Introduction

The difficult baby delivery is something even doctors who have done hundreds of deliveries hope to avoid. But it could happen. To you. So here’s what we do.

Disclaimer

Repeat, here’s what experts do.

 

What to do when you have a difficult baby delivery

 

Obviously, you need to be actively working on getting this mother to the emergency room. Keep the windows cracked to increase oxygen to the mother – and you – as you make no delay getting to the emergency room. I cannot advise that you speed. But, maybe notify 911 while you are in route to possibly get an escort.

Another disclaimer, and it’s somewhat important to the light of heart, particularly the faint male who especially wants to procreate. That is as follows. It has long been rumored that learning about this stuff can affect a man’s sexuality because they because of the risks of having children. Even today, such thinking is used as a form of contraception to help teens avoid early pregnancy. If such knowledge can creep into your psyche and mess you up, then guys, don’t read this. Bottom line, please read at your own discretion.

The following is for education purposes only, and it’s not recommended that anybody without a license to practice medicine partake in any of these procedures ever.

Shoulder dystocia

 

The primary reason for a difficult delivery of a baby is shoulder dystocia. Because of the way the baby presented, the shoulders are not passing through as smoothly as you would hoped. That of course is an understatement.

The pneumonic that even good obstetricians use to safely explore all options to deliver such a baby might be helpful to any non-expert like non-OB/GYN physicians, and the like, as well, to at least know about. It’s “HELPERZ”…

  • Helpers
  • Episiotomy
  • Legs
  • Push
  • Enter
  • Rotate
  • Zavenelli manuever

Helpers. As is the case in even the normal delivery for someone who does not do deliveries usually, get help. Helpers are always around. Anyone will do.

What is an Epsiotomy?

 

Episiotomy. Episiotomy means the physician cuts some of the vagina to allow the baby to come out. Obviously, something you should not be doing or in anyway involve yourself.

Legs. Mom’s legs are lifted up and back in something that has come to be called the McRobert’s maneuver. Yeah; it had a name.

Push. Experts having trouble with the really difficult delivery will push the baby’s shoulder toward the supra pubic region.

Enter. Enter and using what has come to be called the Wood’s corkscrew maneuver, the delivery specialist can…

Rotate. OB etc. rotates the baby so as to

deliver the arm and axilla first, and not the shoulder first.

 

What is the Zavenelli Maneuver?

 

Zavenelli maneuver. This is the greatly dreaded last resort. It is pushing baby back in. Wait. Wait. Here me out; for an emergent C-section of course.

The Difficult Placenta? “D-P”. Don’t pull. Bimanual massage is key. And doctors use medications like oxytocin and methergen to the increase tone of the placenta so that it comes out more readily. Not your world of course. At least I hope not.

Conclusion

Live right and count your blessings. And hope that this never becomes relevant to you or your loved ones. Again, this was for educational purposes only. Stay well.