Hello,
I finished up my last entry covering induction of labor and your options and today I’m going to cover delivery aids used to help mothers in their pushing.
There are 2 methods used, forceps and vacuum.
FORCEPS – Forceps are large metal spoon like instruments that can be used to assist mom in her pushing. Only her attending doctor can use them. He/She places one on each side of the fetal head by feeling where the skull bones are, the handles interlock together and while mom pushes the doctor gently helps guide the head out. With PROPER use, side effects are minimal. Usually, some small areas of bruising on the head that go away quickly.
VACUUM – This is becoming a much more popular method and again only the mothers doctor may use this method. It has a suction cup looking plastic piece about 3 1/2-4 cm, that is placed on the fetal head. The doctors assistant has a hand held pressure device to reach a certain vacuum pressure. It is hand held only, not electric or plugged in, at all. And again, with mom pushing her doctor will gently pull to assist the head out. This is to help bring the baby out, not a replacement for pushing, therefore side effects are minimal. When used properly, all you will see is a small suction cup mark on your babies head.
These methods cannot be used just because you don’t feel like pushing anymore. Mom has to bring the baby down a good amount for the doctors to safely use these methods. Usually, they are used if we see by the monitoring that baby is getting tired of being pushed and needs to get out soon.
Commonly an episiotomy is performed to allow for extra room for a quicker delivery, with help.
Thats it for todays entry, I’ll cover more soon, and as always, your input is appreciated and encouraged. Thanks for reading.
God bless,
Meredith – RNC
4 comments
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June 25, 2008 at 5:35 am
antioxexpress
Meredith,
Nice description of the delivery aids, forceps and vacuum. Well presented without being alarmist. Well done.
I used to teach, too, and I liked to make sure the attendees understood the value of squating during 2nd stage labor. Physiologically it opens the pelvis the widest for best advantage of the baby moving down the birth canal. The squating position is more physiological for pushing although, if one must stay confined in a bed, having one’s back up at a 45-degree angle and curved, and pulling one’s legs/knees up and out to the side can imitate the squat position in this instance. And, of course, many of the newer birthing beds have the option of adding a squatting bar across the lower portion of the [hospital] bed allowing the laboring woman to hold onto the bar while squatting in bed.
Congratulations on your RNC, too.
“Mac”
http://www.greensfirst.com/5039
http://antioxexpress.wordpress.com
June 26, 2008 at 1:57 am
labornurse
Thank you for your response, Mac!!
Yes, I do agree with squatting whenever possible, but so many of my clients use epidurals, so I dont get to suggest it very much. I wish that more women would choose to not get epidurals, but I understand that they have a choice, too. When they do wish to squat, our beds have the capacity to hold squat bars as you mentioned.
Thanks for the compliment,
Sincerely,
Meredith RNC
June 28, 2008 at 5:45 pm
antioxexpress
Meredith,
While it’s certainly common, I think you and I might be of one mind that it’s unfortunate the use of epidurals has become more the rule than the exception. I don’t think women today truly appreciate how much inner strength they have, and how the process of labor transforms THEM as much as it’s a pivotal moment in their lives. I’m afraid we’re all succumbing to the easy and convenient which doesn’t have the power to build character and inner strength like the process of a struggle well-won can.
Keep up the good work!
“Mac”
http://www.greensfirst.com/5039
http://antioxexpress.wordpress.com
June 29, 2008 at 9:22 pm
labornurse
Mac,
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto again.
We do think alike!!
People dont realize their own strength, and so many are afraid of ‘pain’.
Pain is a character builder in many ways, as you stated.
I may move to Texas in a few years. My sister works at a hospital in Southeast Texas, she says their epidural rate is very low, probably due to the population. They have many spanish-speaking mothers that choose to labor without medicine, as that has to do with their culture. Yes some ladies do get them, but she reports very few.
Boy am I gonna like working there!!!
God bless,
Meredith – RNC