Childbirth does not always occur naturally. Sometimes hormone levels may be insufficient. In this case, labor stimulation is used.
Possible risks
Women are not very willing to agree on stimulation. The reason for this is fear for your baby. Although stimulation in most cases, on the contrary, prevents probable threats to the health of the child and mother. But there are a number of dangers:
- severe pain when using drugs (natural stimulation of labor does not have such a drawback), the use of epidural anesthesia and drugs to alleviate it, and, accordingly, the risks associated with their use;
- prolapse of the umbilical cord loop;
- the risk of placental abruption ;
- if the operation was performed on the uterus or the previous method of delivery was cesarean section, then stimulation can become quite dangerous;
- unsuccessful stimulation can cause fetal hypoxia;
- with a protracted labor process increases the likelihood of rupture of the amniotic bladder.
Contraindications
Stimulation is not recommended in the following cases:
- there was a prolapse of the umbilical cord;
- water has passed: the risk of intrauterine infection is provoked by rupture of the membrane, which contains the amniotic bag surrounding the child;
- reduced nutrition of the fetus through the umbilical cord due to pregnancy overtaking;
- the child is diagnosed with a deviation in the work of the heart;
- the fetus is in a lateral (transverse) position;
- a high risk of airway blockage when a child inhales meconium (intestinal contents), which can enter the amniotic fluid ;
- placenta previa is diagnosed : it partially or completely closes the cervical canal;
- the presence of an infectious disease has been established;
- the due date of birth of the child did not fit;
- high blood pressure in a pregnant woman;
- started uterine bleeding;
- diabetes.
Stimulation of labor: the main ways
- Amniotomy is the opening of the fetal bladder by making a hole in the amniotic bag with a plastic needle. After this, contractions should begin within a day, otherwise the risk of infection increases.
- Stimulation of cervical ripening with gel (suppositories) administered by the vaginal method and containing prostaglandins, which are used as analogues of uterine-reducing hormones.
- Strengthening or stimulation of contractions due to intravenous administration of an artificial substitute for oxytocin - the drug "Pitocin", gradually the dose of the drug increases.
Occupational Labor Stimulation
Without preliminary diagnosis of the cervix, as well as determining the position of the child, any intervention is impossible. To start childbirth, the fetus must occupy the correct location, and the cervical canal should become thinner and more open. When using drugs, the introduction of antispasmodics, analgesics or the use of epidural anesthesia is often required , since the stimulation of labor can cause quite strong pain. If everything remains unchanged after a sufficient period of time, a cesarean section is prescribed.