What are sterile water injections?
Sterile water injections are a fabulous tool for labor. When a woman is having back labor – the strongest sensations of labor are in her back – a small amount of sterile water may be injected into the skin of low back. The result looks much like a TB skin test. The sterile water is injected at several pressure points around the sacrum. This is an effective way to diminish the sensation of back labor. It costs about one dollar and does not require an anesthesiologist. It does not require extra monitoring or restrict movement. Women in the U.S. typically don’t know about sterile water injections because they are rarely offered here. Sterile water injections are used in Canada, where social healthcare practices lead to low-cost solutions.
