What is Gas?
In labor, gas is a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. This is also known as laughing gas or entonox. It helps relieve pain during labor and interferes with your body’s stress response, thus reducing anxiety. Laughing gas is inhaled using a mask or mouthpiece that is connected to the gas supply by a tube. Generally, most women inhale the gas during contractions. However, since it takes some time before it starts working, it is advisable to start inhaling it as soon as contractions begin. You can continue breathing in the gas for as long as you want since it is safe for you and the baby.
Advantages Of Using Gas During Labor
Considering that laughing gas has low potency, it remains safe to both the mother and the baby when used. Some of the advantages you enjoy when using laughing gas during labor are such as:
- It does not remain in your body for long
- You get to have a vaginal delivery without much pain
- You can change positions in between contractions
- You are in a position to breathe rhythmically
- You can use it at any stage of labor
- It does not affect your baby
Disadvantages Of Using Laughing Gas
Like any other medical interventions, use of laughing gas during labor does have some risks and disadvantages. They include:
- Feeling drowsy if used by someone using other drugs such as pethidine
- It may fail to work in some women whereby it barely only decreases the pain.
Side-effects
Luckily, gas does not affect the baby in any way. However, it may affect the mother in several ways such as nausea and vomiting or feeling dizzy and light headed. Inhaling a lot of the gas may at worst cause you to be unconscious. It is possible to avoid severe effects by holding the mask on your own.
Where to get it
Gas is not common to all birthing centers. In fact, it is currently only available at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.
Disclaimers:
#Please note that development differs from one child to another
# Content intended for educational purposes only, and should not be substituted for medical advice from your doctor.
Last reviewed January 2019
Sources: kenyayote, safebirthproject, bellybelly, whattoexpect, pregnancybirthbaby, mamanatural
