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Can nitrous oxide be used for pain relief during labor and delivery?

April 26, 2017DELIVERY labor nitrous oxide pain relief Used

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Can nitrous oxide be used for pain relief during labor and delivery?

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Nitrous oxide is not used for analgesia in labor, but is sometimes used if general anesthesia is needed for a Cesarean section. The risk of using nitrous is that it can cross the placenta and cause the infant to become sedated at delivery, making it difficult for the baby to breathe on its own. With epidural anesthesia and narcotics (i.e. morphine and its related drugs) being proven safe and effective for pain relief in labor, nitrous oxide is not advised.