Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Jul
13
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“I’ve Seen The Nuchal Arm Rip The Mother Open Like A Plow!”
“I’ve seen the nuchal arm rip the mother open like a plow!” – OB
There are 26 comments to this post.
My brother gave my mom a very minor tear… the unnecessary episiotomy with me was worse.
My brother’s hand got pushed out of the way… and he punched it up so he could suck his thumb! It was pretty amusing. But that was also a midwife’d homebirth, and she handled it well 
[Reply]
Yeah, my son was born with 2 nuchal FISTS, and a 15 inch head, and I only needed a couple stitches. Pretty sure the human body can do amazing things if the Doctor just lets it work things out instead of acting like it’s some sort of emergency.
[Reply]
Jespren had this to say,
Jul 13, 2011 @ 8:34 pm (Quote)
No, no, I think we’re interpreting it wrong, you got to look for what he *really* means. I think it’s brilliant commentary on the baby, if he’s developed and strong enough to keep that little hand up next to his head through the rigors of birth than baby has some iron-strong muscels! A baby with a nucal hand is so strong the doctor has to intervein before that future All-American get’s bored and just ‘plows’ his way on through. So, really, he’s giving the mom a complement on growing such a strong baby! (Ok, it sounds funny to me but I’m *really* sleep deprived so…)
[Reply]
Jenny Islander had this to say,
Jul 13, 2011 @ 11:00 pm (Quote)
I would love to go to the major schools of obstetrics in the U.S. (presuming that the OP is in the U.S.) and white-hat hack into their curriculum files and put some stuff by Ina May Gaskin on the first-year reading list. Particularly the one book that ends, “Your body is not a lemon.”
WE ARE NOT FLESHBAGS WITH MEANINGLESS NOISEMAKERS ON ONE END. WE ARE PEOPLE. WE BRING THE BABIES INTO THE WORLD. NOT YOU. QUIT TRYING TO FIX US BECAUSE WE ARE NOT BROKEN!
[Reply]
Bonita Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 11:58 pm (Quote)
I <3 the Ina May reading list for med students! I think every med student should read her stuff, even if they aren't going into obstetrics. It would change the face of healthcare (and the current crisis) around in one generation!
[Reply]
Jena Reply:
July 14th, 2011 at 2:13 pm (Quote)
I think med school curriculum developers are nuts if Ina May isn’t already required reading.
[Reply]
eugenierose Reply:
July 14th, 2011 at 2:25 pm (Quote)
the only reason they even have required gyn/ob, is because if they didn’t, almost no-one would do it. i highly doubt any of them care about the best care for their patients– CYA and maximizing profits, yep.
[Reply]
Liz had this to say,
Jul 14, 2011 @ 10:01 am (Quote)
My son had a nuchal hand. I had a homebirth and pushed on hands and knees but had to transfer because he did rip me open like a plow. I have had two vaginal reconstructive surgeries and a blood transfusion because of that. I was just unlucky I guess. Because of all the scar tissue I have I cannot have a homebirth again, and I am very nervous to have another vaginal birth because I could end up with a fistula. If I ever did get pregnant again I might consider a c-section but I am torn between the two (no pun intended). I don’t want to destroy my nether regions and I don’t want to scar my uterus either. It stinks to be on of the rare cases but it is what it is.
[Reply]
Louisa Reply:
July 14th, 2011 at 3:00 pm (Quote)
that sucks.
that is one of my fears with my upcoming HB (already have a scared uterus). Even though my midwife tells me it is very rare for a woman to tear & tear badly during a homebirth when she is relaxed and supported it is still one of my fears.
[Reply]
Lindsey had this to say,
Jul 14, 2011 @ 2:20 pm (Quote)
My 9lbs 2oz babe born in a hospital with a 36cm head left me with a 3rd degree tear and 2nd degree episiotomy on the other side.
My 9lbs 2oz baby born at home with a 37cm head and a nuchal hand (arm over his eyes as if he was covering them with his elbow) left me not needing a stitch.
In my experience the difference was the care provider…
[Reply]
Yes, it is physically possible for an arm up by the head to do a fair amount of damage, but it is also pretty darn rare and influenced greatly by the actions of the care provider. (Notice I did NOT say “controlled entirely” by same.)
The thing that is getting me about this one is the way the doctor refers to it: THE Nuchal Arm. Not “babies born with nuchal arms” or even just “nuchal arms”, but THE specific and highly feared Nuchal Arm. As if it’s some form of mythical beast lurking in the shadows which might at any moment slip into a woman (how? through her IV line?), raise its terrible razor-like Elbow of Doom and plow its way through its first victim before beginning its rampage against everyone else in the room. The only warning our hero/OB had was the distant sound of the theme track from Jaws just before The Elbow was spotted rippling across the woman’s abdomen.
*Sorry for being a bit punchy, but it’s been one heck of a week.*
[Reply]
Lindsey had this to say,
Jul 15, 2011 @ 6:44 pm (Quote)
@ Louisa, I was the same before my homebirth last week with my history of major tears. We taped it and I was silent except for the 2 times I said to my midwife “I’m scared… I’m really scared of tearing”. She kept replying “that is ok, its normal to be scared. I’m going to help you and do everything I can to prevent that”.
Maybe vocalizing your fears will help you? (They also had a warm compress on my perinium… Heaven”)
[Reply]
Add Your Comment.
Previous Post
« “What Are You? A Vagina Model?” Next Post
Thoughtful Thursday! “You’re Such A Great Pusher! Keep Going! You’re Doing Amazing!” »
« “What Are You? A Vagina Model?” Next Post
Thoughtful Thursday! “You’re Such A Great Pusher! Keep Going! You’re Doing Amazing!” »
Thanks so much for that visual doc. You must really be terrible at controlling tears. I had a nuchal hand with my first with only a first degree tear.
[Reply]
Ellen Reply:
July 13th, 2011 at 10:23 pm Ellen(Quote)
Same here.
[Reply]