Sometimes women have problems giving birth and getting the baby through the birth canal, which puts a halt to labor and even causes some complications. In a situation like this, there’s a need for extra assistance, which often requires vacuum extraction.
If you are looking for answers about the procedure of vacuum delivery, our obstetrician in Jacksonville, Florida, is here to give you answers.
What Is Vacuum-Assisted Delivery?
The procedure known as vacuum birth or vacuum extraction delivery is used when there’s some stalling in childbirth. This can happen during the second stage of labor, and the baby won’t come out, no matter how much you push. A halt in childbirth like this can continue for many hours, and it can be exhausting for the mother. It can even lead to complications, and the healthcare providers estimate that there’s no progress in labor, and it won’t likely be any; they will have to assist you in giving birth.
Vacuum-assisted delivery is one of the most common ways to assist a woman in labor. And for this procedure to be possible, the baby’s head needs to be low enough in the birth canal and in a specific position. A special suction cup is put on the baby’s head, which is attached to a pump that provides traction and helps you while you push.
Vacuum delivery is used when forceps delivery isn’t working, and it’s also done to avoid a C-section.
When Is Vacuum Birth Used?
As mentioned, this method of assisted birth is used when there is a halt in delivering the baby in the second stage. It is also used when the mother doesn’t have the strength to push anymore, or she can’t do it due to a health condition. Vacuum-assisted delivery is also a good option if the baby’s heart rate is abnormal. It can happen if the baby is not getting enough oxygen for a more extended period.
How Does Vacuum Delivery Procedure Looks Like?
You will be informed of the advantages and disadvantages of vacuum assistance before the procedure and asked to give your approval. If you haven’t already received it, you will be provided painkillers. There’s a possibility that an incision between the anus and the birth canal has to be made to increase the opening of the birth canal.
The goal is to increase the force of your contractions by using the vacuum. The vacuum cup will be gently placed on your baby’s head in the ideal location while avoiding trapping any vaginal tissues underneath it. A mechanical or electric pump will apply traction throughout your contractions.
The delivery assistant must be taught how to use the vacuum with the appropriate amount of suction. Baby scalp injuries can result from excessive suction, yet the cup can come away from the baby’s scalp if there is insufficient suction.
They’ll stop using the vacuum extractor if the cup continually separates from the baby’s head or if the baby’s scalp shows bruises. But if everything is okay, and your baby is partly out, the assistant will continue to help you deliver the rest of the baby using their hands.
Is There Anything We Can Do to Avoid Vacuum Extraction Delivery?
A few things can be done to avoid vacuum-assisted delivery; however, they are sometimes unsuccessful.
You can try and change the current position to enable easier and faster delivery. You may also be given fluids through a vein or oxygen through a mask to help you with exhaustion from pushing too hard.
Sometimes these things can’t help, and vacuum birth is the only way to go.
When Can’t Vacuum Extraction Be Performed?
There are many times when additional assistance in delivering a baby is needed, but vacuum extraction delivery isn’t possible.
Vacuum birth can’t be performed if:
- The baby is premature
- It’s not positioned right, and it’s not headfirst
- It’s not low enough in the birth canal
- It can’t fit through the birth canal
- The baby has to be rotated
There are also times when this procedure is done, but it’s not giving successful results. This can happen if the procedure is done for at least 20 minutes without giving any result or if there’s a sign of injury on the baby’s scalp. In both situations, the procedure should be stopped immediately.
The Advantages of Vacuum-Assisted Delivery
Vacuum extraction delivery has its advantages when it is possible to perform it. And the most significant advantage is that it is faster than surgery. Healthcare providers can deliver your baby faster if it is at risk of complications due to lack of oxygen.
The Risks of Vacuum-Assisted Delivery
Every procedure comes with risks, and it’s nothing different for vacuum delivery. The potential dangers could affect both the mother and the baby.
The mother can suffer vaginal tears and postpartum bleeding and have trouble urinating for some time.
The baby can experience a few short-term effects, such as scalp edema, bruising, or a type of hematoma formed between the scalp and skull. No matter how scary these things sound, they will be resolved in a few weeks.
However, some severe complications can arise for the baby, such as skull fracture, intracranial hemorrhage, and subgaleal hemorrhage. Fortunately, these complications are infrequent and are not likely to happen as healthcare providers handling this procedure are fully trained and experienced.
The Recovery Process
If there are no additional procedures and complications, the recovery process is easy, and pretty much the same as after naturally giving birth without assistance. The recovery time is individual, and it depends on various factors, but it shouldn’t take longer than six weeks.
You could experience vaginal bleeding or spotting, which is normal after giving birth. There’s no need to do anything about it except wear a pad. If there was a tear and you had stitches, they would dissolve after a while on their own. And if you experience pain, you can soothe it with over-the-counter painkillers.
The recovery time for the baby, if it had some side effect, is also individual, but everything should resolve in a few weeks. You should be extra careful and protect the baby’s head until it fully recovers.
Final Words
Feeling anxious before giving birth is normal, especially if it is your first time. There are many things unknown to you, and you don’t know what to expect. It can be frustrating sometimes, especially if you learn about a procedure like the one explained here. You may start feeling extra anxious and afraid. But it is essential to stay calm in situations like this because of your and your baby’s health.
In most cases, you can’t know in advance what your delivery will look like. There’s a possibility it will be done in no time, or it will last for hours. You can give birth easily without any help, or you will need a bit of assistance. Whatever your situation is, you should know you will be okay. Professionals are there to help you bring your healthy baby into this world.
And if you are still afraid of a procedure like this, you can always ask your healthcare provider to clarify it more.
We at Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology in Jacksonville are willing to explain everything you want to know, so be sure to call us today and book your consultation with us.
