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Babies are affected by Ventousse and Forceps. Many babies in my years of breastfeeding data are unable to feed properly for up to 7 days due to trauma around the tempro-mandibular joint. If you watch carefully the baby is tentative, the pain is obvious as he/she avoids stretching the joint to allow the mandible to move downwards. They reduce the movement to protect themselves from the pain of extension. It is hard to imagine the pressure on their tiny little heads, the soft tissue bruising and extensive oedema. They often have difficulty breastfeeding and because of the ‘magic’ 10% weight loss, many are teat fed. These little babies often need very gentle finger feeding with a periodontal syringe for the first 5 to 7 days to encourage gentle joint movement by the small ‘let down’ from the long tapered tip of the syringe which flows gently over the back of the tongue creating the swallow reflex. In cases where these little babies are offered a teat it should be long and soft, definitely not teats attached to those narrow disposable hospital bottles, nor anything like the ridiculous Avent style wide neck teat with short nipple. Very gentle coaxing to move the joint with small amounts of milk at a time until the joint, soft tissue, muscles, ligaments and never endings recover. If cup feeding is used then small amounts gently given so the baby can cope with the flow when trying to co-ordinate the use of the painful tempro-mandibular joint.
Robyn
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One of the presentations at ICM was about ventouse. There are known side effects. Minor ones include caput succanadeum which is swelling of the scalp and cephal haematoma which is bruising between the skull bone and its membrane covering. The major one was a sub apponeuretic haemorrhage which I think is inside the skull and so the bleeding is less limited because there is more space, and the baby can lose quite a bit of blood. It can also cause pressure on the brain. The midwife suggested that hourly head circumferences after a ventouse might pick these up early. However, they are very rare. The higher the baby when the ventouse is applied, and the longer the time it is applied seems to be important. The pressure should not be on continuously for more than ten minutes, and the obstetrician should not use it for more than 2-3 contractions. I have had a quick look through the program, but can't find the midwife's name. She also mentioned an australian doctor who has a website with a lot of info about ventouse. I will check my notes and get back to you. Just going out for a bike ride with the family. Nicole.
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Title: Message
- RE: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Robyn Thompson
- Re: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Gloria Lemay
- RE: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Robyn Thompson
- RE: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Lindsay Kennedy
- RE: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Robyn Thompson
- Re: [ozmidwifery] ventouse information Janet Fraser
