Ultrasound Tech: Drug Treatment of Labor Pains

There are many different options for drug treatment of pain during labour. Some of the most popular are: Entonox, Pethidine, Morphine, Diamorphine, Epidural, spinal, local anaesthetic , and general anaesthetic. I will outline and describe each option below.
Inhaled Drugs: Many women use Entonox, a mixture of nitrous oxide, and oxygen. This is breathed through a mask as the contractions begin to build up to its maximal effect within 30-40 seconds and wers off as contraction fades. The side affects are minimal. It make your mouth dry, but on the upside, the oxygen is good for the baby.
Injected Drugs: These are all opiates, which are drugs like heroin. They make you relax, feel sleepy and not worried. They can make you feel nauseated, or vomit, so they are often given with another drug to reduce nausea. They are usually given into a muscle in your thigh, and there can be some discomfort and bruising at the site of the injection. These drugs can all slow your breathing and they can cross over the placenta to have the same effect on the baby. This is not considered a problem while he is getting his oxygen from the placenta, but it can be worrying if he is slow to breathe after the birth. For this reason these are only administered in the first stages of labour. Meptazinol tends to be used more in women who have already had a baby and so are more likely to have a shorter labour, as it is less sedating and has much less effect on the baby. Please join us later to learn more about our last form of Pain treatment, injections into the spine. Being an ultrasound tech would give you an opportunity to experience the miracle of childbirth every day.