Or just my "get rid of bulb syringes" evangelism??
Here's my entry from my blog.
What I'm most amazed by is not that hospital-based providers still do this routinely (oy and when you see how vigorously they suction babies after cesareans, you will understand why it gets my goat so bad), but that homebirth midwives and many UCers are doing this, too.
The idea that the bulb syringe is a necessary part of birth is one that is antiquated and must go.
Removing fluid from a baby's mouth is an odd gesture - so they swallow it. Then what? Is that a true risk?? In fact, most of the time when babies are suctioned with bulb syringes, VERY LITTLE to NOTHING is removed. The risk of damage to the nasal passages is high, suctioning deep into the mouth of a newborn can trigger a vagal response, thereby causing low heart tones (and viola! a baby that "needs" help!). Another risk is oral aversion - making initial breastfeeding difficult.
A recent hospital birth I heard about had a nurse that removed "lots" of fluid from a baby's stomach. I'm sorry, but can you tell me why fluid in a baby's stomach can cause problems? Isn't breastmilk and colostrum fluid? I'm not talking fluid in the lungs - I'm talking about when they use a wall-mounted suction catheter and stick it all the way down a baby's throat.
I have never used a bulb syringe...but it took YEARS before I finally took it out of my bag. I think I kept it in there just for "show" - like it's somehow a "staple" of birth supplies.
I remember when I worked at a birth supply house, we'd even get calls from dog and cat breeders wanting deLee suction devices so they can suction newborn animals at birth. Isn't the mother supposed to help with her babies' transition?
We've gotten so far from what is a normal physiological transition for babies. We've introduced them right away to an assault that I find unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Even the so-called evidence for suctioning for meconium does not convince me at all. There is better research coming out to show that it is not helpful. I can only think of one reason why I'd suction a baby: if I was having issues getting an airway for resuscitation. I wouldn't use a bulb syringe, though, I'd use a deLee. I've had the same deLee in my kit for six years!
Why then are we still ok with people doing it?
Here's my entry from my blog.
What I'm most amazed by is not that hospital-based providers still do this routinely (oy and when you see how vigorously they suction babies after cesareans, you will understand why it gets my goat so bad), but that homebirth midwives and many UCers are doing this, too.
The idea that the bulb syringe is a necessary part of birth is one that is antiquated and must go.
Removing fluid from a baby's mouth is an odd gesture - so they swallow it. Then what? Is that a true risk?? In fact, most of the time when babies are suctioned with bulb syringes, VERY LITTLE to NOTHING is removed. The risk of damage to the nasal passages is high, suctioning deep into the mouth of a newborn can trigger a vagal response, thereby causing low heart tones (and viola! a baby that "needs" help!). Another risk is oral aversion - making initial breastfeeding difficult.
A recent hospital birth I heard about had a nurse that removed "lots" of fluid from a baby's stomach. I'm sorry, but can you tell me why fluid in a baby's stomach can cause problems? Isn't breastmilk and colostrum fluid? I'm not talking fluid in the lungs - I'm talking about when they use a wall-mounted suction catheter and stick it all the way down a baby's throat.
I have never used a bulb syringe...but it took YEARS before I finally took it out of my bag. I think I kept it in there just for "show" - like it's somehow a "staple" of birth supplies.
I remember when I worked at a birth supply house, we'd even get calls from dog and cat breeders wanting deLee suction devices so they can suction newborn animals at birth. Isn't the mother supposed to help with her babies' transition?
We've gotten so far from what is a normal physiological transition for babies. We've introduced them right away to an assault that I find unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Even the so-called evidence for suctioning for meconium does not convince me at all. There is better research coming out to show that it is not helpful. I can only think of one reason why I'd suction a baby: if I was having issues getting an airway for resuscitation. I wouldn't use a bulb syringe, though, I'd use a deLee. I've had the same deLee in my kit for six years!
Why then are we still ok with people doing it?
:
DD was a slow starter though, and took some time to uncurl out into the world, wake up, breathe, open her eyes and see what was going on. That's just who she is- her birth, like every other aspect of her, has happened in her way, in her time and she balances her independence very carefully and cautiously.
: that it was something always done in some way - like the reeds talked about in Red Tent for instance.
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