Birthways at Mary Greeley Now Offers Nitrous Oxide

Mary Greeley Medical Center’s Birthways unit now offers nitrous oxide for our in-labor patients. 

Nitrous oxide has been added to the list of comfort-care options for pain management available on Birthways. It is an FDA-cleared analgesia that delivers 50 percent nitrous oxide and 50 percent oxygen gas that is safe and effective for easing pain and anxiety, as well as improving the ability to cope during labor. Nitrous oxide is delivered by inhaling and exhaling through a mouthpiece or mask. 

Patients have the ability to self-administer analgesia to its desired effect without losing the ability to control their body’s movement or to make decisions in labor. It is short acting, usually within 35 seconds of inhalation, and clears within 2 minutes after stopping use. 

Patients interested in using nitrous oxide in labor can have a conversation with their provider about the pros and cons of use. On admission to the Birthways unit, the admitting nurse will discuss comfort-care options for pain management in labor. 

Patients who use nitrous oxide have the flexibility to convert to other methods of pain relief such as local anesthesia, injectable opioids, and epidural anesthetics. Research shows that the rates of epidural use in labor are not reduced due to use of nitrous oxide. 

Nitrous oxide does not require an anesthesiologist. Anesthesia, which is used for an epidural, halts the brain and body’s nerve signals to temporarily block the body’s pain signals from reaching the brain—blocking the sensation of pain. Epidural care requires an anesthesiologist.