Labor can be painful. One way of relieving  pain during labor is using nitrous oxide. This method is safe although it may have some risks. Nitrous oxide can be used as a weak anesthetic in high concentration. In low doses however, this drug can be used as an analgesic ( a drug for pain relief) or an anxiolytic ( a drug for anxiety relief). In recent years, there have been a growing awareness of the benefits of nitrous oxide for pain relief during labor.

 

 

Benefits of nitrous oxide during labor ?

 

Some of the benefits include the following :

• it is  safe for both mother and baby and simple to administer
• it does not affect breastfeeding
• it does not increase the need for neonatal resuscitation
• nitrous oxide is not a strong analgesic. Even though the pregnant woman may still be aware of labor pains, the medication helps them relax and decreases their perception of labor pain.
• nitrous oxide is self-administered. So you can decide how much to use and stop using it whenever you want to

 

Risks of nitrous oxide during labor

 

Some of the side effects you my encounter with the use of nitrous oxide include the following :

• dizziness
• sedation
• nausea
• vomiting

 

It has also been a concern that repeated use of nitrous oxide by health officials such as nurses and midwives may pose some reproductive risks. However, this concern can be greatly reduced by the use of ventilation and proper equipment. Limiting frequency and time of exposure can also help.

 

When used as an anesthesia instead of an analgesia, the increase in dosage has an additional risk. Surgical patients and recreational nitrous oxide drug users who are given high concentrations of nitrous oxide anesthesia, not analgesic for more than 5 hours have an increased risk of developing certain acute conditions and neurotoxic symptoms related to vitamin B12 deficiency .However this can be treated with vitamin B12 supplements.

 

You should not use this medication if :

• you have vitamin B 12 deficiency
• you had a recent ear surgery because this medication changes the pressure in  the ear.

These precautions are taken  when using nitrous oxide as an analgesic .

• its concentration must not exceed 50 %
• it must be self-administered by the woman holding a mask to her face
• the equipment releasing nitrous oxide must use scavenging equipment and have a demand valve

 

Even though this form of pain relief during labor is not for every one, it is a fairly safe low cost way of managing labor pain.
 

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