Holy Redeemer Hospital in Jenkintown is bringing laughter to its delivery room by offering expectant mothers nitrous oxide during delivery, writes John George for Philadelphia Business Journal.

“It doesn’t take pain away completely, but it will help patients cope better,” said Julie Greenfield, Holy Redeemer’s director of maternal child health.

The trend of using nitrous oxide in maternity wards has been gaining popularity nationwide. This follows extensive research that found the use of the so-called laughing gas in low doses, is safe for both mother and baby. The gas acts both as an anxioltic to reduce anxiety and an analgesic to blunt pain.

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Patients who opt to use nitrous oxide will self-administer the gas. “The patient is in complete control because they control the button pressed to deliver the gas,” said Greenfield. She added that it can be used when contractions start or as an alternative for an epidural.

“This is a boon to mothers who want to remain in the moment during childbirth, but want to take the edge off their pain in a natural way,” said Greenfield.

Read more about Holy Redeemer Hospital’s new service at Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.

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