Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Antenatal Class 2/5

About pain-relieving options during labour and birth...

Gas and air (entonox) - dizzy, nausea;

Tens machine (electric impulses) - for early labour - intersepts the pathway and releases endorphins;

Pethidine injection - when labour is established but not over 4-5 cm dilation - sleepy, drowsy, crosses the placenta;

Epidural (regional analgesia, injection through a catheter placed into the epidural space) - in established labour (3-4 cm) - immobility, prolongs labour, lowers blood pressure, and could bring severe headaches, laying flat 24-48 hours after;

Active labour: 4 cm
Transition: 8 cm
Fully dilated: 9-10 cm

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