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Assisted Birth: 3 Most Important Things to Know

On December 18, 2015   /   Pregnancy   /   Leave a comment

Assisted Birth

An assisted birth is considered in cases when during the normal vaginal delivery, the baby needs to be assisted with instruments in order to be born. These instruments are usually attached into the baby’s head. It has been estimated that about one in eight birth is assisted.

What Is an Assisted Birth?

Assistance during childbirth is usually needed in cases when labor has been long, tiring the mother. Through assisted birth the mum, as well as the baby are helped. Long and slow labors are more likely during the first childbirth (Read also: Check List for Just Pregnant Women), while in cases of a second or third childbirth the labor period is shorter in time.

During pregnancy (Learn also: Fit While Pregnant) the baby is developed into the female’s uterus for approximately 40 weeks (Read also: First Trimester of Pregnancy). When the fetus is matures, the labor begins. During labor the baby goes through a series of movements that help it get through the birth canal. However, in some cases the baby gets stuck in the birth canal. In these cases, when the baby gets stuck into the birth canal, uter is the only solution.

What Instruments Are Used for Assisted Birth?

The instruments used for assisted birth are forceps and ventouse.

The forceps is a metal instrument consisted of two branches that during assisted childbirth are positioned around the head of the baby.

The ventouse or the vacuum extractor has a cup which is attached to a suction device. The cup is put into the baby’s head and vacuum is created in order to help the baby get out. Once the cup is inserted into the vagina and placed on the baby’s head, suction is applied using a manual or electrical pump. The suction gently pulls the baby, until the head emerges from the birth canal. At this point the cup is removed and the baby is delivered normally. Vacuum extractors are not recommended in cases when the baby is less than 34 weeks old, when there is a breech birth and when the baby is presented with its face into the birth canal.

When Is an Assisted Birth Necessary?

Cases when an assisted birth is needed include:

  • The mother is exhausted and she can’t push any more
  • The baby is distressed during the pushing stage of the labor
  • The baby is not making progress through the birth canal
  • There is a mother’s health condition that doesn’t allow her to push for too long, such as suffering from a heart disease, etc.

Forceps and Vacuum Delivery

Both of these two instruments have their benefits, but also their risks and possible complications after their usage for the mother and for the baby.

When ventouse is used, the chances of significant damage to the perineum or vagina are lower, when compared with forceps. However, a ventouse is less likely to be successful in helping the baby to be delivered. The baby will probably have a temporary swelling on the head and there is also a higher possibility of the baby having retinal bleeding in the eyes, even though this complication is very uncommon.

In the other hand, a forceps is more successful at helping the baby to be delivered, when compared to ventouse. However, in cases when a forceps is used episiotomy is necessary, sometimes even accompanied with tearing of the perineum or vagina, causing a significant damage. There is also the possibility of redness or bruising on the baby’s face. After the use of forceps during childbirth, the women might also experience incontinence problems, wind and problems with bowel movements, which are usually only for a short period of time after childbirth.

However, it is all up to your doctor to decide which of the two instruments is better for you and your baby to use when they are needed. If the baby needs to be born quickly, forceps is a better choice.

 

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Mastitis – Symptoms and Treatment

On December 4, 2015   /   Breast Health   /   Leave a comment

Mastitis – Symptoms and Treatment

Mastitis – Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue which when left untreated may lead to an infection of the breast.

The most common causes of inflammation are:

  • Damage of the nipple
  • Long breaks between breastfeeds
  • Full breasts
  • Blocked milk ducts
  • Stopping breastfeeding too quickly
  • Wearing tight bras, etc.

However, the most common cause of inflammation is lactation. Mastitis which results from breastfeeding usually occurs within the first 6-12 weeks after childbirth.

Mastitis Risk Factors

Risk factors that can lead to mastitis include:

  • Stress and tiredness
  • Poor nutrition
  • An inflammation of the breasts (Mastitis) in the past
  • Sore or cracked nipples (Read also:Nipple Pain Causes)
  • Using only one position to breastfeed. A wrong position while breastfeeding will not allow the breasts to drain completely.

Signs and symptoms of Mastitis vary from mild, moderate to severe. Usually flu – like symptoms present in the beginning with temperature, fever, chills and joints pain while redness and soreness of an area on the breast show up later.

