If you don't want to mess with an epidural but aren't exactly keen on enduring loads of pain while giving birth–don't worry because you have options! In fact, according to a recent NPR report, more and more women are opting for nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, to ease the pain of labor. But is it safe?
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According to The Cut, more than half of women get epidurals during labor. But an increasing number of women have been forgoing them in favor of natural births, meaning without the use of pain medication. That's where the laughing gas comes in. It's an alternative for women who don't want to face the risks that come with epidurals but don't want to experience the hours of pain that come with natural labor. NPR reports that laughing gas was used to ease the pain of labor in the early 20th century. So what's triggered the revival here in the states?
"The use of nitrous oxide in labor has seen a surge in popularity in the U.S. over the last three years. It has been used widely in Europe and other countries, such as Australia and South Africa, for decades, with favorable results," says Marinda du Toit, Clinical Director of Maternal Child Services at Kern Medical in Bakersfield, California, the only hospital in Kern county offering this labor pain alternative. "The fact that this product offers an additional, safe, non-invasive choice for laboring patients, with a short acting, half-life, minimal to no effects on the fetus. And all of this has much to do with the increase in use."
In fact, one of the reasons why laughing gas has become so attractive to women is because it relaxes them so much that they practically forget about the pain they're experiencing. "Nitrous oxide is a tasteless, odorless gas. It is considered a safe and effective sedative agent," says du Toit. "It does not eliminate pain, but with the correct direction and usage, it reduces anxiety, therefore helping the woman to relax and cope with the pain more effectively."
For women concerned with risks, nitrous oxide's risks are pretty minimal. "Studies have shown that there are no negative effects to the use of nitrous oxide in labor to the patient, her fetus, or caregivers," du Toit adds. "It is short-acting and the concentration used for laboring patients is 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen. Most people associate nitrous oxide usage with a dental office, where variable concentrations are used and the amount of nitrous oxide can be up to 70%. Nitrous oxide is rapidly expelled from the body, and during labor, it is used intermittently to correspond with uterine contractions."
Most women can actually consider this an option. "There are a limited number of patients who should not use this medication," says Dr. Steve Rotholz of the University of Colorado's OB-GYN division, one of the only hospitals in Colorado that administers this type of labor pain relief. "These include patients with untreated vitamin B12 deficiency, certain blood clotting disorders, and those who are acutely intoxicated with alcohol or drugs."
As far as the side effects go, they are few and rare. "The concentration of nitrous oxide used for labor is not known to cause hallucinations," says du Toit. "But the side effects can include nausea and dizziness. Some women may feel claustrophobic using a face mask to administer nitrous oxide, in which case it can be administered by a mouthpiece."
The great thing about laughing gas is that it can literally be requested at any point during the labor, the same way you can request an epidural. The problem is not all hospitals offer this alternative.
"If a hospital is set up to deliver nitrous oxide, then you do not need to worry about requesting it ahead of time. You can request it at any time as long as you fall within the protocol for nitrous oxide use when you are delivering," says Dr. Kameelah Philips, founder of OBabymaternity.com. "Currently, most hospital systems are not equipped for the use of nitrous oxide in labor. It is not the same delivery system as in dental offices, so delivery and safety protocols for its use have to be developed and implemented."
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