Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is both significantly cheaper, and less risky than epidurals for reducing pain during childbirth. Yet, in the US, most hospitals don't even offer it as an option, and I think a major part of that is that patented epidurals have much higher margins, so that is what the medical suppliers push.
I doubt it. It's very commonly offered in the UK and while it's cheap and safe, based on what I've seen it's also not effective at all. Forget the same league, it's not even playing the same game as an epidural. An epidural is a drip of opioids right to your spine. Proper hardcore.
