What are the effects of giving birth by suction?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Thi Hong On - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital. The doctor has 10 years of experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has worked in all positions in the clinic area, delivery room, emergency room for obstetrics and gynecology, procedure room and treatment area on request.

If the birth process is often difficult, the doctor may prescribe birth support methods such as using a suction cup. Like other medical procedures, giving birth by suction can also cause certain effects on the health of mother and baby. Fortunately, these risks are rare and usually do not cause serious complications.

Assisted delivery is a supportive support for women giving birth during pregnancy, for many reasons that during this period the mother does not push for delivery or because the mother's health has comorbidities. This is a procedure intended to assist during vaginal delivery. There are two methods of giving birth that are suction cupping and forceps birth.
Method of suction birth: also known as vacuum birth by placing a pulling force on the fetus's head mediated by a metal or silastic cup that adheres to the fetal head under vacuum pressure. Apply vacuum with a vacuum or a manual pump. The obstetrician will use her hand to gently pull along the uterine contractions combined with the mother's push to pull the baby out. In the condition that the baby's head is low, when it is determined that the baby's head is +2 to +3, when we can see the baby's hair with the naked eye when we put our hand in the vaginal examination. When pulling the fetus when the head is completely open, we lock the suction machine, the cap placed on the baby's head automatically falls off and then continue to deliver the shoulder, deliver the body and lower extremities easily.

2.1 Indications Prolonged stage II labor: breech ≥ 60 minutes, calves ≥ 30 minutes. Thai failure. Medical diseases: cardiovascular, pre-eclampsia, neuromuscular... Note: In cases of non-exertion (heart failure, respiratory failure, bronchial asthma...) should help deliver by Forceps. 2.2 Contraindications Fetal pathology: osteogenesis imperfecta, connective tissue disease (Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan syndrome), blood disease (hemophilia, alloimmune thrombocytopenia). The head does not pass or penetrates asymmetrically. Abnormal throne (face, forehead). Pregnancy < 34 weeks is not recommended for delivery by suction (because of the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage).

2.3 Conditions The person performing the procedure must have experience in helping with an instrument delivery, with the following conditions:
The cervix is ​​fully dilated. Amniotic fluid has broken. The fetus has entered. The position and type must be clearly defined. The weight of the fetus and the mother's pelvis are proportional (avoiding the risk of shoulder entrapment). Sufficient pain relief. Empty bladder. The patient's consent was obtained. There is an operating room. Stop the procedure when:
Difficulty placing the instrument. The fetal head does not descend easily when pulled. No abortion after 3 pulls. This is a procedure to help pregnant women during the birth process, so the principles of performing the procedure must be strictly indicated and qualified to perform the procedure in order to avoid complications caused by the procedure to the mother and child. fetus. Once not properly indicated and not eligible for permission. It is necessary to terminate the procedure of assisted delivery that is indicated by cesarean section as safe for mother and fetus.

A suction cup birth is a commonly used method of birth control for difficult births, but it can pose some risks for mother and baby.
Possible risks to pregnant women include:
Pain in the perineum - the tissue between your vagina and anus - after delivery Lower genital tract tear Short-term difficulty urinating, urinating, or defecating Owner Possible risks to the baby include:
Scalp injury: This is a common injury during delivery with a suction cup. Even during a vaginal birth, you may notice a small bump on your baby's scalp. During delivery, the cervix and birth canal put a lot of pressure on the baby's head because it is the first part to pass through the birth canal. The bump may be on the side of a baby's head if the baby's head is tilted to one side during birth. This swelling usually goes away within one to two days after giving birth. A suction cup can also cause small scratches on the baby's scalp. These injuries are more likely to occur during a difficult delivery that is prolonged or involves repeated use of a suction cup. In most cases, the wounds are superficial and heal quickly without leaving any lasting marks.

Hematoma: A hematoma is a formation of blood under the skin. It usually occurs when a vein or artery is damaged, allowing blood to seep out of a blood vessel and into surrounding tissues. Two types of hematomas that can occur as a result of aspiration-assisted delivery are a cephalohematoma and a subgaleal hematoma. Head hematoma: is bleeding in the space below the fibers that cover the skull. This type of hematoma rarely leads to serious complications, however, it usually takes 1-2 weeks for the condition to go away. A child with a head hematoma does not need surgery or further treatment. Galeal hematoma: This is a more serious condition that occurs when blood collects just below the scalp. Because the scalp is a large space under the scalp, blood can accumulate a lot in this space. This is why a subgaleal hematoma is considered the most dangerous complication of suction-assisted childbirth. When the suction force of the suction cup is not strong enough to move the baby's head through the birth canal, it pulls the scalp and the tissue just below the scalp away from the skull. This causes damage to the veins below. However, now the use of soft plastic suction cups has reduced the incidence of these injuries. Although a subgaleal hematoma is quite rare, it is a life-threatening condition.
Intracranial haemorrhage: An intracranial hemorrhage, or bleeding inside the skull, is a very rare but serious complication of assisted delivery by suction. Suction applied to your baby's head can injure the veins, causing bleeding in your baby's skull. Although intracerebral hemorrhage is rare, when it occurs, it can lead to memory loss, aphasia, or loss of mobility in the affected area. Retinal haemorrhage: this is bleeding in the back of the eye, relatively common in infants. This condition is usually not serious and goes away quickly without complications. The exact cause of retinal bleeding has not been determined. However, it can be the result of pressure placed on your baby's head as he passes through the birth canal. Neonatal Jaundice : Neonatal Jaundice may be more likely to develop in infants born by assisted delivery via suction. Jaundice, yellowing of the eyes, is a common condition in infants. It occurs when a baby has high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced during the breakdown of red blood cells. When a suction cup is used, a very large bruise can form on the baby's scalp or head. Bruising occurs when there is damage to a blood vessel, causing blood to ooze and form a black or blue mark. The body will eventually absorb the blood from the bruise. This blood breaks down and produces more bilirubin, which is normally removed from the body by the liver. However, if your baby's liver may be underdeveloped or unable to remove bilirubin effectively, excess bilirubin in the blood may be deposited in the skin. This causes yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes. Although jaundice usually clears up on its own within two to three weeks, some children with the condition may require phototherapy. During phototherapy, your baby is kept under intense light for one to two days.

Breastfeeding by suction is a popular method used to help pregnant women during vaginal delivery. However, as with other medical procedures, giving birth by suction can pose certain risks for both mother and baby. Therefore, the principles of performing the procedure must be properly indicated and qualified to be performed in order to avoid complications caused by the procedure to the mother and fetus.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively.
Pregnant women will be consulted and checked for health under the close supervision of experienced and specialized Obstetricians, helping mothers have more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as reduce reduce complications for mother and child.

Articles refer to sources: healthline.com, mayoclinic.org