A public hospital in Erbil is now offering painless natural childbirth free of charge, helping reduce the number of cesarean section (C-section) deliveries. The service, launched on April 24 at the Erbil Teaching Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology, has already helped 230 women give birth naturally and with less pain by mid-June.
Dr. Shadan Sherwan Heidari, director of the hospital, explained that the method uses nitrous oxide—commonly known as “laughing gas”—to relieve pain during labor. This option allows women to experience a natural birth without the intense discomfort typically associated with labor, making it more appealing than undergoing surgery.
“This gas has no major side effects for either the mother or the baby,” said Dr. Sherwan. “Some mild effects may occur but usually disappear quickly after the gas wears off.”
The service is completely free in the public hospital. In contrast, private hospitals charge around 150,000 Iraqi dinars per hour for the same treatment.
Dr. Sherwan noted that offering this painless birth method has contributed to a visible drop in C-section deliveries. Women who previously had a cesarean for their first birth are also eligible for a natural birth with this method during their second pregnancy.
The initiative reflects a growing effort to provide safer, less invasive, and more accessible childbirth options for women in the region—while also helping reduce the medical and financial burden of surgical births.
Read more:
New Hope for Postnatal Depression: Magnetic Brain Therapy Shows Strong Results
