Anyone familiar with or experienced a Vacuum Assisted birth?

kblemmon13 · May 2014

So from day one, due to my disorders and high risk pregnancy, I have only had two clear options for delivery : vacuum assist or c-section. (Forceps are a straight no for me) The reason for these two options is because about 5 years ago, I had brain surgery which involved cutting the dura ( the lining of the brain) and replacing with a bovine patch and I also have a syrinx ( a fluid cyst) in my spine. I am not allowed to push due to these two issues. I have been cleared for an epidural by both my neurosurgeon and the anesthesiologist. After seeing a different doctor every visit, at both my normal clinic and the high risk, I have heard every opinion and every recommendation if "i was their daughter..." and not one has matched with another. After finally deciding to go the most natural way and have a vaginal birth... I was told in lam-en's terms that I would labor down, let baby girl work her way into the birth canal and then they would pull her out. If I pushed, it would be minimal. They also first wanted to induce me so I would be in a controlled environment...

After my appointment yesterday, I am so confused, frustrated and now scared. Apparently now they are saying I will have to push.. which I didn't think you could do with the way they are planning on numbing me. And I am terrified to push because after my surgery, I have been doing great and do not want to go back down that disabled path. The surgery was a treatment, not a cure. I want to be able to take care of my daughter, not the other way around!!

Has anyone experienced a vacuum assisted? Do you push the whole time, is it just a few if she gets stuck... what the hell happens in there?

PressLove · May 2014

FTM, so no experience. I just wanted to say good luck and you're in my thoughts and prayers.

kblemmon13 · May 2014

Thank you. I had my first real meltdown over it yesterday haha poor hubby didn't know what to do. I just would like a straight answer and not get the run around or different opinions every time. It's very frustrating.

MrsRahl · May 2014

Ftm here too but watched my SIL get vacuum assist, but it was at the end after baby's head was partly out and her pushing was fruitless. I don't have much more info than that :-/

katekat8721 · May 2014

I'm not quite sure sweets, but I'd also ask the High Risk board if you haven't already. They may have some experience with this! Good luck!

nunzchucks · May 2014

I'm with @katekat8721‌ Definitely check with the High Risk board.

sparklenshine_89 · May 2014

Like @ugabamafans I have no experience with vacuum assisted births but with being induced and an epi I still had to push quite a bit. So sorry, I hope your doctors get on the same page soon to give you peace of mind.

ElTrain5 · May 2014

No experience but the one thing that came to mind was, has anyone suggested that you try different positions during labor to allow gravity to help guide baby out? Like squatting, that way you didn't have to work against it? At my birth class they told us they could only attach the vacuum once baby's head had crowned, but it was taught by a doula not a nurse so I'm not sure of the accuracy of that. I hold you get some more answers soon

kblemmon13 · May 2014

One dr did mention having me sit in a way that gravity would help.. I'm not really sure how any of it works and my mom is a labor delivery RN with 17 yrs experience and even she is confused and frustrated.

temursgirl · May 2014

No experience, but I wanted to suggest that if you haven't already, get an opinion from the doctor you see for the brain and spine issues. It's tough getting conflicting information on something so important. I assume you see a high risk specialist already? Lots of good thought for you!

RaeJ004 · May 2014

DD had to be vacuumed out because she wasn't completely facedown and was somewhat off to the side and she was wedged in there pretty good. I definitely had to push though, hard. I second (third?) the suggestion of asking the high risk board.

I'm sorry you're having to worry about this and not get the answers you need. GL!

Rosebud2587 · May 2014

I ended up needing the vacuum to help get DD out. She was sunny side up and stuck in my pelvis. I definitely pushed the whole time, even with the vacuum. In fact, I pushed so hard that I broke a whole bunch of capillaries in my chest and face, and even my eyes!

becomingmommyagain · May 2014

I had a vac assisted birth my first one and it was not an easy labor or delivery. He was not "lined up" properly and his shoulder was caught in my pelvis. They had brought an OR gurney to the room and were prepared to transport. Every birth experience is different though. My younger two were very easy births with very minimum pushing. Things could go either way and no one will know until the 11th hour.

If you do attempt vaginal delivery, you should at least accept that there is a possibilty of emergency C-section and discuss with your physicians what will constitute an emergency for your medical situation.

TonyaCody06 · May 2014

I was an L&D RN. VAD (vacuum assisted deliveries) all had to push and just as hard as any other laboring mother.

Sounds like a c/s may be your safest route for everyone. GL!

lizok22 · May 2014

I had a vac assisted birth with DS. i had been pushing for about 45 min. i had the epi but his heart rate started to drop with the pushing. he was not liking it. it think he was still pretty high up there, i had never really dropped. i felt nothing becuase of the epi and it got him out super fast. no damage to his head at all. but i had a broken tailbone after from the force. awful getting over that one!

MollySm · May 2014

I'm sorry you are in this position! With my daughter the doctor used a vacuum at the very end to help her out. She was turned sideways for a long time, I had a 32 hour labor, spanning 2 nights, and I had been pushing for 3 hours. It was the end and I just wasn't able to get her that final way out, so they used the vacuum and gave me a little help. I have no idea how that would work with laboring and not pushing (the urge to push was so intense), but I'm assuming if your docs have offered it as a plan, they probably have an idea how it would work. If you don't feel comfortable picturing how it would go, I'd talk through it with them again. Hopefully they can help ease your fears a little. As far as the actual vacuum for me, it wasn't scary or anything - it was actually a relief to get a little help at that point.

