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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