Different Types of labor aside from normal delivery
Sometimes things happen which may prevent labor to progress normally and may affect a simple, easy delivery. In these cases, medicine steps in to give Mother Nature a little hand.
Induced Labor - Should labor turn out to be too long for the safety of your baby, or if your baby seems to be in distress, your doctor may speed up labor by administering oxytocin-a synthetic version of the natural hormone which is normally produced by the female reproductive system and is secreted when the breasts are stimulated. Oxytoxin acts on the uterine muscles, causing contractions. Administration of the hormone dramatically speeds contractions that have suddenly slowed down. Sometimes, however, all that is needed is to rupture your bag of water, if it is still intact. This will usually bring on contractions quickly. Labor can only be induced if ‘laboring’ has begun.
Episiotomy - The vagina can stretch to a most thrice its normal dimension but the skin of the vaginal opening cannot. Therefore the baby’s entrance to the world could cause a jagged tear in the perineum (space between vagina and rectum). To lessen the degree of the tear, an incision about 2 to 3 inches long will be made in the perineum. This incision will be repaired with absorbable sutures which need not be removed after the wound has healed.
Forceps Delivery - Forceps resemble tongs. These are used when the baby has difficulty emerging from the cervix. The blades are placed on each side of the baby’s head, and the handles are then joined together. Baby is then eased out gently but firmly out of the birth canal. Forceps can only be used when the cervix is fully dilated and your baby’s head is visible, headfirst. The wound in both the uterine and abdominal walls heal quickly enough to allow a return home within five days.
Ceasarean Delivery - Today, birth by ‘C-section’ is common-place. This is usually performed for a number of reasons: failure to progress in labor, when the mother’s pelvis is too small to allow a vaginal delivery, when the baby is in a difficult position with his feet first or his shoulder getting in the way, or if baby’s oxygen supply is being suppressed by a twisted umbilical cord.
Under general anesthesia, an incision is made near the pubic hairline then an incision is made in the lower part of the uterus. The baby is then delivered.
