If you've seen the TV series, "Call the Midwife" then you've probably seen a laboring mother call out for "gas and air" (as it is called in Britain) a time or two when her pain gets fierce. (If you haven't seen this series you are missing out, it's amazing! I got sucked in on the very first episode!)
In Europe, nitrous oxide has been around for years as a option for laboring mothers. Historically used in the US, it was replaced with narcotics and epidurals. However, it seems to be making a comeback in a delivery room near you.
Womack has recently added it to their list of pain management options up at Labor and Delivery and I wanted to share some information on exactly what it is so you can make an informed decision on whether it may be a good option for your labor or not.
Nitrous oxide is a clear, tasteless and colorless gas that is mixed with oxygen. It is a drug that is breathed in with a mask rather than taken orally or injected intravenously. The mother holds her own mask or mouthpiece and releases it when she feels the effects of the drug, which you typically begin to feel in just a few breaths. If these effects become too much or they don't seem to be helping, they should disappear within a few minutes of breathing regular air. In low doses, it is an anxiolytic, which is a drug used for anxiety relief. In high doses, this gas can be used in operating rooms as an anesthetic, meaning it leads to loss of consciousness. If you choose to use this, it is really important to have a trained nurse or doctor that understands this drug and is able to monitor just how much you are breathing in to make sure you don't over do it.
It is just slightly different than the laughing gas you may have received getting that cavity filled at the dentist. Dentist offices vary the concentration of nitrous oxide based on the patients needs, and they use a concentration of up to 70%. During labor and delivery, nitrous oxide is only used at 50% nitrous oxide to oxygen, no higher. It does not actually reduce pain or take away the sensation of a contraction, like an epidural. Instead, it relieves anxiety, so the idea is it may help with tolerance of the pain.
While it appears to have no observed immediate effects on the baby, no changes in heart rate during labor, no increased rates in meconium, no noticeable changes in apgar scores and no negative impacts on breastfeeding initiation, please keep in mind that no long term studies have been completed.
Womack does ask that you stay in the bed while breathing it in, so you will be limited on your movement, which is something to consider.
Nitrous oxide can be dangerous for any one with low vitamin B12's. If you suffer from any nutritional absorption issues or have the MTHFR gene mutation (I fall into this category!)
I strongly advise you not use nitrous oxide. There are simple blood tests to determine whether or not you have a deficiency, so if this is something you are considering for your labor I recommend you ask to be tested before hand just to make sure.
Overall, it is considered to be safe by most doctors to use during labor and delivery. But as with all medical interventions, it does have some risks. Some of these risks reported include drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, foggy memory of labor and delivery and even loss of consiousness (which I have witnessed! More on that in a future post!)
It is great to see more options welcomed into the labor and delivery room but as with any other intervention it's important to research ahead of time so you can make the best decision for you and your sweet baby.
