Not all deliveries are equally easy. That is why sometimes medical interventions are necessary, such as applying a vacuum pump. During expulsion, a round suction cup is placed on the baby’s head, so that the gynecologist can pull along during a contraction. But what are the actual consequences of such a vacuum pump?
Headache, overstimulation, nausea: these are a number of things that newborn babies can suffer from after an operation with the vacuum pump. But that does not apply to all newborns, says caseload obstetrician Mariëlle Eustatia.
“There are also babies who have little trouble with the vacuum pump, but most do notice something,” she says. “In itself logical, because their heads were pulled during childbirth. I don’t experience it that often myself, twice in the past year.”
If the mother does not want the procedure, it will not happen.
“If a vacuum pump is necessary during childbirth, then I prefer to let a child recover in peace shortly after delivery. So nice in their own bed or on the mother’s stomach in a low-stimulus environment, without the child too much. from hand to hand. You have to see it this way: if you have a headache yourself, you often want to lie in a quiet room with not too many stimuli around you. Why shouldn’t that apply to babies?”
Always consult before use
The use of a vacuum pump during childbirth is a medical procedure that only a doctor should perform, explains Eustatia.
“So I don’t use a vacuum pump myself. If I transfer a client to the gynaecologist during childbirth, for example because the delivery is progressing too slowly or because there is fetal distress, I always stick to it. Using a vacuum pump is a well-considered choice and should always be discussed with the mother. She has the right to dispose of her own body. So if she does not want the procedure, it will not happen.”
“In my opinion, there is always a moment to explain to the mother what is going on and why you want to apply a cutting and/or vacuum pump. And what the other options are,” continues the midwife. “This gives the mother time to make a choice herself or to participate in the decision-making process. That may be one of the consequences of the vacuum pump: that the mother suffers mentally after giving birth, because it has been decided for her And I want to avoid that at all costs.”
Provide as much information as possible
Eustatia does not know whether you can prevent the use of a vacuum pump. “Every delivery is different. As a healthcare provider, it is very important to inform the pregnant woman well in advance and to provide as much information as possible.”
“As a caseload obstetrician, I guide a woman throughout the entire process, from pregnancy to childbirth. During checkups, I take at least an hour for my client. This means there is much more room to discuss things, including any interventions during childbirth.
“As a result, the women I guide are well informed and they also understand better why certain interventions may be necessary. As far as I’m concerned, that’s where the added value lies. They know what to expect and are therefore much stronger in their shoes. I teach them in my own way. turn very well. This creates a valuable bond of trust, which has a positive effect on the delivery. The women therefore need fewer interventions.”
Research on vacuum pump birth
Because little is known about it, epidemiologist Lilian Peters of the University Medical Center Groningen is investigating the long-term consequences of a birth with a vacuum pump and other medical interventions. To do this, she analyzes data from Australia, with which she follows 500,000 women and children from their pregnancy or birth until at least five years later.
Peters uses this to map out how their health (ie that of both mother and child) developed after the birth (with or without interventions). In many cases, a medical intervention took place during childbirth of the Australian women.
It was noticed that more babies developed jaundice after delivery with a vacuum pump or delivery forceps. Children also had metabolic disorders or obesity more often after a caesarean section. Respiratory tract infections or eczema were more common in other procedures.
Peters: “We don’t yet know the exact cause, and I hope to learn more about this with my current research (analyzing data from Dutch obstetricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners and medical specialists). Then it will also become clear whether the results of the Dutch study agree with the results from Australia.”