Mom&nurse · May 2014

It's not personal experience but professional. As a nursing student years ago. We had a women who could not push. If I remember she was paralyzed. They gave her an epideral and her body pushed the baby out for her. They used a vacuum to help her out too. I would google how paralyzed women do it because if u are trying to avoid pushing that's what you will be.

However these are a few things I can offer as questions to think about. Not knowing a lot about your situation here it goes.

What happens if you accidentally push? I know when in labor women say they just had to push even when told not to by staff. They say "I had to do it. I couldn't help it" If you physically have the ability is there high risk if you accidentally push?

If in the moment are you not going to care? If forceps are a big no no. What if you get desperate? The whole "just get her out " moment? I guess I'm just asking if you have clear plans and back up options.

Is this epideral going to make it so you can't push or can't feel the pain?

What are the risks if she gets stuck? How quick can your hospital get her out safe? Will they have to put you out? Will her current epideral work for a c section?

I can't imagine having to make that choice. I know a c section is far from what I want but truly after being in the hospital for over 2 weeks now. I truly get the idea of healthy baby first. There are so many things you wanted during your birth experience. And if tou safely can get something's out of it. Vaginal may be worth a try. I'm happy to help you work through questions or have someone to bounce ideas off. I don't have a dog in this fight.

I do it for work all the time.

CherSomething · May 2014

I felt the vacuum on my hand and decided there is no way in hell anyone is ever attaching that contraption to my baby's head. Like, ever. See if they'll demonstrate it on you so you can make an educated decision about it. kwim?

gregsgurl81304 · May 2014

Sorry I have no experience with this, but like others have mentioned, and for me I could not fight the urge to push, it was over powering and I only felt better when I did push even though baby wasn't ready to come out. I would definately talk with your doctor again to help clarify your concerns.

ncbelle · May 2014

Tough situation

Honestly, I'm not sure it's realistic to "not push" at all - it just becomes involuntary once you hit that point in labor. And the vacuum isn't really intended to birth the baby for you but to supplement your own efforts to get baby out.

Add in induction and you are just increasing the difficulty of birth - induction likely means epidural (which sounds like you'd have anyway) which limits the positions you can birth in which in turn means you have to push "harder". The "easiest" birth in terms of pushing effort is going to be one where you are laboring med free (so you can feel what your body is doing and not "purple pushing" which many women do with the epidural because they can't feel the urge and work with it) and are able to labor either squatting or on all fours where gravity is in your favor. Important to note that many OBs do not encourage this sort of labor.

If pushing is life threatening for you, I would probably opt for a c-section - and I say that as someone who is generally anti-intervention. I would clarify what the risks are and proceed from there. Good luck!!

BabyCurtiss2014 · May 2014

So sorry you are having to worry about this. I'm against vacuum and forceps and if I was in your shoes I would opt for CS. It's surgery but I would feel it's safer for me and baby if I was in your shoes. I have many friends that had CS and yeah the recovery sux the first 2 weeks but it's fine after that! Good luck!!!
Edit: also CS takes all that guess work out of what will happen.

lifeisbetteronthered · May 2014

In unclear as to why you can't push. Was this on the advice of your neurosurgeon? If it was your Ob, I would get the opinion of your neurosurgeon. I have never heard of this being recommended, I have never come across a journal article about this, and can't really think of a good reason you can't push. I am making the assumption, based on your very short discription, that you had a chiari decompression, but can think of a couple of other possibilities and still can't think of one that wouldn't allow you to push. Please speak with your neurosurgeon about this issue, and I'd love to hear the result (being a neurosurgeon myself, I'm very curious).

lefriday · May 2014

I had one with dd. besides her severe cone head it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I couldn't believe how fast she came out?

austinlyns · May 2014

The c-section seems less risky for you and your baby. There are way too many uncontrollable variables with the other route. If you try the induction and really aren't allowed to push, the chances of an emergency c-section seem high. I bet your doctors would breathe a sigh of relief for you and baby if you chose the c-section.

beachbride5 · May 2014

my dr refuses to use a vac due to some risks to the baby's brain, so my vote would be c/s. it seems more easily controlled and less risky in the long run, despite the extra healing time, etc.

good luck!!

kblemmon13 · May 2014

@tomw&jennd yes I had a chiari decompression in '09 so it will be at the 5 year mark right before my due date. My neurosurgeon says i can do either, but to be limited and very careful with pushing. I have a bovine patch due to the surgery as well as a cyst in my upper spine. I am worried that it will affect both of these... and there is nothing on how to handle these situations with chiari and pregnancy. I have done extremely well post surgery and do not want any complications that would set me back. My ob's ( and i have seen at least 10) are literally split in half on which route to go... whether I need a c-section ( which is what I always believed would be my route) or the assisted. I have no problem pushing some but I cannot push for hours. I almost black out just trying to go to the bathroom... I have an appt with a dr who knows my case well and has seen me since I was 14.. I am hoping to get some trusted answers from her next week.

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