Laughing Gas in Labor

[JoyRenee]

Okay we HAVE to get a discussion going on this. It's all in fun, ladies. No need to get upset if someone doesn't agree with your viewpoint. I have my own opinion and I can't wait to share it with you. And you may be surprised by MY reaction if you know my views on birth (pro-natural birther).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110213/ap_on_he_me/us_laughing_gas_labor


What say you?

[gem111]

oh it is such a shame you do not get the choice to have the gas, i live in the uk and it is used alot as you say! If a mother is having a home birth this would be the pain relief they have.

I sucked on the gas from when i was around 7 cm until the baby was born, it put me totally in control as with my first i was given pethadine (which i strongly do not recommend as i had no control over anything!)

You only have it when you are having a contraction it realy helps.

I do hope you have more of a choice soon, as with me if i did not have the gas i may have then asked for something else which would not help at all!!!

[cherylsangel]

i also wanted to add that I remember petting my gas mask and saying how much I was in love with it!!!

[JenLyn25]

I'm not having an epidural and would definitely give the gas a try.  

[cherylsangel]

i absolutely loved the gas....i knew i wasnt going to get the epidural but i didnt know that gas was an option. When she first gave it to me i didnt think i liked it but then it started kicking in and OMG i freaking loved it. It total helped with my pain and i went from 5 to 10 centimetes in 2 hours but it felt like only 30 minutes had passed! And also it did make me loopy i remember that everytime the nurse would leave the room I asked my boyfriend if he wanted to take a "hit" because it was so good! I will definately be using the gas for any future labours that I may have!

[misslollipop]

I had the gas with my ds.. it was great, as i'm in australia so it's offered before an epidural or any narcotics, and when in labor it doesn't make you laugh even tho i would like to try it with out the pain, but it does take the edge of things, i ended up having a epi and was having the gas whilst they were putting the needle in so it wasn't too bad having to sit there while having painful contractions trying to sit still,but on the down side the gas can make you feel nauseous and vomit but that only happened once the whole time i used it. I think it's worth while.

[jenkaye21]

I'm sure I'd be hilarious on the gas, LoL.  All i've ever taken with my four births was Stadol (sp?) which is supposed to "take the edge off" (yeah right).  I never felt like it did much for my pain, but apparently it made me awfully funny.  I can remember talking to my son, saying "Come back here, Eli" when of course he wasn't even there.  I *knew* that, at some level, but I couldn't seem to control what was coming out of my mouth.... ;)
I think offering gas would be a good alternative to an epidural.  I would probably try it (if needed); I always plan to go all-natural but have never made it so far. :(

[dtravis87]

I will be opting for laughing gas when I give birth I have had it everytime I have gone to the dentist since I was 3yrs old and I have loved it everytime since then so Im sure it will be fun when Im in labour lol

[Majikat]

i had the gas.... it does not really help at all with the pain.... it makes you a bit loopy and helps you concentrate on your breathing which is helpful

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I SO hear you on the epidural during active labor.  With my last I got the epidural when contractions were coming 2 minutes apart.  The same with the one before that.  NOT pleasant to try and sit still and not tense up during a HUGE contraction...

As for laughing gas.  I've never had it so I don't really know much about it.  But, like Joy said, I believe having another alternative will help more women to have babies naturally.  Granted I've had epidurals with 4 of mine (plus 1 c-section and one drug free birth)....but I'm ALL FOR a natural birth when possible.  

I had stadol this last time but it made me REALLY loopy.  I was going cross eyed and talking nonsense and slurring my words.  Don't  wanna do that again.  

[JoyRenee]

PS It won't make you loopy or make you feel "out of it" unless you wear it continuously. The consensus is to only take a huff from it whenever a particular hard contraction, during transition, comes on and the mom just can't cope. In this way she can stay clear-headed, alert and baby won't have affects from it.

[NicMom]

I had it once at the dentist also and I don't know that I would like it for the entire labor, but maybe for the epidural. If you've ever had to get your epidural in really active labor you know that it's horrible trying to sit still through a contraction. I think you should get a puff right before they give the epidural that would be great and probably not possible :-)

[JoyRenee]

My feeling is that this is a safer alternative to the epidural and will help to decrease the cesarean rates in the United States. It carries lower risks and unless you're sucking on the thing you're entire labor it shouldn't affect baby.

I think this technique will help more women have a natural birth experience when given a few huffs here or there (you do not wear it continuously but only take a huff during really strong contractions usually during transition). It does not take away the pain but it does take the edge off (helps you calm down and relax; fear and tension create more pain).

So all-in-all I think this would be a great alternative pain reliever for women afraid of the epidural, who downright disagree with the epidural or for moms who want a natural birth but find themselves in many hours of hard labor.

[julianovak]

*** Oh and I had the epidural. It didnt hurt. I actually didnt even feel it.

BUT  I will say that my back hurts from time to time. I think its solely bc of the epidural. No I dont reccomend it. It stinks being a first time mom, you dont know anything about medical interventions, the risks.... unless you fully research it.

[hiltonvslohan]

im hoping to go all natural but when the moment comes we'll really know what happens lol if i can't do it i dont mind taking something else getting the epi. laughing gas would be great tho lol i bet it doesn't even get to the baby much so why worry ya kno

[chantal21]

If I ever had to give birth at a hospital, I would love to try laughing gas. I've had it one time when I was younger. I had to have a tooth pulled out. That stuff is great!! lol
I've given birth twice so far with no medications, but if that would take the edge off, I would try it. I am deathly afraid of a needle going in my back. =/

[ketona31479]

never had laughing gas, my doc gave me morphine, but just enough to fill the needle because i was so sensitive to it. i was sooo loopy lol

[julianovak]

LOL> I would LOVE to try laughing gas, it sounds fun! Id probably be so loony lol.

[amandamae1126]

I say that if it helps women AND is safe for babies, the more options we have the merrier! Personally, I plan on giving birth for the first time hoping to have no epidural, but I am willing to have one if needed. However, I would like to try all other available options first. Gas will not be available to me since I live in the US and I've tried to talk to my dr about other options. Unfortuantely, this last time I tried to talk to her about it she was called out because one of her patients was ready to push...can't get upset about that because I hope she drops a patient when it's my turn! :)

[JoyRenee]

Definitely common in the UK, Canada and other countries! But in the USA there are only two hospitals that currently offer the gas.

[gem111]

I loved the gas and air it helped me sooooo much I didn't have anything else for all three of my labours and am hoping to do the same this time around xx my friend on the other hand was sick with it and didn't like it so it obviously has different effects on different people xx