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Birthing center offers ‘laughing gas’ as pain killer option for moms

Posted at 11:26 AM, Jan 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-01-22 11:41:24-05

Minneapolis, MN – A Twin Cities birthing center is offering a new pain killer option for moms in labor, according to a report from WCCO.

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is now being offered at the Minnesota Birth Center in Minneapolis. The gas is slowly being reintroduced in the U.S. as a self-administered pain control for labor pains, the report says.

“It felt more like a middle ground than getting an epidural,” new mom Jenna White tells WCCO. “It felt a little safer.”

White chose to use the gas when she delivered her daughter on Jan. 5. She had originally planned for a completely all natural birth, according to the report, until she found out about the nitrous oxide option.

“It’s totally patient controlled, I had complete control over when I took breaths and how many breaths to take,” White said.