Hi Everyone! I am a labor and delivery nurse in a rural hospital seeking information from all of you experienced L & D nurses out there....
Please speak to the concept of when pushing should start with a dense block from an epidural.
Many of our physicians want the woman to start pushing as soon as complete dilation is achieved.
Other nurses that I have worked with have a belief that if you place the woman in a very high fowlers position, with her knees below her pelvis, or a sitting squat, that the contractions will help facilitate descent of the fetus and thus accomplishing many things:
1) saving time and energy on the part of the woman-she will push less if the contractions do some of the work with descent
2) less labial edema from prolonged pushing
3) less chance of an acynclitic descent of the fetus
Please offer your insights on this matter. I am seeking an ongoing communication regarding this matter and will check back frequently.....THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Alisa, RN