Editing Childbirth (section)

====Pharmaceutical====
Different measures for pain control have varying degrees of success and side effects to the woman and her baby. In some countries of Europe, doctors commonly prescribe inhaled [[nitrous oxide]] gas for pain control, especially as 53% nitrous oxide, 47% oxygen, known as [[Entonox]]; in the UK, midwives may use this gas without a doctor's prescription.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/publication/download/medicine-administration-for-midwives-mid21v6-1/|title=Medicine Administration for Midwives|last=Lancashire|first=Liz|date=9 July 2018|website=Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals|access-date=16 June 2019|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616201305/http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/publication/download/medicine-administration-for-midwives-mid21v6-1/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Opioid]]s such as [[fentanyl]] may be used, but if given too close to birth there is a risk of respiratory depression in the infant.{{update after|2021|3|16}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kumar|first1=Manoj|last2=Paes|first2=Bosco|date=July 2003|title=Epidural Opioid Analgesia and Neonatal Respiratory Depression|journal=Journal of Perinatology|language=en|volume=23|issue=5|pages=425–27|doi=10.1038/sj.jp.7210905|pmid=12847541|issn=1476-5543|url=https://rdcu.be/dFdEd}}</ref>

Popular medical pain control in hospitals include the regional anaesthetics [[epidural]]s (EDA), and [[spinal anaesthesia]]. Epidural analgesia is a generally safe and effective method of relieving pain in labour, but has been associated with longer labour, more operative intervention (particularly instrument delivery), and increases in cost.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thorp JA, Breedlove G | title = Epidural analgesia in labor: an evaluation of risks and benefits | journal = Birth | volume = 23 | issue = 2 | pages = 63–83 | date = June 1996 | pmid = 8826170 | doi = 10.1111/j.1523-536X.1996.tb00833.x }}</ref> However, a more recent (2017) Cochrane review suggests that the new epidural techniques have no effect on labour time and the use of instruments or the need for C-section deliveries.<ref name="epi 18" /> Generally, pain and stress hormones rise throughout labour for women without epidurals, while pain, fear, and stress hormones decrease upon administration of epidural analgesia, but rise again later.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Alehagen S, Wijma B, Lundberg U, Wijma K | title = Fear, pain and stress hormones during childbirth | journal = Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology | volume = 26 | issue = 3 | pages = 153–65 | date = September 2005 | pmid = 16295513 | doi = 10.1080/01443610400023072 | s2cid = 44646591 }}</ref>
Medicine administered via epidural can cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of the fetus.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Loftus JR, Hill H, Cohen SE | title = Placental transfer and neonatal effects of epidural sufentanil and fentanyl administered with bupivacaine during labor | journal = Anesthesiology | volume = 83 | issue = 2 | pages = 300–08 | date = August 1995 | pmid = 7631952 | doi = 10.1097/00000542-199508000-00010 | doi-access = free }}</ref> Epidural analgesia has no statistically significant impact on the risk of caesarean section, and does not appear to have an immediate effect on neonatal status as determined by Apgar scores.<ref name="epi 18">{{cite journal | vauthors = Anim-Somuah M, Smyth RM, Cyna AM, Cuthbert A | title = Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia for pain management in labour | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2018 | pages = CD000331 | date = May 2018 | issue = 5 | pmid = 29781504 | pmc = 6494646 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD000331.pub4 }}</ref>