They found that although opioid use “significantly increased” when N20 was withheld, there was no increase in epidural use and no change in labor duration, Cesarean section rates, birthing complications or newborn alertness.
Their findings have been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Nitrous oxide is used by more than 50 percent of Australian women to relieve pain in labor, followed by epidurals (40 percent) and opioids (12 percent), according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
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However, its carbon footprint (representing 6 percent of global gas emissions, with 1 percent due to healthcare) has led to a debate in medical circles about whether it should be replaced with other methods of pain relief.
Many obstetricians argue that effective pain relief in childbirth should be the priority, particularly given the low percentage of emissions, but the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists has advocated for a reduction in N20 use in a bid to improve environmental sustainability in anesthesia.
“Obviously no one wants to deprive laboring women of adequate and easy pain relief but given there are other analgesic options, including epidurals and opioids, perhaps these could be considered,” says Prof Froessler.
UniSA statistician and researcher Dr. Lan Kelly says, the study results should reassure women that pain relief other than nitrous oxide does not compromise their health or their babies.
However, in a recent Sydney Morning Herald article, principal midwifery officer at the Australian College of Midwives, Kellie Wilton, said mothers should not be made to feel guilty about their pain relief choices and suggested hospitals could introduce nitrous oxide destruction systems to allow for its ongoing use.
When nitrous oxide destruction systems were introduced in Swedish hospitals, the carbon footprint from the gas was halved.
Source: Eurekalert
