Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Offering Nitrous Oxide as Pain Option for OB Patients

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center is now offering the use of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, as pain control option during labor, and is the only hospital in St. Lawrence County offering this pain control option for obstetrics patients. Nitrous oxide is self-administered which makes it more convenient for the patient. As patients progress through labor, they can decide how much to nitrous oxide to use and when to stop using it and move onto another form of pain relief, such as an epidural. Some benefits of using nitrous oxide are that it allows labor to progress and does not impact the alertness of the baby during the early bonding period and does not affect breastfeeding. It can also be used to ease the discomfort that can occur during an episiotomy repair. For more information about all of our OB pain control options, contact our Birthplace at 315-713-5420. Shown in the photo are OB nurses Katelyn Bertrand and Marilyn Moore. Your tomorrow is worth defending.