Mastitis Treatment, Brooklyn

Treatment should be started as soon as disease is diagnosed. Heat packs or warm clothes should be put on top of the sore area before breastfeeding in order to help the milk flow. If you are having no problems with the milk flow, that warm packs or warm clothes are not needed. Keep in mind that breast milk is safe for your baby, so keep breastfeeding even though you have mastitis. Gently massage your breasts, especially any breast lumps toward the nipples when breastfeeding your child or when having a shower or bath. In cases when you experience a lot of pain, Ibuprofen might help to relieve it. Also cool packs put on the breasts after breastfeeding might help you reduce the discomfort. Rest as much as possible, try to sleep as much as you can, eat well and drink plenty of water during the day.

If after all these things, you still continue to feel sick and your condition is getting worse, you should go and see a doctor as soon as you can. In some cases antibiotics are necessary to treat Mastitis.

If this disease is not treated correctly and on time it can lead to a collection of puss inside of the breast tissue and formation of an abscess. Abscesses usually require surgical drainage.

How to Prevent Mastitis?

There are some little things you can do for your breasts in order to prevent disease. Specially, you should take care of your breasts while breastfeeding. In order to prevent a possible mastitis, you should breastfeed your baby at least 8-12 times a day (this is for the newborns, but as the baby grows the period between breastfeeding gets longer). You should not miss a breastfeed. Don’t let your breasts to get full of milk. Instead wake up your baby and feed. Feed your baby with both of your breasts. If the baby only feeds from one breast, offer the other one during the next feed. If your breasts still feel full after breastfeeding, you should express the over amount of milk until your breasts feel comfortable. Avoid wearing tight bras and other tight clothes. Avoid pressure on your breasts with fingers while breastfeeding. Try to get as much rest as you can during breastfeeding.

 

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Signs and Symptoms of Menstrual Periods | Your First Period

On November 11, 2015   /   Young Womens Health   /   Leave a comment

Signs and Symptoms of Menstrual Periods | Your First Period

Are you a teen who has just got her first period? Do you know what menstruation periods are? Do you have doubts and questions about the menstruation periods? Getting information about how your body changes over the years and what to expect during the menstrual periods is a wise thing to do.

But What Are Menstrual Periods?

Menstrual periods are also known as menarche. Every woman has menstrual periods starting from puberty until menopause. First menstrual periods show up between the age of 12 and 13, while the last menstrual periods show up around the age of 50. However, some women do enter their puberty earlier, or their first menstrual periods show up a little bit later. This is also for the menopause. Menstrual periods are regular monthly episodes of bleeding.

A normal menstrual cycle varies from 21 to 35 days, with an average of 28 days. A cycle is counted from the first day of your last menstrual periods until the first day of your current period. The woman’s menstrual cycle is a woman’s reproductive cycle, during which her uterus gets prepared to support the pregnancy and ovulation with fertilization occurs. If fertilization occurs and the woman becomes preganant, menstruation periods will stop. This is one of the first signs of pregnancy. If the fertilization does not occur, the menstrual bleeding will show up resulting from the shedding of the inner line of the uterine wall.

The first half of the menstrual cycle is known as the follicular phase. During the follicular phase the woman’s body gets prepared for the pregnancy by thickening the uterine wall and maturing the egg for fertilization.

Ovulation is the process of releasing the egg from the ovary in order to get fertilized by an spermatozoid. Ovulation usually occurs around the 14th day of the menstrual period, while the fertile time begins about five days before ovulation. The egg will be viable 12 to 24 hours after ovulation.

The luteal phase is the last one of the menstrual cycle. It starts after the ovulation time. If the fertilization occurs it will prepare the uterus for implantation, and if not then it will prepare the uterus for another menstrual bleeding.

Because every woman is different, the length of the menstrual cycle, but also the menstrual bleeding varies. There are also differences from one menstrual cycle to another. If one month the menstrual bleeding lasted 4 days, the other month it could be 6 days.

Signs and Symptoms of Menstrual Bleeding

The signs and symptoms of menstrual bleeding include:

  • Pelvic pressure
  • Discomfort and pain on the back and pelvic area
  • Water retention
  • Cramping, bloating, tender and sore breasts
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Food cravings, etc.

Some women have mild to moderate signs and symptoms during the menstrual periods, while others have severe signs and symptoms during the menstrual period that interferes with their daily life. Uterine cramping in the form of spasmodic cramping or congestive cramping is the most common but also the most annoying and uncomfortable symptom that women experience during their menstruation.

 

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