The bath
The bath is often used by women, to relax in their labour. Ideally, it would be used after her cervix is about 3 to 4 cms dilated, as getting in earlier than this has the potential to slow the labour down. However, for women who are anxious about the pain to come, getting in at this time has been known to help a few woman progress in their labours. You can always get out again if it doesn't work, and the contractions will normally return soon after.
Using the bath is aimed at helping the woman deal with issues around the pain. She could be helped to 'let go' or feel more comfortable about the pushing phase, or tearing. Many women find it helps to have a degree of privacy and their 'own space'. You may wish to check your birthplace, to see if they have a large, deep bath available (or whether you would be permitted to set your own up). You may wish to read more in
labour and birth in water.
The gas
Some women find that the gas is helpful, especially during the transitional phase of the 1st stage of labour. In most cases, the gas will not take the pain totally away, but rather 'take the woman away from the pain' in a sense. For this reason, the gas can help the woman to 'let go' in the final stages of her labour. The gas is excreted through the lungs, so it is totally out of the woman's system within a couple of minutes of her stopping. This means that if she doesn't like it after a couple of contractions, it can easily be stopped.
Once the pushing starts, the gas may not be that helpful. This is because the woman will tend to 'breath hold' to push and is unlikely to be able to take in adequate amounts of the gas to give an effect. For some women though, being able to 'hold on to the mask' just in case, is a comfort in itself and does no harm!
Gas is available in both delivery suites wards and birth centres in Australia. In some countries, homebirth caregivers will carry it with them, as part of their standard equipment.