Reply to Nitrous Oxide during labor - DC area availability?

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[quote=Anonymous]I love the new PBS (Masterpiece Theater) show Call the Midwife, and have been fascinated by the impact that "gas and air" (nitrous oxide) had on the home deliveries by midwives depicted on the show.  As I get closer to labor myself, I envy the availability of nitrous oxide to "take the edge off" during an otherwise natural birth.

Researching this, what I've read is that nitrous oxide & oxygen combinations are largely not available in the US because they are not profit centers for hospitals.  Hospitals make SO MUCH income from administration of epidurals, and if nitrous were available on demand just to take the edge off of the pain of contractions before pushing, many more laboring women may not opt for epidurals.

(For those not familiar with how nitrous is used in the UK and Canada, generally a birthing woman holds a mask and can take an inhale of nitrous any time she wants to take the edge of the pain of a contraction.  She can keep inhaling it as long as needed, but as soon as she takes off the mask, the effect begins to dissipate.  Within a few exhalations, she is back to full awareness & consciousness.  It is not meant necessarily for pain relief...the best description I got from my cousins who have used it in the UK is "It still hurts almost as much, it's just that it doesn't bother you as much while it is hurting...you can be in pain but feel okay at the same time."  Helps stave off any growing anxiety, too.

Looking back on DCUM archives, I read posts from a couple of years ago that suggested that nitrous is an option at Georgetown Hospital, but that it would have to be administered in the OR because those are the only rooms with proper venting for the exhaled gas.  Has anyone else tried to request nitrous at an other area hospitals?[/quote]

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