Vacuum Assisted Delivery... ugh.

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I just have to say... so sick of seeing vacs at every delivery. :down:

hematomas, lesions... problems with breastfeeding oh and the lovely hyperbilirubinemia fallout.

While I'm venting...the IV pain medication for repair- yeah, I want my mom to be gacked out for the "golden hour" - obviously, if it's a serious repair (read- 4th degree/rectal extension)... not having a problem with that but for little lacerations.

Do you guys see a trend in power pitting, "OH noes!!! Baby's in distress!!!" Quick... get the vacuum....

Wheeeeee.... make it home for dinner.

Ok- lack of sleep doesn't do my grammar a lick of good. :o

New Grandma here, a Grandma that knows you go to a nurse when you want straight forward answers.

Im trying to find out about vacuum assisted deliveries. My Granddaughter just came into the world via just such a thing. I have some concerns, and I feel Im not getting solid answers when I ask questions. She is being kept in the hospital for an extra day due to an abrasion on her little head. Her head is also elongated and has not come down to a more normal appearance as of yet. The hospital is giving her antibotics for the wound. She has also become jaundice. It would be nice to know if these are just normal instances due to her difficult birth, and that all will be well in due time.

Thank you all in advance for any words of wisdom on this procedure, I did not even realize it was done, I now wish I was more informed prior to this being done, so I could have given my son and his wife some advise on the subject.

I'm curious, what kind of pain management (if any) do you approve of for "smaller" repairs?

That's already a sensitive area. Add the physical trauma of having just pushed a baby out with the accompanying lacerations and see how much you'd like getting some med-free sutures! Even needle pricks for a local anesthesia are a lot to endure at that point in time. If the mom's already got an IV, why not give the meds through that?

I think you are missing the point that many of the lacerations are being CAUSED by the providers. They then add insult to injury by giving meds that result in mom not being able to breastfeed/bond in that first hour that we know is so important.

Evidence-based care is just not happening in OB. And it's very sad. Pregnancy is a state of wellness, where we take a basically healthy woman, interfere with the normal delivery process, fill her with all kinds of medications, injure her and/or her baby, medicate her further, and let her thank us for "saving" her.

I believe my patients should have whatever they need to manage their pain. I also believe it is my responsibility as someone who catches babies to practice using best evidence, thereby reducing these types of complications.

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