Pregnancy & Baby 

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Pain relief in Labour: How can it affect your baby?

Most drugs will cross the placenta to the baby once they are in the mother’s bloodstream, and therefore it makes sense to use them only when necessary, and in the smallest yet most effective dosages. Pethidine, for example, is often given in labour. It is a narcotic drug given by injection in varying dosages during the first phase of labour. It has a relaxing effect on muscles and sometimes speeds up labour, it takes about 20 minutes to work, and has an effect that varies from 2 – 3 hours. It is sometimes combined with other drugs that enhance the effects. A degree of affect on the baby’s breathing mechanism can sometimes occur, so it is mainly for this reason that Pethidine is avoided near the end stages of labour. Even then, it may sometimes be necessary for the baby to receive a small injection to counteract the side effects of any Pethidine administration.

Epidural anaesthetic is often used to give total pain relief during labour and it doesn’t interfere with your awareness and levels of consciousness. There are also very few side effects with the main epidural anaesthetics. A hollow needle is inserted into the space that surrounds the spinal cord, and a fine tube, a catheter, is fed down the needle into the space and the other end stuck to your back with tape. Injecting more through the tube can top up the anaesthetic. An epidural lowers blood pressure so a drip will be set up as a precaution and, as you can’t feel the sensation to pee, a catheter will probably be used to do this. In this form of pain relief, there is only minimal absorption into the blood stream directly, and in the case of such low concentrations, there are no effects to the baby – epidurals being used for the whole length of the birth processes.

Gas and Air, a mixture of oxygen and an inhaled painkiller, is also often used. The woman in labour holds a mask over her nose and mouth and breathes in deeply. As it takes about 20 seconds to take effect she should use it as soon as a contraction begins for maximum effect. It would be wise to find out the usual methods and pain relieving drugs offered by your hospital and see what your choices are. Women in labour are very vulnerable and many will go along with whatever their midwife or doctor thinks is best. It is best to make some general decisions ahead of time and see what your midwife thinks of your plan.

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