Nitrous Oxide in Minneapolis: A Safe Labor Pain Management Tool
At Roots Community Birth Center, we believe that informed choice is one of the keys to an empowered birth. While we know that most of our parents desire an unmedicated labor and birth experience, the truth is that the birth process can often be unpredictable.
When labor extends longer than expected, laboring parents may become tired or experience anxiety. Sometimes birthing parents desire a little more support and comfort during labor to help “take the edge off.” That’s why we’re pleased to offer nitrous oxide as a labor pain management tool for birthing parents in the Twin Cities area.
What is Nitrous Oxide?
A colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas, nitrous oxide (N2O) is a 50/50 blend of oxygen and nitrous oxide. While N2O is frequently used in dental procedures, it has been utilized as a labor pain management tool in the birthing community for more than 100 years in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. However, it has recently gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike epidural or opioid pain relievers, nitrous oxide is not a pain reliever per se; rather, it is an analgesic that can help laboring parents cope with the pain of contractions, creating feelings of relaxation and well-being. We often say it can help “take the edge off” the intensity of labor.
Our midwives and birth assistants are trained to help birthing parents utilize nitrous oxide as an effective coping tool for labor pain management. Sometimes called “laughing gas,” nitrous is delivered from a machine and through a tube. As soon as you start to feel a contraction, you place the mask over your mouth and nose and breathe deeply. Discontinuing the deep breaths and pulling away the mask stops the flow of the nitrous.
What Are the Benefits of Nitrous Oxide?
There are several reasons birthing parents enjoy using N2O. Nitrous oxide has the following benefits:
Self-administered. You decide when to start and stop the nitrous. It takes about 30-45 seconds for the nitrous to take effect, so your birth team will help you get the hang of timing your breaths with your contractions. Ideally, N2O should support you at the peak of the contraction.
Non-invasive. When you choose nitrous, there are no needles to administer it, and it does not require fetal monitoring. Therefore, because nothing is attached to you, you still have the ability to walk or move freely as you labor.
Supportive physiologic birth. Nitrous will not slow down your labor progress or affect your ability to push. You can also use it in conjunction with hydrotherapy in the birthing pool or other pain management techniques.
Flexible. You may wish to use nitrous only during transition or to help you relax before pushing. The beauty of N2O as a birthing tool is that it is never “too late” to use it. Nitrous is also an option after labor if you need support while receiving stitches or during post-birth contractions.
Quickly cleared. You are in control and are free to use — or not use — nitrous oxide throughout your labor or birth. It’s the only labor pain relief method that’s cleared from the body through the lungs. This means as soon as you pull the mask away, you recover quickly, and the effects of nitrous are gone within a breath or two.
Is Nitrous Oxide Safe?
Yes! Nitrous oxide is safe and has no lingering effects for you or your baby. Studies have shown that babies whose parents used N2O during labor were alert, responsive, and had normal Apgar scores. In addition, the American College of Nurse-Midwives has concluded that using N2O did not interfere with healthy bonding or breastfeeding after birth.
Although most laboring parents express benefits from using nitrous oxide during labor, some commonly reported side effects are nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, and mask aversion. However, once you stop inhaling N2O, it will leave your system within five minutes.
While laughing gas does not reduce pain in the same way that an epidural or other invasive medication will, some birthing parents who used nitrous oxide during labor reported the same satisfaction levels as parents who received an epidural. N2O can help laboring parents reduce anxiety, relax, and “not care” about the pain as much. Many birthing parents said they would recommend nitrous oxide to others or use it again themselves during future deliveries.
Is Nitrous Oxide Right for Your Birth at Roots?
At Roots, we want to empower birthing parents with informed choices. Along with our birthing pools and other comfort measures, we are pleased to offer laboring parents the option of nitrous oxide as a tool for labor pain management.
Are you interested in learning more about nitrous oxide for your labor and birth at Roots? Set up a free consultation by calling us at 612-338-2784, scheduling a tour, or filling out our form!