by Mercy's Bethany Pope
Key points:
- Mercy Hospital Washington now offers nitrous oxide for childbirth, thanks to gifts to the Mercy Health Foundation.
- Nitrous oxide gives patients another choice for pain relief, whether they are planning an unmedicated birth, looking for support before an epidural or simply wanting more options during their labor journey.
- When using the low dosage of 50/50 nitrous and oxygen, moms are better able to tolerate pain during labor. Other benefits of laughing gas include fast acting, self-administered so the patient stays in control, quickly leaves the system when it’s stopped, allows patients to remain awake, alert and mobile, and can help decrease anxiety and promote relaxation during labor.
WASHINGTON, Mo. – Childbirth labor is no laughing matter, though when it comes to pain relief, nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” can help lighten the mood. Nitrous oxide is now available during childbirth at Mercy Hospital Washington thanks to the Mercy Health Foundation.
Nitrous oxide gives patients another choice for pain relief, whether they are planning an unmedicated birth, looking for support before an epidural or simply wanting more options during their labor journey.
“Bringing nitrous oxide to Mercy Washington gives moms another reason to stay close to home for maternity care and enables us to continue growing our services while providing compassionate, personalized care right here in our community,” said Chandra Alsop, RN, nurse manager of Mercy Washington’s labor and delivery unit. “Each birth story is unique, and all moms deserve options.”
Nitrous oxide has been used since the 1930s for childbirth, though fell out of fashion when newer therapies debuted. Outside the United States, nitrous has been a staple for laboring moms who choose not to use an epidural.
When using the low dosage of 50/50 nitrous and oxygen, moms are better able to tolerate pain during labor. Other benefits of laughing gas include:
- Fast acting
- Self-administered, so the patient stays in control
- Quickly leaves the system when it’s stopped
- Allows patients to remain awake, alert and mobile
- Can help decrease anxiety and promote relaxation during labor
“Many patients today are looking for more personalized and low-intervention approaches to childbirth,” said Dr. Christy Bleckman, Mercy Washington OB/GYN. “Adding nitrous oxide gives moms another safe and flexible option for comfort during labor while continuing to support each patient’s unique goals and preferences.”
Moms interested in nitrous oxide during labor should speak with their physicians in advance or the labor nurses upon arrival at the hospital.
