Reducing Risks and Improving Outcomes with Instrumental Delivery
Instrumental birth, also known as assisted vaginal delivery, involves the use of medical instruments to assist in the delivery of a baby. The two most common instruments used are forceps and vacuum extractors, and can be beneficial in certain situations during childbirth.
Instrumental birth is typically considered when spontaneous vaginal delivery is not progressing or when there are complications during childbirth.
Here are some way in which instrumental birth can be beneficial to mother and baby:
Benefits Include
Faster Delivery: Instrumental birth can help expedite the delivery process when there are concerns about the mother’s or baby’s health. This can be critical in situations where a speedy delivery is necessary to prevent complications.
Avoiding C-Section: In some cases, instrumental births can help avoid the need for a cesarean section (C-Section), which is a major surgical procedure with its own set of risks and recovery challenges.
Improved Fetal Outcomes: Assisted vaginal delivery can be used to help ensure the baby’s well-being and facilitate a safe and controlled birth when there are concerns about the baby’s heart rate or oxygen levels during labour.
Reduction of Maternal Exhaustion: In cases of prolonged labour, instrumental birth can reduce maternal exhaustion by assisting in the birth process and minimizing the duration of pushing.
How does simulation training help?
Simulation training plays a vital role in preparing healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, midwives and nurses, for instrumental deliveries. Simulation training can help with instrumental delivery in several ways:
Skill Development:
Simulation training provides a controlled and safe environment where healthcare providers can practice and refine their skills in performing instrumental deliveries. This hands-on practice helps them to become proficient in the correct placement of forceps or vacuum extractors.
Confidence Building:
Simulation training helps build healthcare providers’ confidence in their ability to perform instrumental births. Confidence is essential in making quick, effective decisions during real-life high-stress situations.
Ethical considerations:
Simulation training provides a platform for healthcare providers to discuss and explore ethical dilemmas that may arise during instrumental births, encouraging critical thinking and ethical decision-making.
Teamwork:
Simulation training often involves interdisciplinary teamwork, allowing healthcare teams to practice their coordination, communication and collaboration skills in realistic scenarios and understand their roles to work together efficiently.
Risk Mitigation:
By honing their skills and decision-making abilities in a simulated setting, healthcare providers are better equipped to minimize the risks associated with instrumental births, such as injury to the mother or baby.
Simulation training is an invaluable tool that can offer several benefits, especially in cases where a quick and safe delivery is essential to the well-being of the patients.
MODEL–med’s Lucy and Lucy’s Mum Instrumental Delivery Birth Simulator is designed specifically for healthcare professionals to simulate the practice of instrumental delivery with vacuum and forceps.
Durable, easy to clean and repair, it is made from a realistic flesh-like material that creates an extremely realistic tactical experience when simulating birth. Practicing on a realistic simulator is essential as it allows healthcare professionals to develop and maintain the necessary skills needed for instrumental delivery as well as build confidence, practice-decision making and improve teamwork and communication.
Simulation training plays a crucial role in preparing healthcare professionals to perform instrumental births safely and effectively, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the potential risks to both mother and baby.