Saint Vincent now offering laughing gas for childbirth

Courtesy Saint Vincent Hospital is among a growing number of U.S. hospitals offering nitrous oxide as method for managing labor pain.

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By Emily Micucci

Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester is among a growing number of U.S. hospitals opting to offer nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, to women in labor.

The hospital said Tuesday it chose to add nitrous oxide as a pain management method as it has gained popularity in recent years in U.S. hospitals, and as the American College of Nurse Midwives has said it should be an option for women in labor in the U.S. It is commonly used in other developed nations.

Saint Vincent said the analgesic can be used along with other treatments, such as epidurals. While it does not block pain, the hospital said nitrous oxide has been found to decrease anxiety while increasing a feeling of well-being so that the pain is easier for patients to deal with.

The treatment is self administered through a mask that the woman holds, deciding when she needs to inhale.

“The staff is really embracing it as they see how effective it is when used by their patients,” said Dr. Alison Madden, chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Vincent.

Saint Vincent cited the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which said peer-reviewed research has determined nitrous oxide is safe for the mother and the baby.