What medical centers and hospitals can provide
Tools for labor and birth emergencies
We explain some procedures here that may be used in a medical center to hasten
labor or get the baby out quickly. These procedures save the lives of babies who are
in distress, and of mothers who have been laboring for many, many hours, or who
are at risk of infection.
Breaking the bag of waters
When a woman has been in labor for many hours but she is not making
progress, some doctors (and midwives) use a sterile tool to break the
bag of waters. This will often bring the baby’s head down
hard on the cervix and speed labor.
amniohook —
Breaking the bag of waters increases the chance of
infection and can stall a labor if the head comes down fast
a tool for
breaking the
bag of waters
in the wrong position.
Instrument birth
A baby who is stuck in the vagina can often be pulled out using forceps
or a vacuum extractor.
Forceps are used to
grab a baby’s head
and pull him out of
his mother’s body.
A vacuum extractor
attaches to the baby’s
head and uses suction
to pull the baby out
of the vagina.
Forceps and vacuum extractors are rarely necessary and are much too dangerous
to use at home. But if a baby is at risk of dying (and in some other emergencies),
these tools are the best and fastest way to help a baby be born.
Note: Instruments should be avoided with a woman who has HIV.
Using them increases the risk of HIV infection for the baby.
A Book for Midwives (2010)
435