Uterine Massage?

[Banana731]

It's standard in hospital settings. But MW's don't do this as a matter of course(unless there is a problem) right? Why is that?

My awful L&D nurse did it to me right after I got out of surgery and when I told her to stop it and get away from me, she says something to the effect of, "you don't want to bleed to death do you?"

Anyway, I want to put that I don't want it done routinely in my hospital birth plan. Does anyone know of some research I can site on not needing it?

[mommyminer]

After a birth, the attendant (whether a midwife or your nurse) will check your fundus to make sure it is firm and you aren't bleeding too much. This is a standard of care. BUT some attendants ARE way too rough without it being necessary and sometimes we need to be a little more aggressive b/c you are bleeding.

You could put in your birth plan "No uterine massage after the birth of my placenta unless medically necessary". Although, it would be the judgement of your attendant at the time if the massage was necessary. You can also feel for yourself if your uterus is firm and do your own uterine massage.

[Banana731]

So do you find that it is often necessary to perform it in an "unmanaged" 3rd stage? The research I have done into it as far as managed hospital care is to clamp and cut the cord after the baby is out, inject with pit(or what have you), use cord traction to deliver the placenta, and perform uterine massage every X hours so long as the fundus does not become soft after the massage(I'm assuming that means the care provider is supposed to remassage.)

In a 3rd stage where the placenta is delivered naturally by mom in it's own time with out the use drugs, is it typical that the uterus does not firm up on it's own well enough?

[Reha]

Originally Posted by Banana731

In a 3rd stage where the placenta is delivered naturally by mom in it's own time with out the use drugs, is it typical that the uterus does not firm up on it's own well enough?

Not in my opinion. I think it is the exception of natural 3rd stages that need fundal massage. Essentially, just when there is too much bleeding going on, which isn't very often if 3rd stage is truly not messed with.

[Zoo Loo Naturals]

Mothers can do it themselves if taught how.

[Jane]

It looks like you had a cesearian birth with your last - if that's true, there might need to be more massage - surgery shocks the uterus, so it's important to make sure it's back on track after the "insult" of the incision.

If someone has a nice, tight uterus, then it's just a touch to make sure it's low and tight. That touch can be painful or not, depending on how sensitive the mother is to that touch. If it's not tight, I rub it until it's tight, to prevent clots from forming inside. That usually hurts. So, the same person doing fundal massage might hurt one woman and not hurt another.

[hetaera]

Ive posted about this before... but I just wanted some clarification...
you say apricot that you rub til its tight and usually that hurts...

What this nurse did was to make a fist and put all her body weight into my uterus. Blinding pain.
thats not typical? Or even particularly necessary?
I know every patient is different... but I still shudder when I remember that pain. She did it while looking between my legs to see if a gush came out...
It was so horrible though.
Anyway. sorry.

[Jane]

That's really not typical. I've heard of it before - seemingly uneccesary, perhaps intentional infliction of pain on postpartum women.
I could never say never appropriate (who knows?), but it would be really unlikely to be neccesary.
There are women who are very, very sensitive to massage - even the lightest touch sets off massive cramping for them.