Instrumental Delivery
By: andrew001whiteTotal Views: 373, Word Count: 532,
Sometimes when a woman is having difficulties in pushing the baby during a vaginal birth, certain instruments such as forceps and vacuum cup are used to help the mother in the delivery process.
The obstetrician may use a forceps or vacuum cup to help the mother deliver the baby. These instruments are placed on the baby’s head so that it can be gently eased out with the least trauma to the mother and baby.
Instrumental delivery may be required when:
- The woman is having a difficult time pushing the baby out through her birth canal.
- The woman may have become too tired and exhausted to continue pushing.
- The woman has had an epidural and may not have the urge to push.
- The woman should not push too long because of a medical condition such as heart disease.
- The baby may need to be delivered quickly because it is showing signs of being in distress.
- The second twin might require assistance in delivery.
Forceps delivery
Forceps are stainless steel instruments which are placed gently on both sides of the baby’s head and are used to support the head. Holding the baby with the instrument, the obstetrician will apply traction and lift the baby out of the birth canal.
Vacuum assisted birth
The vacuum cup is attached by a flexible rubber tube to a small vacuum pump. The cup which fits on the top of the baby’s head may be made of metal or silicone plastic. The soft silicon cup’s head are less likely to cause damage to your baby and are more commonly used now. The obstetrician applies gentle traction on the tube attached to the cup, and lifts the baby out of the birth canal.
After a forceps or vacuum delivery
Even after a normal vaginal delivery, the baby’s head may be a little elongated and conical. This happens because the baby has to mould itself to the shape of the birth canal.
In babies born with the help of a forceps or a vacuum extractor, the head may be a little more conical or there may be a prominent bulge where the vacuum cup was applied. This will usually in a few days. There is no need to massage the head. It will get back to normal shape on its own.
Babies born using a vacuum cup are more likely to need phototherapy than babies born using forceps. Phototherapy is a treatment born for jaundice.
Some women worry about the affects of instrumental delivery on the baby. They are often worried that a forceps delivery or a vacuum delivery can harm the baby. But this is not true. When a child is born with cerebral palsy or mental retardation, parents is sometimes quick to blame the use of instruments. In reality, instrumental deliveries cannot result in a baby being born with mental retardation.
Therefore, it is important to be aware of why instrumental delivery such as forceps birth and vacuum assisted birth are used during a vaginal delivery.
About the Author
Andrew White, leading gynecologist, has written a number of useful blogs and medical journals on women health. He is an advisor with Association of Women Health, in USA.
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