10/11/2021
Posted • .midwifemummy Artificial rupture of membranes
Synthetic oxytocin
Induction
Rushing labour
Rushing bearing down
Instrumental birth
Directed pushing
Caesarian section
Laying on your back
Fetal Scalp Electrode
Episiotomy
Vaginal Examinations
Continuous monitoring
There’s more that could probably be added but you get the point.
All of these things can be suggested for possible fetal distress.
Main word there, possible.
These can then directly or indirectly cause distress, to you or your baby. All for a possibility.
Example: your water’s release and there’s meconium. Why? Possible distress or (more likely) just a mature digestive system. You’re suggested an induction with a synthetic hormone. You cannot stay at home and have to be in hospital. You’re then more likely to have an epidural and then you’re more likely to have an instrumental birth or a CS.
Synthetic hormone and an epidural both can cause fetal distress, that’s the only reason you need a continuous monitor on with these things.
Instrumental births, episiotomies and CS can distress both baby and Mum (and not just physically).
But in the end, how did this all happen from simply the water’s releasing?
What caused the distress?
The meconium?
Or the other 100 things that happened after?
A lot of people focus on the end result and ask what they could’ve changed at that point. But that’s not what is going to help. It’s everything that happens at the start that you can change that will help. Every decision that you make, will affect your birth. So make your decisions carefully.