Have You Heard about the New Alternative to Managing Labor Pain?

MOKENA, ILLINOIS, July 25, 2019 — Women’s Healthcare of Illinois, a practice devoted to providing comprehensive and exceptional care to meet the individual needs of patients in the southwest Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana, is offering nitrous oxide as a pain management alternative during labor and delivery at Advocate South Suburban Hospital.

“We couldn’t be more excited about what this means for our patients,” said Beth Helme Smith, a certified nurse midwife with Women’s Healthcare of Illinois. “Only a handful of hospitals in the Chicagoland area have this option, and we will be the first practice in our geographic area that offers it. This solidifies our efforts to empower women to make decisions that meet their personal needs.”

Nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas used as an alternative to narcotic and epidural pain management in labor and delivery rooms across Canada, Australia, and the UK. Better known as the “laughing gas” used in dentists’ offices, nitrous oxide can be used safely during all stages of labor and after birth without harming mom or the baby.

Also, unlike its use during dental procedures, nitrous oxide is self-administered under a physician’s supervision and can be easily discontinued. This empowers the patient to control the amount of medication used and decide if she wants to try a different method of pain relief.

“We have always been passionate about creating a supportive environment for our patients, and offering nitrous oxide during childbirth gives women a safe alternative to the traditional epidural,” Helme Smith said. “Our experienced Women’s Healthcare staff establishes a foundation of open communication with our patients throughout pregnancy, and this will enable us to offer even more ways for women to feel comfortable.”

The addition of nitrous oxide pain management is part of a comprehensive midwifery program offered by Women’s Healthcare of Illinois in collaboration with Advocate South Suburban Hospital.

“Working with Women’s Healthcare of Illinois is an exciting example of our ongoing work to enhance the birthing experience at Advocate South Suburban Hospital,” said Jennifer Doerr, clinical nurse manager of the hospital’s Women and Infants Center. “Together, we will continue to advance healthcare and respond to the evolving needs of women in our community.”

Also, in its efforts to improve the childbirth experience, Women’s Healthcare of Illinois will soon begin offering immersion hydrotherapy as another method of pain reduction and relaxation for women during labor.

About Women’s Healthcare of Illinois

Women’s Healthcare of Illinois is devoted to providing comprehensive and exceptional care to meet the individual needs of our patients. We are committed to serving women throughout their life stages from adolescence through adulthood. We offer a full range of medical care for women specializing in general obstetrics and gynecology services, urogynecology, and midwifery services. For more details, visit www.whcillinois.com, call 708-425-1907, or follow Women’s Healthcare of Illinois on Facebook.

About Advocate South Suburban Hospital

Advocate South Suburban Hospital provides high-quality, compassionate care to the residents of Chicago’s southern suburbs and is part of Advocate Aurora Health, the 9th largest not-for-profit, integrated health system in the United States. The hospital is currently undergoing a $98 million expansion and modernization project, recently unveiling the renovated Women and Infants Center. For more information, visit www.advocatehealth.com/ssub/, call 708-799-8000, or follow Advocate South Suburban Hospital on Facebook.

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