Nitrous oxide - popularly known here as gas 'n' air or Entonox which
is the brand name, I think - is still fairly widely used in the UK.
I cannot quote research at the moment as I am not able to search, but
there has never been any conerns about its use, and women and
midwives, in general, like it (some women don't like masks, though)
if they prefer to avoid diamorphine or epidural. It's v. quick
acting and v. quick disappearing - not possible, pharmaceutically,
for any effects on the baby or bf, at least that's my understanding.
There is no build up of it in the body and because the mother is in
control, she cannot OD on it....your hand drops from your face as
soon as you start feeling a bit 'woozy' and you cannot breathe in any
more.
It's far, far better in that respect than diamorphine, also widely
used here. It's only really used in first stage and early 2nd stage,
as usng it in late second stage needs you to get your head round
holding the mask, then breathing in at the right moment, and there is
usually too much intense activity in 2nd stage for that.
I used it myself - its effects are v. mild but it does take the 'top'
off the contraction and at the end of 1st stage that suited me. It's
the analgesia of choice, I would say, in home births, and water
births.
There is no period of recovery from gas 'n' air, for mother or baby,
as there is virtually nothing to recover from.
Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK
--
http://www.heatherwelford.co.uk
http://heatherwelford.posterous.com
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