With regard to systemic analgesics administered during labor, nurses should be aware that:

Systemic analgesics cross the maternal blood-brain barrier as easily as they do the fetal blood-brain barrier.

Effects on the fetus and newborn can include decreased alertness and delayed sucking

Intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) results in increased use of an analgesic

Intramuscular (M) administration is preferred over IV administration