Laminaria sticks to stimulate childbirth: what is it and how to use?

The cervix prepares for childbirth in advance - it should be sufficiently softenThe cervical canal should expand. This will ensure easier and correct dilatation of the cervix in the first stage of labor - during labor.

Not always in women before childbirth, the neck is quite mature. Some require support in maturation. And here to help the doctors comes a large range of medicines. One way to prepare the neck for childbirth and to accelerate the onset of labor is to use kelp sticks. In this article we will tell you what they are and how to use them.

Small dense sticks with a length of up to 6 centimeters and a thickness of 3 to 9 mm are nothing more than dried and dehydrated seaweed, known as Laminaria digita, Laminaria japonica (it’s also the most common seaweed, which many worship in salads).

Such algae grow in the Sea of ​​Japan and other cold northern seas. In addition to the huge list of advantages and nutrients as a food additive, such algae have a lot of positive effects when used in gynecology in general and for the stimulation of childbirth in particular.

For female doctors, the miraculous properties of algae were known for a very long time, but for a long time the kelp dropped out of the practice of doctors, they simply did not recall. A few decades ago, gynecologists decided to restore the tradition of their use.

Dried seaweed sticks have an amazing property - they almost four times increase in size when they come into contact with liquids. That is why the introduction of rods into the cervical canal of an immature or insufficient mature cervix causes swelling and expansion of the kelp, and with it the cervical canal itself begins to expand, the cervix becomes softer, smoothes and prepares for childbirth faster.

For this property, sticks in the official medical language are called “dilators” (extenders).

Laminaria can be as a separate preparation of the cervix for childbirth, and be one of the components of complex therapy, in which women are given hormonal drugs, antispasmodic agents for cervical dilatation during childbirth. Treatment usually begins in late pregnancy, when after 38 weeks an immature or insufficiently ripe neck is found in a woman.

To start labor activity, it is sometimes necessary to introduce at least 15-20 rods in several stages. In the absence of expansion after the first “portion”, the old sticks are removed, and the new ones are installed. All this happens on an ordinary gynecological chair.

Instructions for use clearly describes the order of introduction. This should be done by a qualified medical professional, since the installation of kelp requires precision.

In gynecology and obstetrics, kelp is more widely used than just preparing the cervix during pregnancy. They can carry out the stimulation of labor, in which contractions have weakened, and also make a challenge of childbirth in the later periods if the child dies in utero or for other reasons.

Apply kelp can not all. They are not administered even if there are direct indications for women with colpitis and cervicitis. Also, this method will be recognized as ineffective and inappropriate if you need to give birth urgently because of the dangers threatening the child or woman. In this case, caesarean section is usually prescribed and performed.

If a woman is diagnosed with placenta previa, kelp sticks are also not used. Algae will not be placed in the cervical canal even with premature discharge of amniotic fluid.

Laminaria are natural remedies, and this is a definite plus. In addition, they act fairly quickly - within three hours after the insertion of rods into the cervical canal, the expansion begins. The duration of the day is 24 hours. It is after 24 hours that the effect of algae becomes maximum.

It should be noted that among obstetricians and gynecologists have their own kelp supporters, and there are their opponents. The fact is that some studies show an alarming trend - after the use of rods before birth, the risk and frequency of inflammatory complications of the uterus and cervix after childbirth increase. Opponents of the use of algae refer to the insufficient knowledge of the action of the sticks.

According to some information, the use of kelp can cause the development of fast and rapid delivery, which can be very dangerous for a woman and her baby due to the high probability of injury. Such a relationship exists more in theory, since it is believed that any stimulation of labor activity is inherently unnatural and can harm, affecting both the speed of the labor process and its quality.

Dried seaweed for gynecological use are sold in sets of three types - small, medium and large. In one box six chopsticks. Given that they may require up to 20 pieces, you will have to buy 3-4 packages. They are sold without a doctor's prescription, the cost - from 350 rubles per box.

If you carefully study the reviews on the use of sticks, the advantages listed by manufacturers and doctors-supporters of kelp appear in a slightly different form. Nearly half of women who were stimulated to give birth during the prolongation of pregnancy with laminaria, noted that after the introduction, quite noticeable pain in the lower back and back, in the lower abdomen, resembling pain during menstruation, begins.

A lot of reviews that after the introduction of the sticks in a pregnant woman's condition worsened - a high temperature rose, blood pressure jumped. Often, women report that the decision to put sticks in the maternity hospital was not discussed with them, the doctors simply decided so during the examination and immediately realized their plans. If there was an opportunity, such moms admit, they would have refused outright from the sticks.

There are positive reviews. Women indicate that childbirth was easy and fairly quick, the child was born perfectly healthy, there were no tears and cuts.

If a woman does not agree to the use of such natural expanders in childbirth, she should notify the doctor in advance.

For more information about the maturity of the cervix and methods of its stimulation, see the video below.