Pain Relief

Question 1

What are the side affects of gas and air (entonox)

Answer 1

it can make you feel lightheaded, sick, sleepy or unable to concentrate

Question 2

What are the advantages of gas and air in labour

Answer 2

It’s easy to use and you control it yourself.

Question 3

What is a side affect of the pethidine injection

Answer 3

•it can make you feel woozy, sick and forgetful
•if pethidine or diamorphine are given too close to the time of delivery, they may affect the baby’s breathing – if this happens, another medicine to reverse the effect will be given
•these medicines can interfere with the baby’s first feed

Question 4

How is the pethidine injection used

Answer 4

It is a medicine injected into your thigh or buttock to relieve pain. It takes about 20 minutes for the effects to kick in and lasts between 2 and 4 hours.

Question 5

How does an epidural work

Answer 5

While you lie on your side or sit up in a curled position, an anaesthetist will clean your back with antiseptic, numb a small area with some local anaesthetic, and then introduce a needle into your back.
A very thin tube will be passed through the needle into your back near the nerves that carry pain impulses from the womb. Medicines are given through the tube.

Question 6

Who can perform and epidural

Answer 6

Anaesthetist

Question 7

What are some side effects of an epidural

Answer 7

• Make your legs feel heavy
• Blood pressure may drop (rarely though as fluid is given to stop this)
• Prolong second stage of labour as you can’t feel contractions.

Question 8

What do water baths do

Answer 8

Make contractions seem less painful and make the women more relaxed