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Management of Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery

By

Julie S. Moldenhauer

, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Reviewed/Revised Mar 2024
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

The management of spontaneous vaginal delivery requires monitoring of maternal and fetal safety. Appropriate clinical personnel and equipment should be available. Patients may be accompanied by their partner or other support person or a doula.

Delivery of the Fetus

During the second stage of labor, a vaginal examination is done to determine position and station of the fetal head; the head is usually the presenting part. The patient pushes until the fetus crowns, meaning the fetal head (or other presenting part) appears and does not recede between contractions and is firmly applied to the vaginal introitus (see figure ).

Positions for Birth
VIDEO

To minimize maternal perineal injury during the birth, clinicians (or other birth attendants) control how rapidly the head is delivered by communicating with the patient about when to push and when to pause. Clinicians place their hands on the fetal head and mother's perineum for support and to guide the delivery.

How To Do Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
VIDEO
Assisting the Birth of Twins
VIDEO

Sequence of Events in Delivery for Vertex Presentations

Sequence of Events in Delivery for Vertex Presentations
  • The second stage of labor is likely to be prolonged (eg, because the mother is too exhausted to bear down adequately or because regional epidural anesthesia inhibits vigorous bearing down), or the baby must be delivered expeditiously due to fetal distress.

  • The woman has a disorder such as a heart disorder and must avoid pushing during the second stage of labor.

Evaluating Tears After Birth
VIDEO

Indications for forceps and vacuum extractor are essentially the same.

Fetal risks with vacuum extraction include scalp laceration, cephalohematoma formation, and subgaleal or intracranial hemorrhage; retinal hemorrhages and increased rates of hyperbilirubinemia Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (elevated serum bilirubin concentration). The serum bilirubin level required to cause jaundice varies with... read more have been reported.

An episiotomy is not routinely done for most vaginal deliveries; it is typically done to avoid injury to the anal sphincter if a third- or fourth-degree laceration is anticipated (eg, forceps delivery, fetal macrosomia) or if delivery needs to be expedited (eg, shoulder dystocia Shoulder Dystocia Shoulder dystocia occurs during an attempted vaginal delivery (in the second stage of labor [pushing]) when the fetal head delivers but delivery does not progress because the anterior shoulder... read more , fetal bradycardia). The risks with episiotomy include bleeding, poor wound healing, repeat injury at subsequent deliveries, pelvic floor dysfunction, dyspareunia, and fistula formation.

A mediolateral episiotomy is an incision made from the midpoint of the fourchette at a 45 to 60° angle laterally on either side. A median episiotomy is an incision made from the midpoint of the fourchette directly down toward the rectum. A mediolateral episiotomy has less risk to extend and cause injury to the anal sphincter (third or fourth degree perineal injury) but is more difficult to repair than a median episiotomy. The integrity of the sphincter should be evaluated by rectal examination after an episiotomy is done.

Episioproctotomy (intentionally cutting into the rectum) is not recommended because rectovaginal fistula is a risk.

A potential complication of episiotomy is extension of the incision as a laceration into the sphincter or rectum.

When the head is delivered, the clinician determines whether the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck. If it is, the clinician should try to slip the cord off the neck and over the head; if the cord cannot be rapidly removed this way, the cord may be clamped and cut.

How To Repair an Episiotomy
VIDEO

After delivery of the head, the infant’s body rotates so that the shoulders are in an anteroposterior position; gentle downward pressure on the head delivers the anterior shoulder under the symphysis. The head is gently lifted, the posterior shoulder slides over the perineum, and the rest of the body follows without difficulty. The nose, mouth, and pharynx are aspirated with a bulb syringe to remove mucus and fluids and help start respirations. If appropriate traction and maternal pushing do not deliver the anterior shoulder, the clinician should explain to the woman what must be done next and begin delivery of a fetus with shoulder dystocia Shoulder Dystocia Shoulder dystocia occurs during an attempted vaginal delivery (in the second stage of labor [pushing]) when the fetal head delivers but delivery does not progress because the anterior shoulder... read more .

Cord Around the Neck
VIDEO

The cord should be double-clamped and cut between the clamps, and a plastic cord clip should be applied about 2 to 3 cm distal from the cord insertion on the infant. If fetal or neonatal compromise is suspected, a segment of umbilical cord is doubly clamped so that arterial blood gas analysis can be done. An arterial pH > 7.15 to 7.20 is considered normal.

Delaying clamping of the umbilical cord for 30 to 60 seconds is recommended to increase iron stores, which provides the following:

An alternative to delayed clamping in premature infants is umbilical cord milking, which involves pushing blood toward the infant by grasping and squeezing (milking) the cord before it is clamped. However, evidence for or against umbilical cord milking is inadequate.

