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Obstetric methods used to cripple mothers and children in the last century
To the current generation, they seem to be a real barbarism. And 30 years ago, these methods of obstetrics were considered the absolute norm.
Modern mothers have no idea what happened in maternity hospitals in the old days. They only heard about pulling a newborn out of the womb by the leg, squeezing and other horrors. An experienced obstetrician-gynecologist told about what happened and what happened.
doctor of the network of multidisciplinary clinics “Dialine”
Develop and do not stand still.
“Obstetrics is a very conservative area of medicine, you shouldn’t reinvent the wheel here. To give birth to a good, healthy child, first of all, it is not technology that is needed (of course, this applies to women in labor without pathologies). We need the kind, skilled hands of a midwife, a cool head and the right behavior. “
But the delivery scheme itself was far from always kind. Even now, she can look very cruel – what are the chilling stories of mothers who have endured in the hospital so that they cannot dare to have a second child even after years. Fortunately, those barbaric methods that were practiced 20-30 years ago are gradually becoming a thing of the past.
Vacuum extraction of the fetus
It consisted in the following: a special metal cup was placed on the child’s head, into which negative pressure was applied. Due to the created vacuum, the cup was sucked to the head, and so the fetus was taken out. The method is quite traumatic; when using it, there were often complications in both the mother and the child.
For the sake of fairness, it must be said that vacuum extractors are still used today, but they are modern, their cup is soft, silicone. There are situations when at the end of childbirth such intervention is necessary – when labor activity weakens, and it is no longer possible to carry out a cesarean.
Obstetric forceps
This is the progenitor of the vacuum extractor. Today they are used extremely rarely, with breech presentation of the fetus. The woman in the hospital should be presented with a choice: to give birth with forceps or to have a cesarean. But in fact, the decision often remains not with the woman, but with the midwife – the woman in labor is simply presented with a fact.
The instrument is so traumatic that doctors prefer to do a cesarean rather than using forceps. Their use is fraught with injuries to the mother: ruptures of the perineum, vagina, cervix, even damage to the bone pelvis. The consequences for the child can also be very serious – from wounds on the head and face to depressions, cracks, fractures of the skull with hemorrhages.
Separate stay of mother and child
Strictly speaking, physically this practice did not cripple anyone. But with the establishment of breastfeeding then there were certain difficulties: a hungry child could be kept in the ward, despite crying and screaming, until the time for feeding on schedule came. The kid was brought in for 15-20 minutes, then carried back. There was no question of establishing a connection between mother and baby. About psychological comfort – too.
It is only relatively recently that maternity hospitals “friendly to mother or child” have appeared. That is, it turns out that you used to be hostile? Fortunately, now you can be with your child non-stop around the clock, feed on demand, get used to each other from the first minutes.
Christeller’s method
It was officially banned at the legislative level in 1992. But even before that, the use of Christeller’s method was not recommended – it is very dangerous. For those who do not know, we will tell you what the method is: in fact, it is extrusion. When the attempts were very weak, the midwife pressed hard on the belly of the woman in labor to literally squeeze the baby out of her. This can lead to monstrous birth trauma up to cerebral palsy or even the death of a baby.
The consequences of this method in a baby may not appear immediately: here are vertebral injuries and scoliosis. A woman in labor may experience a ruptured pelvic floor or fractured ribs.
What else is left in the past?
After a cesarean section in the anamnesis, it was possible to give birth again only through a cesarean section. Today, the approach has changed: on the contrary, with a scar on the uterus, it is advised to give birth naturally.
The methods of operative delivery are now trying to be used only in extreme cases, the frequency of their use is minimal.
Epidural anesthesia is used less frequently. With proper preparation for childbirth, a woman does not have a panic need for pain relief: thus, both she and the obstetrician are able to naturally control the process.
The Rakhmanov bed, invented at the beginning of the twentieth century, was replaced by modern transforming chairs.
Comfort is not the main thing
In the 80s and 90s, both in the West and in our country there was a period of “technological obstetrics.” It was believed that the use of a large number of medical equipment, monitoring equipment, methods of complete anesthesia (epidural anesthesia) would make childbirth as comfortable as possible. Here is the key word – comfort!
That is, human rights, especially overseas, were brought to the point of absurdity: it should always be convenient and pleasant, by no means no discomfort.
But complete pain relief of labor entails a significant reduction in contractions and, therefore, the need for additional stimulation. That is, childbirth was completely artificial, with the minimum participation of the woman in labor herself. After a couple of decades, it became clear that the consequences of such practices are not very good. The number of birth injuries of newborns increased, the percentage of their morbidity and mortality went up. In addition, psychological problems in the development of these children were noted. Research has been carried out to prove that babies born in “technological” births show less adaptability to life.
Today the world is returning to its origins, as it was in the USSR in the 60s and 70s of the last century. Obstetrics is becoming more and more natural. What does it mean?
The methods of psychological preparation for natural childbirth are being practiced again.
Open days in maternity hospitals, excursions. Parents-to-be come, get acquainted with the environment, the staff.
Active work in social networks (information on Instagram, etc.)
The birth itself is in a natural position, through the birth canal. The percentage of cesarean sections, so popular in the “technological” period, has significantly decreased.
Creation of a “family” environment in childbirth: partner childbirth (with the participation of a husband, mother, girlfriend).
Using a comfortable environment in the maternity hospital to facilitate the initial period of labor (jacuzzi baths, rubber balls, massage, etc.)
Free behavior during childbirth (choice of body position, position). By the way, the ideal position is not lying, but vertical.
Strict adherence to clinical protocols developed by leading obstetricians and gynecologists.