Gas & Air ( Entonox )

The only drug related form of painrelief available to women having a homebirth is Gas & Air ( Entonox ).

When your midwife delivers your 'homebirth box' she will also bring a cylinder of Gas & Air, also known as Entonox. (They normally also have one in the car which they bring along during your labour)

Many women use this to take of the edges of the contractions. Entonox is composed of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide.

Should you decide to use Gas & Air, you will probably want it towards the end of the first stage. In the second stage of labour you might have some at the beginning of each contraction and then concentrate on pushing the baby out.

The Gas & Air (Entonox) is taken via a mouthpiece with a two-piece valve so you can breath in as well as out. As soon as you feel a contraction starting you will hold the mouthpiece by your mouth and breath deeply and evenly. The gas enters your bloodstream in a matter of seconds so when your contraction is at it's peak, you will have some painrelief from the entonox.

The gas will make you feel a bit light-headed, your muscles will relax and your hand will automatically drop away from your face so you stop breathing the gas. By the time your contraction is over the Gas & Air will no longer affect you.

 

There are ofcourse side effects.

On the other hand, it has helped lots of women through the contractions. So should you feel the contractions are very painful and hard to handle, the Entonox is there and for you to use should you need it!

(and if you don't use it, your birthing partner might want to have a go at it!!)

 

Other forms of painrelief available at home: