not be for everyone, but that can also be said for any medication.

pelicanesque · March 2016

lalala2004 said:

As someone trying to go med-free, I see this as a compromise. My hospital only recently started offering it. I see this as my first response to any feelings like I can't handle labor, as opposed to going straight for an epidural.

Exactly this!

folamij · March 2016

I wanted to use nitrous oxide during labor. It was my top choice if I decided I needed a little extra help with pain, and knowing I could control it was even better. Research showed not only is it safe when used on a 50% oxygen/50% nitrous oxide blend. Also commonly used in Canada and Europe from what I read, and a fraction of what an epidural costs. My hospital however, doesn't offer it. They only offer the narcotics and epidural which isn't an option for me due to a spinal issue. So, that ship sailed for me...sad day.

dshannah · March 2016

folamij said:

I wanted to use nitrous oxide during labor. It was my top choice if I decided I needed a little extra help with pain, and knowing I could control it was even better. Research showed not only is it safe when used on a 50% oxygen/50% nitrous oxide blend. Also commonly used in Canada and Europe from what I read, and a fraction of what an epidural costs. My hospital however, doesn't offer it. They only offer the narcotics and epidural which isn't an option for me due to a spinal issue. So, that ship sailed for me...sad day.

Just chiming in to say how much that sucks! It's one thing to opt in to a natural birth, but to be forced into one because your hospital can't be bothered to accommodate patients with special needs? Ugh.

sosweet487 · March 2016

I am afraid of an epidural but I am MORE afraid of the pain of natural birth lol. From what I read the nitrous oxide doesn't help with the pain but it relaxes you more. Some women I talked to in this other group I belong to said that they could feel the pain but they didn't care.

I'm definitely going to give it a try for sure. All of the doctors and nurses were super excited about it. Plus... if it doesn't work then I can stop and get an epidural. I want to be able to walk around as much as I can during labor. But who knows... I may get to the hospital and not want to move.

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