childbirth, but it’s largely gone under the radar in the United States — until now. Nitrous oxide — or laughing gas — was commonly used during childbirth in the U.S.
in the 1930s but with the emergence of epidurals, its popularity declined in the 1970s. It has since experienced a renaissance with its approval by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration in 2012, but since it had fallen out of popularity for years, many obstetricians and anesthesiologists became unfamiliar with using it in hospitals, according to Contemporary OB/GYN.
Using laughing gas during childbirth to help manage and mitigate pain and anxiety is still an option for expectant parents in the U.S.