Question

Shoulder delivery:

Option 1: Hands on chin/vertex + down press
Option 2: Hands on occiput + upward retraction
Option 3: Hands on shoulders + lateral pull
Option 4: Hands on chest + downward pressure

Answer 1

The question pertains to the optimal shoulder delivery method during childbirth, specifically within Stage 2 of childbirth when the rest of the baby's body is delivered following the head. Techniques involve movements such as depression, elevation, protraction, and retraction, which are related to anatomical movements of the scapula. It is vital that such procedures are performed by trained healthcare personnel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to the correct technique for shoulder delivery during childbirth. The childbirth process includes several stages, and shoulder delivery refers to the part of Stage 2, where the baby's body is delivered after the head has emerged. With the fetal head in the birth canal, various maneuvers can facilitate the delivery of the shoulders and body. The terms mentioned in the question relate to movements of the scapula and other body parts:

• Depression and Elevation - These are downward and upward movements. Elevation is the upward movement of the scapula and shoulder used to shrug your shoulders, whereas depression is the downward movement.
• Protraction and Retraction - These involve moving the scapula forward (protraction) or pulling it posteriorly (retraction).
• Opposition and Reposition - These terms relate to the thumb, where opposition brings the tip of the thumb in contact with a fingertip, and reposition returns it next to the index finger.
• Excursion - This usually refers to the side-to-side movement of a structure such as the mandible.

The vertex presentation and occiput anterior vertex presentation are usually associated with greater ease of vaginal birth, which involves the smallest part of the head (the occiput) exiting the birth canal first. An upward retraction of the occiput or a downward pressure on the vertex can help deliver the fetal shoulders.

It's important to note that the techniques described for shoulder delivery must be performed by trained healthcare professionals that could involve a range of movements, including pushing, pulling, or rotation, depending on the situation at hand.