St. Luke's Birthing Center First in Northland to Offer Nitrous Oxide
Posted on Sep 25, 2015
By St. Luke's, Duluth, MN
St. Luke’s Birthing Center has a new option for pain control during
labor. Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, debuted in the
St. Luke’s Birthing Center earlier this month. St. Luke’s
Birthing Center is the only facility in the Northland to offer this to
women during labor.
Nitrous oxide is an option for women seeking to mute contractions and other
pain during childbirth without using narcotics or epidural anesthesia.
It is given in controlled doses and can be managed by women themselves
during labor. Laughing gas can help women cope with pain from contractions
or other procedures related to childbirth, and effects can be felt after
about 30 seconds of inhalation via a face mask.
The use of nitrous oxide during delivery is a growing trend nationally.
“This gives women wanting a more natural delivery another option
for pain management,” said Lori Swanson, St. Luke’s maternal
child health nurse manager. Women using nitrous oxide often want a lower
intervention birth, but sometimes need the additional options to cope
with pain and ease anxiety during labor and delivery. “We are excited
to offer this to our patients,” said Swanson.
BELOW: Dr. Susan Goltz, St. Luke's OB/GYN and instrumental in implementing
nitrous oxide in the Birthing Center