Intradermal water injections for labor?

[janelrn]

Hey there,

I'm looking for information from anyone where intradermal sterile water injections for back pain in labor are actually done. It's one of those things that I only can find it in the research things here in eastern NC. The first thing I need is info: who is qualified to do these? what does a typical policy look like? that sort of thing.

Thanks!

[Sandwitch883RN]

Hi! I'm from eastern nc also. I've never heard of intradermal water injections. I look forward to the replys that are posted to find out more about this procedure. Can you explain what it involves?

[CEG]

Try googling "sterile water papules". I have also never done it but I have found specific instructions before-- no time to search for it now. Good luck- I have heard that while they sting like crazy going in they are very effective.

ETA: around here I have heard nurses can do them without a doctor's order- they are considered a nursing intervention. I would probably get an order before I did them though.

[rnheart]

HI I really think you have to have a drs order for this as it is invasive it is also something you might want to check with your board on because once it is in you cant take it back. I am in the south and have 19 years experience in l&d and i have never seen nor heard of it being done

[hoppermom3]

Our CNM uses these occasionally for back labor. It is surprisingly effective. RNs can do this. It is basically like a TB test - 4 injections of sterile water are placed intradermally.

AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing book has a section detailing the procedure.

[rnheart]

I have read about the proceedure but I really think we have to have a md order here

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

What is the physiology behind this idea?

Thanks.

steph

[prmenrs, RN]

http://www.google.com/search?q=sterile+water+papules&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

This is results of the google search I did; I think the mechanism is counterirritation.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thanks prmenrs . . . .what I read talks about it being like accupressure.

And this is for the first stage of labor - hmmm . . . I had back labor but it wasn't "killer" until the end at transition.

All the women in the study I read had Demerol too. Which I hated - it did nothing for the pain, just made you a zombie in between.

steph

[MIcrunchyRN]

OOOh I had this!!!

Ok its for back labor. It has something to do with it disrupts nerve impulses and can help a laboring mom relax enough to get complete to be able to push when they are having bad back labor.

The homebirth midwives in my area do this. Its really quite neat how it works. I truely does help even though there is nothing really being given for pain relief.

However from explanation from my MW its only really effective 1 or 2 times, after being done once or twice it provides little to no relief.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I would have been willing to try it after 8 hours of back labor and only dilating from 1-2cm.

[janelrn]

I will check the guidelines, have that book at work. Do you happen to have a policy? I'd love something to look at for an idea of what to draft and present for approval.