Stirrups?

[CEG]

Just curious how many use stirrups for delivery? I am a relatively new nurse and just started OB at a new hospital. I am surprised by the fact that everyone- epidural, no epidural, etc delivers in stirrups. I had not seen that anywhere else before. Just curious how other hospitals use stirrups and what percentage of moms? And medicated/unmedicated?

I usually have my moms push without them (unless the epidural has rendered them unable) and put them up when doc gets there but I would love to stop getting them out at all. I know research has shown stirrups use to lead to more perineal injury but I am curious what everyone else's practices are before I rock the boat.

[LittleLisaLawrence]

I have read things about open glotis pushing and it all makes sense BUT I tried it with epidurals and without. People just didnt push well with open glotis in fact the baby didnt move at all I really wanted it to work so i would have them use open glottis for an hour, there was little to no progress at the end of that hour and then we would use closed glotis and things moved right along

In my practice I've noticed that women without epidural do just fine pushing on their own (without instruction - - open glotis). My patients that have an epidural, however, don't seem to move the baby with open glotis pushing. Like the above poster... we'll switch to closed glotis and progress is made. I thought I was the only one who noticed this!

[elanddeenrs]

our hospital has about a 95% epidural rate and everyone pushes in stirrups, unfortunately. the only time i see otherwise is when mom is mobile.

[zinker35861]

We use footplates all the time. We probably do epidurals on 90-95% of our pts. Never a problem. The only time we had a problem was trying to figure out how to use the stirrups when a doctor insisted on using them once. Took 3 people to get them up.

[mjb324]

When we renovated our unit, we did not purchase any stirrups. Can't use what you don't have. The docs adapted rather well. They still break the bed down and use the foot holders, but then midwives just deliver in the bed and it is much easier and more comfortable for the patients.

[OzMW]

wrong thread!!

[missjennmb]

what a great thread - it really helps so much to visualize everything

I am not a nurse yet (still in school) but I delivered both of my lady partsl births in water one on my knees (baby came out down and forward) and the other in a reclined sitting against the side of the tub (kind of like the sitting on bed w/ the feet flat visual I got). I think the on your knees thing was much much easier, but not sure how safe that would be up on a higher surface, but perhaps that just because I'm having trouble picturing it.

Its too bad there arent more options for hospital water births. I really think that it makes a huge difference (particularly if its a comfortable bottomed tub like the inflatable type)

Although I guess if the docs are freaking about not using stirrups, this would REALLY cause a ruckus