When it comes to pain relief for birth, most moms in the United States opt for an epidural, and there are several reasons for that. First and foremost, epidurals are usually extremely effective. For most mothers, they completely eliminate the pain of labor contractions. But many women hope to avoid the immobility that comes with an epidural, as well as other potential side effects. Another popular option is an opioid medication like Stadol. But these get mixed reviews, being helpful for some mothers and making others feel nauseated or drunk. And opioids carry distinct risks for baby.
For moms that prefer to avoid an epidural or IV opioids, there are a host of other coping techniques and tools that they can turn to. Many moms love techniques like massage and hydrotherapy. But here are three options that are lesser-known and are probably under used:
Nitrous Oxide
The same “laughing gas” that your dentist delivers through that funny little rubber nose used to be a pain relief staple in hospital births, but it fell out of favor for a while. Now it’s making a comeback, and there’s good reason. For one thing, it clears the system extremely quickly, making it lower risk than many other drug options. It also doesn’t limit mother’s mobility–as soon as her head is clear, she can move around again. It can take a little time and practice to get the hang of how to use it, but once moms have it down, they often find it very helpful. For mothers that don’t need the heavy hitting pain relief of an epidural, but just a little help, nitrous can be a good option.
I do recommend that those considering using nitrous oxide do some research about MTHFR gene mutations. Many people have some form of this genetic variation, which is included in some testing after multiple pregnancy losses. There are some concerns for those that do using nitrous oxide. The risk is a subtle one, but it’s worth informing yourself about.
TENS Units
TENS machines (short for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) are used for many different kinds of pain. You may have seen a famous basketball player advertising one version of this device, sold under the brand name of a popular pain-relieving medicine. (But please don’t get one of those for your labor! That’s not the device you’re looking for.)
TENS devices have sticky pads that are placed on your skin, which are attached to a small handheld device with wire leads, which deliver low-level electrical pulses. This would be considered a form of “gate-control” pain management, interfering with your perception of pain by delivering another stimulus for your brain to respond to. At higher levels, the pulses can be an irritant (not as “irritating” as labor contractions), causing the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killers.
Many mothers find a TENS machine to be helpful in managing their labor pain. Probably the main drawback of using one is that you can’t get into a tub or shower while using one. If you decide you want to try this for your labor, I recommend getting a unit that’s designed for use during birth. This is something that you would bring to the hospital yourself, rather than asking for one at the hospital. You may be able to rent one, or if you think you might use it beyond pregnancy and birth, you can purchase one. Some doulas also offer the use of a unit as part of their services.
Sterile Water Injections
This is one of the cheapest, most effective, and least-used techniques for relieving the sensations of back labor. I am honestly not sure why it’s not more widely offered to mothers. I hate to think that it’s because hospitals can’t bill as much for it as they would for a drug. I know when I was having my babies and asked if they were an option, I got a pretty hard eye roll.
Four injections of sterile water are made into the skin at four points on mom’s lower back. The downside –the only downside that I’m aware of– is that when the injections are first done, they sting like crazy. The sensation is often compared to a bee sting. Usually, the staff will try to get two people to administer the injections so they can do two at a time and get them over quickly. Then the stinging sensation subsides, and mom has around 2 hours of relief from the pain of her back labor. Just like a cranked up TENS unit, these injections stimulate the body’s own pain management system–endorphins.
Sterile water injections don’t stop mom from feeling the other normal sensations of labor. But often, when her back pain is gone, Mom is better able to cope with her contractions.
A TENS machine is something you can get for yourself, but if you want to have nitrous oxide or sterile water injections available for your birth, ask your provider. Call the hospital where you’re planning to give birth, and ask them for it too! Medicine is a business in the United States, and YOU are the consumer. Change is driven by demand. You have the power, so ask for what you want!
Did you use any of these for your labor? Did you find it helpful? Leave a comment to share your experience!
