Hi all: It was quite interesting to me when I was visiting in Sydney in January, to witness the use of N2O2, since we don't use it in the US. Some midwives here (homebirth) have heard of midwives in Great Britain and Canada using it (nitrous) at home and are quite intrigued by that. I have read some (not all) the articles in the research list and was not aware that the associations made with narcotics given in labour were also made with nitrous. I think the non use of nitrous in labour in the USA is tradition based rather than evidence based. But I don't know that the use in Aus/GB/CA is evidence based either. I have read at least one article in the Practising Midwife that found some adverse effects of nitrous in care providers (midwives and maybe dentists) who monitor the use of nitrous in their clients/patients. Dont have the reference at my finger tips though.
Re Tens machines: we have our homebirth clients rent the machines if they are interested and usually the support person (partner or doula) operates them. Have never had a really good protocol/guideline for their use though, which I think has reduced their efficacy. I think regarding medications for pain relief, that we have to bear/bare (I can't spell to save myself anymore) in mind that for a normal labour most women can and do cope with minimal intervention with the right support. But if needed, they (the drugs) can be a godsend. Yes there are associations with drug use in the babies later on but it is my understanding that though there was more use in the babies whose mothers had labour meds it was only slightly more than in the babies whose mothers didn't use drugs in labour. I am not sure if the greater incidence was in fact statistically significant. I seem to remember, the studies called for more research in the area. I think I need to reread the articles. I have to get off line and pack my bags. marilyn -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
