We know that during delivery, there are four factors that affect delivery: labor force, birth canal, fetus and mother\’s psychological condition. Problems with any of these four factors may lead to dystocia.
Factor one: birth canal
What is a \”soft birth canal\”
The soft birth canal includes the uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. Common abnormalities of the soft birth canal include uterine malformations (such as double uterus, malposition of the fetus, or single uterus blocking the birth canal), uterine fibroids, cervical fibroids, cervical edema, vaginal septum or mediastinum, severe edema or scarring of the vulva, etc., which can prevent the passage of the fetus. . In addition, ovarian cysts located in the pelvis can also block the birth canal, and the tumors can be removed during cesarean section.
The birth canal refers to the \”passage\” through which the baby is delivered. It is mainly determined by the size and shape of the mother\’s pelvis, which is commonly known as the bony birth canal. Of course, the mother’s soft birth canal is also important. Any abnormality between the two will cause dystocia.
During prenatal and postpartum examinations, doctors will examine the expectant mother\’s pelvic condition in detail, pay attention to any abnormalities, and choose the correct delivery method. If prenatal examination reveals problems with the birth canal, the expectant mother must be admitted to the hospital in advance for an elective cesarean section.
Factor 2: Productivity Productivity refers to the force that forces the fetus and placenta to leave the uterus, the most important of which is the contractility of the uterine muscles. Normal uterine contractions have a certain rhythm and gradually increase in intensity as labor approaches. Whether the uterine contraction is too weak or too strong, it may cause dystocia.
Factor Three: Maternal Psychology In addition to the above three points, in recent years, one factor affecting childbirth has also received more and more attention, and that is the maternal psychological state during childbirth. If the expectant mother is not mentally prepared for the \”challenges\” she will face during delivery, or is overly fearful of the delivery process and cannot cooperate well with the doctor, the expectant mother will easily become physically and mentally exhausted during the delivery process, leading to dystocia.
Factor 4: Fetal condition
The condition of the baby itself is also important in childbirth. When the pelvis and delivery are normal, if the fetal position in the mother\’s body is abnormal (breech position, transverse position, complex presentation, etc., occiputo-transverse position, occipito-posterior position, high fetal head persists in cephalic presentation)) body position, face Abnormal fetal position, such as frontal presentation, frontal presentation, chin presentation, etc.), or the fetus grows too large in the womb (macrosomia weighing more than 4000 grams), as well as malformations such as hydrocephalus, conjoined twins, and giant congenital tumors. These conditions will affect the normal delivery process, cause dystocia, and sometimes cause serious injury or even death to the mother and fetus. Early detection and prompt treatment are necessary.
The four factors mentioned above are all important during childbirth, and sometimes there may not be just one factor, but multiple factors intertwined. So, is there anything we can do to predict or avoid dystocia during pregnancy and childbirth? The answer is yes.
Preventing dystocia and early detection of adverse factors
The causes of dystocia are sometimes clear, such as obvious pelvic abnormalities, abnormal fetal position, etc., which can be discovered and treated in time during prenatal examination or during labor.
Regular prenatal check-ups are provided at designated hospitals during pregnancy. Throughout pregnancy, expectant mothers generally undergo 8-10 prenatal checkups. During these prenatal visits, your doctor monitors your baby\’s growth in the womb, so this is important for both mother and baby. Through prenatal examination, doctors can promptly discover whether there are factors that may cause dystocia for pregnant women, such as a preliminary estimate of whether the birth canal is suitable for vaginal delivery, whether the size and position of the fetus are normal, etc. Once abnormal tendencies occur, doctors can take effective measures to correct them.
Nutrition during pregnancy should be appropriate. In addition, mothers should pay attention to adequate nutrition during pregnancy to ensure the healthy growth of the baby. But what we need to pay attention to is to pay attention to nutrition and not eat too much. Modern nutrition believes that overnutrition is also a type of malnutrition. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of the misconception that the more you eat during pregnancy, the better, and the fatter your baby is, the better. If the mother\’s nutritional intake is too high, causing the fetus to be overweight, the risk of dystocia during delivery will be greatly increased.
Early detection of dystocia factors. Except for a few dystocia factors that can be discovered before or during labor, most dystocia factors can only be discovered through close observation during labor, such as relative cephalopelvic disproportion and persistent occipito-posterior position. wait. Once dystocia occurs, if it is not discovered in time and handled improperly, it will inevitably cause serious harm to the mother and baby.
The principle of treatment for dystocia focuses on early detection. Before planning a delivery, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the baby and mother\’s conditions to initially determine whether a vaginal delivery is suitable. Childbirth is a dynamic process. Once the labor process begins, doctors and midwives will monitor closely throughout the process to detect early signs of dystocia such as stagnant cervical dilation or obstruction of fetal head descent as early as possible. Vaginal examination, B-ultrasound, fetal heart rate, etc. Guardianship, etc. Once there is a possibility of dystocia, the doctor will conduct a timely examination to find out the cause of dystocia, and provide corresponding effective treatment to eliminate some factors leading to dystocia. Leading to dystocia in the bud. For example, when a mother has cephalopelvic disproportion, oxytocin can be infused intravenously under close observation to enhance uterine contraction and speed up the labor process. If abnormalities are found or labor is not progressing 4 to 6 hours after the intravenous infusion of oxytocin, doctors may consider a cesarean section.
The mother actively cooperates. Pregnant women who are expected to have a normal delivery should actively cooperate with the guidance and treatment of medical staff at different stages of the delivery process. For example, in the early stages of labor, you should eat well, sleep well, and don\’t hold your breath too early to conserve energy.
Surgery solves the problem of dystocia. Even if dystocia occurs and the baby cannot be delivered normally, the doctor can still help the baby to have a normal delivery through surgery. As long as it is handled in time, it will not cause harm to the baby. For example, forceps-assisted delivery, or cesarean section, etc. Although modern medicine is relatively advanced, cesarean section is not a very complicated surgical method, but it cannot be abused. After all, it is only a solution to difficult labor, not a substitute for natural birth.
Take it easy, take it easy!
If dystocia occurs during childbirth, don’t be too nervous. First of all, pregnant women should have full confidence in themselves and not be afraid of natural delivery. Through prenatal school education for pregnant women and being accompanied by a loved one or an experienced midwife during delivery, the self-confidence of pregnant women will be greatly improved.