Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville now offers nitrous oxide as its newest option to assist laboring moms with pain management. This new option is another example of NH Jacksonville's commitment to providing a customized birth experience.

"Using nitrous oxide was awesome, it took the edge off of my labor pains while leaving me completely aware of what was going on around me," said Navy wife Katie Hessler, one of the first moms to use nitrous oxide at NH Jacksonville. "It made such a huge difference compared to my first childbirth, when nitrous oxide wasn't available."

Nitrous oxide - sometimes called laughing gas - is a colorless, almost odorless and tasteless gas made for inhalation to provide pain relief and decreased anxiety during child birth. It has no adverse effect on baby or mom.

"The 50/50 mixture of nitrous gas and oxygen is self-administered via a facemask, therefore giving the patient control of their labor pain management," said Lois Wilmer, a registered nurse at NH Jacksonville's Maternal Infant Unit. "Patients remain awake and alert, effects are short-lived, and it is rapidly blown off with normal respirations-about 30 to 60 seconds after discontinuing. This allows the patient to retain complete motor and sensory function."

Nitrous oxide is not a replacement for regional anesthesia such as epidurals, but can be an effective tool for some women. And moms have the option to stop using it and try another method of pain relief.

"It worked so well for me that I questioned why everyone isn't using this," said Hessler. "I'd use this pain relief option again, and would recommend to all laboring moms."

NH Jacksonville is Northeast Florida's first hospital certified "Baby Friendly" by World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. It offers classes and resources to help expecting and new parents - and they're free for patients giving birth at its hospital. To register for free classes, call (904) 542-2229 (BABY). To learn more about the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, visit www.babyfriendlyusa.org.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the Navy's third largest hospital and five branch health clinics across Florida and Georgia. Of its patient population - about 160,000 active and retired Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Guardsmen and their families - about 70,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager and Medical Home Port team at one of its facilities. To find out more, visit the command website at www.med.navy.mil/sites/navalhospitaljax.

For more news from Naval Hospital Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/.