Gas & Air- USA

[jewelsb]

So I have read meany birth stories on here where people have got gas and air during delivery. To be honest it sounds pretty good to me lol. Im wondering if they only give gas&air in other countries or if is available in the USA also?? I only ever heard of epidurals being given here, but I would like G&A if possible

 

[AnonymousMoi]

They have other pain meds as well (can't think of the names off the top of my head) I'm sure if you googled it, you'd get a list or call your local birth center hospital and ask the nurses

 

[aley28]

Gas and air is only available in some hospitals in the States. Best bet is to call your hospital and see what they have available! And if they don't have it, put in a request! Never know... maybe they'll get it soon if people are requesting it!

 

[jewelsb]

Yes! I really want it! I will have to ask my next appointment< which is this next friday!! Such a long wait!

 

[amerikiwi]

It's called nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in USA. Same stuff as many dentist offices and balloons at concerts.

I grew up in America and had it when I was a kid in the ER for a broken arm. In my hospital, the ER had only been given the OK to administer it that day, so I had about 20 doctors, heaps of nurses, and a bunch of suits watching me to see how it went. By the time my Dad arrived at hospital I pulled the mask off, lifted my arm up and said "look Dad, I broke my arm--I can twist it in a knot now want to see...". Don't know how common it is during labour as I've only laboured in NZ and now Australia, but it dosn't hurt to ask if it's available.

 

[Allie84]

I asked my hospital and they don't have it. Seemed to think it was weird and old fashioned....but I think THEY'RE the weird ones for not having it. I would seriously be laboring with it in the UK...much less complicated than an epidural that's for sure.

 

[robinator]

My hospital doesn't have it, even though the Seattle metropolitan area was listed in Parents magazine a couple months ago as one of 3 in the US that offer it. Hmph.

 

[JackiePed]

I dunno... it might annoy me! I know I had it once during a root canal, and finally just asked him to turn it off, because all it did was *literally* make me giggle...so there I was trying to be serious and hold still, and all the while feeling all the nervousness and fear but holding back laughter at the same time! It drove me NUTS!
Same with, I think Demerol... an IV pain med they can give you during labor... I got so irritated with it because I was still feeling all the pain but couldn't keep myself from falling asleep between contractions due to the meds! So I'd fight sleep, then get jerked awake by a contraction and be TICKED...then fight sleep.... etc... LOL.

 

[Wantingbbbump]

I asked for it at my first OB apt and he said that we don't get it here ia Washington state. I was really upset and said well why not woman in the UK do and they love it. He said that I was needing to go to the UK if thats what I wanted. Now I am a little upset that I will have to go 100% meds free but I will be laboring in water as much as I can so I hope that helps with the pain. I really wish that we could get gas and air here is the US. It's really not fair that we have to use drugs to help ease the pain or just deal with the pain.

 

[beanfluff]

To be honest its completely different to an epidural.
Gas and air just makes you kind of out of it so you dont care about the pain but wears off really quickly (minutes) if you stop breathing it which is why UK women like it as we can control our pain relief.
The epidural is more taking the pain away completely without making you feel different other than not really being able to move.

Personally I think it comes down to money for the UK, its cheaper to give gas and air than an epidural and even when we ask for an epidural normally the surgeon isnt available and you end up waiting hours, in that time I guess they are hoping you will just give birth without it.

Having had both I much prefer gas and air as I hated being wired up to a bed for the epidural and having to be checked constantly.

 

[LouLou78]

hahaha Old fashioned! More like its too cheap to warrant a decent insurance bill for them. In the UK Gas and Air helps keep the epidural rate down therefore less intervention. Obviously epidurals have their place. At my hospital we have an Anaesthetist on stanby for labouring women and they are pretty prompt too.

 

[zoe4eva]

Omg I don't know what I'd do without gas and air in labour. My last 2, it's been my only pain relief and this one I'm having at home and they bring it with them!! Haha! It doesn't make u laugh in labour, it makes u not care so much about the pain, just takes the edge off.

 

[allaboard]

I have no doubt that had G and A not been available during my labour with DS that i would have resorted to asking for an epi sooner! As it was, i asked during transition and when fully dilated so it was basically a "too late, you can make it now, not long" answer! Maybe you ought to pressurise the hospital to provide it, like seriously petition them and gain the support of your (equivalent to Member of Parliament?)- maybe next baby you'll benefit if not this time.

 

[jewelsb]

That is exactly why I wanted gas and air- Just to take the edge off yet I wouldn't be strapped to a bed like I would be if I got an epidural. I think its crazy that its not common in the USA. I don't like our options!

 

[jewelsb]

I have no doubt that had G and A not been available during my labour with DS that i would have resorted to asking for an epi sooner! As it was, i asked during transition and when fully dilated so it was basically a "too late, you can make it now, not long" answer! Maybe you ought to pressurise the hospital to provide it, like seriously petition them and gain the support of your (equivalent to Member of Parliament?)- maybe next baby you'll benefit if not this time.

Def a good idea!

 

[allaboard]

You Csection rate is much much higher in many hospital than ours nationally 24% opposed to 60+% i think (correct me if wrong!) - i would say your limited mild/moderate pain relief choices have a lot to do with it. It's so very unfair yeah

 

[special_kala]

I find it very odd its not offered in the us. For you guys it seems you get offered all or nothing which is a shame as g&a is great for managing pail and keeping you mobile.

 

[Allie84]

You Csection rate is much much higher in many hospital than ours nationally 24% opposed to 60+% i think (correct me if wrong!) - i would say your limited mild/moderate pain relief choices have a lot to do with it. It's so very unfair yeah

My (US) hospital has a 30% C-Section rate....I do think that's more the national average than 60%. Still kind of shocking though!

 

[Lynnsey]

How do you find the c section rate for your hospital? Is there a website that lists this?

 

[PB_Mcgee]

I didn't think it was the same as laughing gas? It's actual name is entinox (sp?) but it's bloody greet stuff! As above I loved how I could control the pain releif and any effect wore off quickly so inwasny permanently high! It was also great for helping with breathing techniques as your really concentrating on your deep breaths x