Vacuum Delivery - Assisted Vaginal Birth Procedure
No, it’s nothing like a Hoover. A vacuum extraction, also known as a vacuum-assisted delivery, is used to help move the baby through the birth canal during delivery when a mom’s labor has stalled.
Vacuum assisted delivery is used to aid birth when labor has become prolonged and the mother is experiencing extreme stress and difficulties. Vacuum delivery helps guide the baby out of the birth canal more rapidly. An alternative to a forceps delivery, vacuum birth can help avoid injury to the baby or a cesarean section.
During a vacuum assisted delivery, the soft suction cup of the vacuum is applied to the baby's head, and the vacuum helps guide the baby out of the birth canal. Advanced vacuum delivery systems support gentle, smooth delivery and allow obstetricians to execute safe, individualized interventions.
When and why is a vacuum extraction done?
A vacuum-assisted delivery may be necessary if your labor is prolonged and needs to be sped up — particularly if you or your baby are at risk for health complications during the delivery.
Specifically, your doctor may do a vacuum extraction if:
- Your baby is stuck in the birth canal — for example, you’re pushing, but labor is no longer progressing
- You're too tired to push
- You have a medical problem like a heart condition or very high blood pressure, both of which can make it risky to keep pushing
- Your baby is experiencing fetal distress or her heart rate indicates there's a problem
Are there any Side Effects or Risks to the Baby with a Vacuum Extraction?
Luckily, it’s rare for a baby to sustain a serious injury during a vacuum extraction. Possible risks, however, include:
- Swelling on the scalp, which goes away within a few days
- Jaundice, or skin taking on a yellowish hue, which may need to be treated with light therapy
- Shoulder dystocia, which occurs when the shoulder gets stuck after the head has been delivered
- Skull fracture or bleeding within the skull, which is rare
Keep in mind, too, that there's no evidence a successful vacuum-assisted delivery will have any effect on your child's development
Are there any side effects or risks to the mother with a vacuum extraction?
If your doctor opts to use a vacuum extraction, there are a few possible risks to the mother (though most of these side effects can occur during an unassisted vaginal delivery as well). These include:
- Pain in the perineum
- Tears in the vagina or the perineum
- Short-term difficulty urinating
- Short- or long-term incontinence
- An episiotomy to enlarge the vaginal opening to place the vacuum on your baby’s head
If the vacuum extraction isn’t successful, the doctor may have to perform a C-section next.
