Contents
Kidney delivery: what you need to know
In about 6 mothers out of 10, the baby directs his back against the mother’s belly and comes out with his head well flexed against the thorax, positioning the back part of his skull under the pubis. Every now and then he does come out head first, but his back is oriented against that of the mother. The back can be positioned on the right (33%) or left (6%) side. In these situations, his head presses on the lumbar region, the famous “kidneys” as our grandmothers used to say! This pressure, increased by the contractions, makes labor more painful.
Kidney delivery, a normal childbirth?
This delivery usually takes place without any problem, but has the particularity of being a little longer. Indeed, the baby will have to perform a greater rotation (135 ° compared to the usual 45 °) to come and place his head under the maternal pubis. In addition, the flexion of his head is not maximum (compared to those whose back is forward), the engagement and the descent into the maternal pelvis turn out to be less easy. Badly flexed, the head has too large diameters when it enters the bone die, 10 to 15,5 cm instead of 9,5 cm and in 5% of cases, it fails to rotate. The back of the child’s skull is therefore found facing the maternal sacrum. Suddenly, the birth takes place with the face looking at the ceiling. Although the expulsion can be done this way, it puts the mother at a greater risk of tearing the perineum. To help the baby come out, the doctor may need to perform an episiotomy.
Kidney childbirth: positions that relieve
All the women who have been there will tell us: contractions in the kidneys are more painful than conventional contractions. Felt in the lumbar region, they radiate into the back.
Giving birth through the kidneys is therefore more painful, but don’t panic. To be relieved: we reduce the pressure on the lumbar region by avoiding lying on our back, and we change our position frequently. As long as the contractions are not too intense, we walk, we crouch by leaning on the daddy or on a chair, or we get on all fours.
In certain “nature” birth rooms, we can help ourselves with ropes or balls, so we do not hesitate to use them. Apart from enlarging the pelvis a little, the vertical postures allow the contractions to be more effective in dilating the cervix. When the rate of contractions quickens, moms often prefer to lie down. We favor the position on the side, rounded back.
We do not forget to seek the help of the future dad! A massage on the painful parts or a sustained pressure on the sensitive spot can be beneficial.
Kidney childbirth: medical aids
La birth preparation can bring you real comfort. Slow, deep breathing helps you relax and cope better with pain. Acupuncture is also on the rise in some maternity hospitals. It also helps to relieve the peaks felt in the back during contractions. It is a safe alternative medicine for the mother or the baby. Some future mothers also use homeopathy. It has little effect on pain but makes it possible to soften the neck and shorten the duration of labor. However, it is necessary to start treatment during the last month of pregnancy. At last, the epidural provides long-lasting relief and maybe asked at the start of labor. However, it requires a prior consultation with the anesthesiologist in order to verify that there are no contraindications.
Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr.