Today, childbirth at home is becoming increasingly popular. However, if you refuse to go to the hospital, you will surely enlist the help of an experienced obstetrician who will be able to come to you at the first call. It is very good if the delivery is easy, and nothing but observation is required from the doctor. However, in some cases, long before birth, the doctor sees that the body itself is not ready to part with the fetus, and only stimulation can save the situation. Today we will consider only a separate question: how is kelp used to stimulate labor.
Kelp Properties
In gynecology, this alga has been used for a very long time, but in recent decades it has almost been forgotten. It was believed that modern drugs are much more effective and reliable. However, everything new is well forgotten old. Today, kelp is used with great success to stimulate labor. At his discretion, the doctor can use it in the last trimester and directly during childbirth.
By its properties, this seaweed can give odds to almost all terrestrial plants. It contains fiber and protein, vitamins and minerals, organic iodine.
How is used
We begin with what kelp is used in obstetric care. These are sticks that are used to expand the cervical canal. They are made from algae of the same name. Their length varies from 6 to 9 cm. How can such a wand help? First of all, its mechanical properties are very useful. High hygroscopicity allows it to increase several times. She begins to put pressure on the walls of the cervical canal, thereby stimulating the maturation of the uterus. In addition, it is believed that this algae stimulates the release of prostaglandins. Laminaria is used to stimulate labor in the case when the cervix is not ready to release the fetus on its own, and the time has already come for this.
In what cases it may be required
The use of kelp to stimulate labor, due to its environmental friendliness, has become widespread. Gynecologists may decide to resort to this method in several cases. And this applies not only to obstetric care directly in the maternity ward. A obstetrician-gynecologist who observes pregnancy can offer you the use of kelp to stimulate childbirth, if the time has already come and the cervical canal is not prepared for the upcoming event.
For example
Let's list the main diagnoses in which the doctor turns to this tool:
- Immaturity of the cervix in due time.
- Complicated pregnancy. This may be a Rhesus conflict, severe toxicosis, fetal death.
- Use kelp and to prepare for uterine manipulations. Most often it is abortion.
Mode of application
All manipulations can only be performed by an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist. This item is especially important for adherents of home birth, or the appearance of a baby in vivo. The use of kelp to stimulate childbirth (doctors say that this is the safest and most effective tool to date) involves preliminary sanitation of the vagina.
After that, using special tools, the stick soaked in saline is placed so that it is at one end in the internal pharynx of the cervix. The top is covered with a sterile dense napkin, which helps the sticks to stay in place.
The number of sticks used
Yes, you were not mistaken, the use of kelp to stimulate labor (the photo clearly shows the appearance of these sticks) suggests an individual approach to the required number of sticks. In particular, before abortion, which is performed in the first half of pregnancy, from one to six kelp are installed per day.
When preparing the cervix for childbirth at a later date, up to 19 kelp is used in two stages. Each time, the sticks must remain in place for up to 20 hours.
Removal of kelp is performed by vaginal examination. The doctor pulls them at the ends of the threads, evaluating the effectiveness of the procedure. Deletion is performed after the desired effect is achieved or after the expiration of the maximum time period.
Pros of this tool
Let's look at the benefits of using kelp to stimulate labor. Indications and contraindications should be voiced by the attending physician, and it is imperative to take the patient’s consent to carry out such a procedure. It attracts doctors primarily because of its simplicity and safety. Without using potent drugs, you get the opportunity to avoid further complications of the postpartum and postoperative period associated with emergency, forced expansion of the cervix.
Thus, simple kelp helps prevent a huge number of complications.
- Its use according to direct indications reduces the frequency of caesarean section.
- Obstetricians note that kelp significantly reduces the duration of all stages of childbirth.
- This is a natural remedy that does not cause allergic reactions.
- Unlike drugs that are used to urgently stimulate labor, kelp does not affect maternal blood pressure.
- If the use of kelp did not give the expected effect, then you can move on to other methods of stimulation, and the dosage of drugs in this case can be significantly reduced.
Of course, kelp is not a panacea, and only a doctor can tell if it will help in your particular case. To do this, it is necessary to collect in a single picture the monitoring of the course of pregnancy and the results of ultrasound, the well-being of the woman and the conclusion of a gynecological examination.
Side effects and contraindications
Like any other method, the use of kelp to stimulate labor is not without drawbacks. Side effects in this case can be expressed in the pain of a woman. For any discomfort, you need to inform your doctor. The normal options are a feeling of heaviness, minor pulling pains and small spotting.
The boundaries of pain are very subjective, so try to describe them as accurately as possible so that the doctor has a complete picture of what is happening with your body. However, the opening of the cervix in any case is accompanied by pain, so you have to put up with it.
The use of kelp sticks can lead to premature discharge of amniotic fluid. In addition, as we have already said, such stimulation accelerates the course of all stages of childbirth, which is not always desirable.
Any infectious diseases of the reproductive system are a complete contraindication for the installation of sticks of kelp. In these cases, preliminary reorganization is required. Such a procedure can cause inflammatory diseases in the mother, so the doctor must evaluate the pros and cons in advance. However, as we have already emphasized, kelp can in some cases help to avoid more serious therapy and give birth to a healthy baby.