Self-administered fentanyl for birthing women.

The pain of birthing may be the most severe type of pain a woman will experience in her lifetime. Analgesia in childbirth remains controversial and includes the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological measures including parenteral (intravenous, intramuscular) opioids (pethidine) and epidural analgesic agents (fentanyl). Intranasal fentanyl is an alternative, non-invasive route of opioid administration and has been shown to be effective in relieving both acute & chronic pain. Patient controlled analgesia has also been shown to effective and safe for women in labour and for post-operative analgesia administration. The primary aim of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of patient-controlled intranasal fentanyl (PCIF) for analgesia in birthing women. Our secondary objective is to examine patient satisfaction of PCIF within 48 hours of birth. This will be an uncontrolled non-comparative clinical trial. Participants will self-administer intranasal fentanyl for pain during childbirth. Participants will include 50 consenting adult women who present to Sunshine Hospital for childbirth and are being managed within the Caseload Model of Care. Data will be analysed used descriptive statistics.