What is a "vacuum-assisted birth"?
A vacuum-assisted birth is a delivery in which a small suction cup is placed on to the top of the baby's head and suction is applied to this instrument. Traction is also used as well as with maternal pushing efforts. Mom has to push just as hard as she was pushing before if not harder. The doctor can sometimes guide the baby under the pubic bone and allow for delivery. Most often, adequate application has to be performed and the device has to be used accurately, but with application of this pressure the baby can be brought under the pelvic bone and delivered successfully. If the instrument pops off it may be because the instrument wasn't applied appropriately, so it can be reapplied. If it pops off a second time then most times it is not recommended to apply it the third time. You have to trust your physician to a certain extent and if your physician feels that it popped off twice but it wasn't applied adequately then maybe a third time is okay. However, beyond a third time it's starting to become excessive and you have to wonder if it's popping off because the baby is just not fitting; it's not adequate to fit through the vaginal canal. Then, if the baby is not stressed you can resume pushing with hopes of getting the baby out, or you will have to consider another method of delivery such as a caesarean section.
