|
Categories:
|
Assisted Delivery
|
Occasionally, towards the end of delivery, mother and baby might need an extra help for a successful delivery. At these situations, after making sure that anesthesia is working, an obstetrician would gently apply forceps or minimal suction to the baby's head. This procedure consists in gently bringing the baby's head through the birth canal while you push through your next contractions using a forceps or a vacuum extractor to help deliver the baby.
A Forceps is similar to tongs, with loops on either side, which are used to gently turn the baby's head or gently pull to assist the baby through the birth canal. A Vacuum Extractor utilizes suction to turn the baby's head or pull the baby through the birth canal. Usually the suction cup has a controlled amount of suction, so just enough is used to help deliver the baby.
An obstetrician would recommend an assisted delivery only in extremely rare circumstances.
Your caregiver may suggest suction, or what is also called ventouse, if you have had an epidural, and the pelvic muscles which usually help turn the baby's head and shoulders into the best position for birth, may not be as able to help. It may also be difficult to feel your contractions, so pushing is less effective. Other situation is if your baby isn't in the best position for an easy delivery, or if your baby is not receiving enough oxygen, which could result in permanent brain damage, or even if you are too tired.
Your caregivers may suggest forceps if your baby is coming feet first or in a breech position.
Usually when assistance is necessary for delivery, some form of anesthesia is suggested. You may discuss with the caregiver your options, for example Pudendal is a local anesthetic injected directly into the nerves just inside the vagina. It is most commonly used for women who have made it to 10cm hoping for a completely unmedicated delivery, but need a little assistance at the end. However, Pudendal is effective 80% of the time and its effects do not last long.
Some effects may occur after a baby's delivery is assisted with forceps such as reddened area on the face, which fades within a few days, maybe some small bruises, which should also fade quickly. There may be temporary damage to the baby's facial nerves, but this is rarely permanent and is gone in a few days. Or your baby may have a somewhat cone-shaped head, which is normal in any vaginal delivery.
Some other effects may occur if your baby is assisted with suction such as a blood blister on the scalp, or cephalheamatoma, which may take 6-8 weeks to completely heal. Note that his does not impact the brain. Or there may be a slight bruising on the scalp, which fades within a few days.
|
 |