The infant is thoroughly dried, then placed on the mother’s abdomen or, if resuscitation is needed, in a warmed resuscitation bassinet.

Delivery of the fetus references

  • 1. Cargill YM, MacKinnon CJ, Arsenault MY, et al: Guidelines for operative vaginal birth. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 26 (8):747–761, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1701-2163(16)30647-8

  • 2. Fitzpatrick M, Behan M, O'Connell PR, et al: Randomised clinical trial to assess anal sphincter function following forceps or vacuum assisted vaginal delivery. BJOG 110 (4):424–429, 2003. doi: 10.1046/j.1471-0528.2003.02173.x

  • 3. Towner D, Castro MA, Eby-Wilkens E, et al: Effect of mode of delivery in nulliparous women on neonatal intracranial injury. N Engl J Med 341 (23):1709–1714, 1999. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199912023412301

  • 4. Walsh CA, Robson M, McAuliffe FM: Mode of delivery at term and adverse neonatal outcomes. Obstet Gynecol 121(1):122–128, 2013. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182749ac9

  • 5. Bex PJ, Hofmeyr GJ: Perineal management during childbirth and subsequent dyspareunia. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 14 (2):97–100, 1987.

Delivery of the Placenta

Active management of the third stage of labor reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage Postpartum Hemorrhage Postpartum hemorrhage is blood loss of > 1000 mL or blood loss accompanied by symptoms or signs of hypovolemia within 24 hours after childbirth. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment depends on... read more , which is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Active management includes giving the woman a uterotonic drug such as oxytocin as soon as the fetus is delivered. Uterotonic drugs help the uterus contract firmly and decrease bleeding due to uterine atony, the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Oxytocin can be given as 10 units IM or as an infusion of 20 units/1000 mL saline at 125 mL/hour. Oxytocin should not be given as an IV bolus because cardiac arrhythmia may occur.

How to Deliver and Inspect the Placenta
VIDEO

After delivery of the infant and administration of oxytocin, the clinician gently pulls on the cord and places a hand gently on the abdomen over the uterine fundus to detect contractions; placental separation usually occurs during the first or second contraction, often with a gush of blood from behind the separating placenta. The mother can usually help deliver the placenta by bearing down. If she cannot and if substantial bleeding occurs, the placenta can usually be evacuated (expressed) by placing a hand on the abdomen and exerting firm downward (caudal) pressure on the uterus; this procedure is done only if the uterus feels firm because pressure on a flaccid uterus can cause it to invert Uterine Inversion Uterine inversion is a rare obstetric emergency in which the uterine corpus turns inside out and protrudes into the vagina or beyond the introitus, which can result in hemorrhage or shock, or... read more . If this procedure is not effective, the umbilical cord is held taut while a hand placed on the abdomen pushes upward (cephalad) on the firm uterus, away from the placenta; traction on the umbilical cord is avoided because it may invert the uterus.

If the placenta has not been delivered within 45 to 60 minutes of delivery, manual removal may be necessary; appropriate analgesia or anesthesia is required. For manual removal, the clinician inserts an entire hand into the uterine cavity, separating the placenta from its attachment, then extracts the placenta. In such cases, an abnormally adherent placenta (placenta accreta Placenta Accreta Placenta accreta is an abnormally adherent placenta, resulting in delayed delivery of the placenta. Placental function is normal, but trophoblastic invasion extends beyond the normal boundary... read more ) should be suspected.

Manual Removal of the Placenta
VIDEO

The placenta should be examined for completeness because fragments left in the uterus can cause hemorrhage or infection later. If the placenta is incomplete, the uterine cavity should be explored manually. However, exploration is uncomfortable and is not routinely recommended.

Examining the Placenta
VIDEO

Immediate Postpartum Care

Massage the uterus to ensure that it is firm and well contracted. The cervix and vagina are inspected for lacerations, which, if present, are repaired, as is episiotomy if done.

Immediate Care After Birth
VIDEO

Then if the mother and infant are recovering normally, they can begin bonding. Many mothers wish to begin breastfeeding soon after delivery, and this should be encouraged. Mother, infant, and father or partner should remain together in a warm, private area for an hour or more to enhance parent-infant bonding. Then, the infant may be taken to the nursery or left with the mother depending on her wishes.

For the first hour after delivery, the mother should be observed closely to make sure the uterus is contracting (detected by palpation during abdominal examination) and to check for bleeding, blood pressure abnormalities, and general well-being.

The time from delivery of the placenta to 4 hours postpartum has been called the fourth stage of labor; most complications, especially hemorrhage Postpartum Hemorrhage Postpartum hemorrhage is blood loss of > 1000 mL or blood loss accompanied by symptoms or signs of hypovolemia within 24 hours after childbirth. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment depends on... read more , occur at this time, and frequent observation is mandatory.

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