Providing pain relief in childbirth

Nitrous oxide (N2O) gains popularity as a solution to delivery pains for women in labor

Nitrous oxide, or N2O, also known as laughing gas, is often applied as an analgesic, or pain killer, for a variety of medical procedures. In recent years, it has become increasingly used to ease pain and discomfort for pregnant women going into labor. It is now available for laboring moms at Inova Alexandria Hospital (IAH). “N2O is starting to become more widely practiced in the labor room,” says Jodie Turner, Senior Director of Women’s and Children’s at IAH.

There are two points during the labor process at which nitrous oxide can be distributed. Most commonly, it is given to the mother early in the process to provide pain relief until she can receive her epidural anesthesia (which is given to about half of all women that give birth at a hospital). Or, if the mother chooses not to receive an epidural and instead undergo natural labor, the laughing gas can be an alternative pain reliever.

“I like the fact that offering nitrous oxide to women in labor will give them more pain mitigation options and more control over their own experiences here at Inova Alexandria Hospital,” says Brent Lee, MD, MPH.

Marc Siegel, MD, agrees. “Improving our patients’ satisfaction in the labor process is our goal and this gives them another option to choose, other than the conventional methods to manage their discomfort,” he says.

A hospital nurse gives the N2O as a temporary inhalant, and all of the nurses are trained in how to properly give the treatment.

Read more about the Nitrous oxide program for childbirth pain relief

Learn about childbirth, delivery and other maternity options at Inova Alexandria Hospital birthing center