Nasal Spray Just as Effective at Managing Labor Pain as Injections, Study Reveals

In some of the weirdest and simultaneously coolest news of the day, research has shown that pregnant women may soon be able to use nasal spray instead of injections to dull the pain of childbirth. A study done by Flinders University and the University of Adelaide posted the findings, which claim that a nasal spray version of the drug fentanyl is as effective as pethidine injections in managing labor pain.

The nasal spray form of fentanyl is currently sometimes used for pain relief in children and in patients being transferred in an ambulance.

The study, which involved 156 women, also found less side effects as a result of using the spray. In particular, the study found that the spray resulted in "less nausea and sedation, less breastfeeding difficulties, fewer babies needing admittance into the nursery, shorter labor and overall greater satisfaction."

Lead researcher Dr. Julie Fleet says that women can administer the spray themselves, thus helping them "feel more in control of their pain management and avoids the need for additional intervention and painful injections."

She also was quick to point out that the spray is ideal for women who "want to be able to feel something," because the spray does not completely mask the pain quite like an epidural would.

She also notes, however, that the spray is potentially less harmful to the baby, as fentanyl is "out of the system within two to seven hours," whereas the pethidine injections can linger in the baby for up to three more days.

Due to the findings, hospitals in South Australia can expect to see the drug in maternity hospitals in the next year. Fentanyl, a synthetic opiate that can provide moderate sedation, is currently in use for some labors in the U.S. but is administered through an IV, not as a spray.