Sterile Water Injections (SWI) ??
Birth Beat
We educate and support you throughout your pregnancy, birth and early parenting journey.
Have you heard of Sterile Water Injections?
Sterile water injections are a pain relief option, which are often specifically used for the relief of back pain during labour.
Back pain is super common during labour and can continue between contractions. You may have heard this referred to as ‘back labour’.
What is the process?
The procedure is simple and can be administered by your Midwife! ?It involves injecting a small amount of sterile water (0.01ml - 0.02ml) just under the outer layer of skin. The water is injected into in four locations of the lower back.
The injections cause an intense stinging sensation (kind of like a wasp sting unfortunately) which lasts for around 30 seconds and then completely wears off.
To create a distraction from the sting, the injections can be administered during a contraction.
How do they work?
Sterile water injections work through the 'diffuse noxious inhibitory control method'. The idea is that by painfully stimulating the lower back with these sterile injections, it causes the brain to release its own internal supply of morphine, called endorphins. (You can learn all about the role of endorphins in the Ultimate Online Birth Course!)
Pain relief is often immediate and can last up to two hours. The procedure can also be repeated as needed.
We have shared a video on the Birth Beat Instagram page showing the process of Sterile Water Injections. Check out via the button below!