Pethidine is a pain killer or analgesic that relieves labour pain. Pethidine is in the same class of medicines as Morphine. It is given as an injection into the buttocks. The dose varies from 75 to 100 mg according to the mothers weight.
It dulls the response of pain fibres and thus provides partial pain relief for 4-6 hours. It is especially useful in the early to middle part of labour.
The pain relief can result in nausea and vomitting. It may also make the mother feel drowsy and sleepy.
If given too close to delivery, pethidine can result in respiratory depression in newborns. That's why some babies are given a naloxene injection after birth, in order to allow the baby to make healthy respiratory efforts.
