What to use to decrease a swollen cervix?

beautifulbirth · 10-18-2006, 12:26 PM

Does anyone have any good stories to share? I would like to find out more about arnica gel/pills and ice fingers. Thanks....

MsDoula · 10-18-2006, 12:30 PM

I've found backing off of pushing and changing positions is good. I had a client one who had a very swollen anterior lip. She had been pushing on all fours and we were only able to get the lip to do down by getting her in a semi-sitting and not adding energy behind her pushes.

Kim Trower · 10-18-2006, 12:41 PM

it can be within normal and it can be pretty severe and the hardest thing is that usually when the mom has a lip of cervix or something she feels that urge to push and that is what can cause the swelling, or premature pushing prior to 10 cm or baby position but again if mom is feeling the urge it is hard to just say get in knee chest position and don't push for an hour or so to get the swelling to go down.
So, trying to get mom to relax as much as possible in a position that puts less pressure on the cervix and diminishes her need to push coupled with some imagery and constant verbal emotional support through every single contraction, even if you are saying the same thing..

loveslabor · 10-18-2006, 12:43 PM

Changing positions every 10 to 20 minutes has worked well for me. Also icing it if the doc or nurse will let you.

Also, if she has had an epidural and can't change positions much, even having her lay on her left side and then on her right side 15 minutes later, always with a pillow between her knees.

susan1 · 10-21-2006, 07:50 PM

THe midwife here using ice...the mom said it felt funny..however it work.

AmandaB · 10-21-2006, 10:34 PM

The funny thing is I was going to say ice, but not at the risk of sounding dumb! I guess it really is something to use. LOL.

beautifulbirth · 10-21-2006, 11:19 PM

Another doula posted ice fingers before. I wanted to know how well moms tolerate the cold. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Thanks for all the helpful info, everyone!

tlcdoula · 10-22-2006, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amandoula1980

The funny thing is I was going to say ice, but not at the risk of sounding dumb! I guess it really is something to use. LOL.

Yes, ice is a real option. You freeze water in a glove and then insert one of the fingers LOL.

tlcdoula · 10-22-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beautifulbirth

Another doula posted ice fingers before. I wanted to know how well moms tolerate the cold. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Thanks for all the helpful info, everyone!

As far as being cold - I never tried it on myself, but I would imagine that it would be cold, but if you have a mama who wants to have a vaginal birth and this is the only option for getting the swelling down ....... she will probably try it.

The last mama I worked with said she would try anything to have a vaginal birth, but her doctor wasn't okay with the ice finger (unfortunately though I still believe that this mama was fully dilated and the doctor just didn't want her to vbac - the doctor was very adament about not allowing anyone else to examine the mama).

scarborogal · 10-22-2006, 10:15 AM

My last client, okay my second client was 9.5cms and was trying to push and it was causing her cervix to swell. I had her on all fours with her head down and bum in the air to lessen the pushing urge and let her get that last little bit. But I guess for me we caught it early enough so the swelling was not bad. Nurse looked at me like I was crazy.

K.

MountainSunBody · 08-11-2009, 05:38 PM

I have also "read" not done, but read that Evening Primrose Oil can also diminish the swelling. Does anyone know anything about this? I attended a birth this past Saturday that ended in C-section due to swelling that would not cease. I wish that I had known some other tricks to help this be a more successful natural birth. The thing was, that everytime she would stand, babies heart rate would go down (Momma had been transferred from birth center to hospital because of baby/maconeum) so we were limited to many positions that we would have used. Any thoughts??

sunshine · 08-11-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainSunBody

I have also "read" not done, but read that Evening Primrose Oil can also diminish the swelling. Does anyone know anything about this? I attended a birth this past Saturday that ended in C-section due to swelling that would not cease. I wish that I had known some other tricks to help this be a more successful natural birth. The thing was, that everytime she would stand, babies heart rate would go down (Momma had been transferred from birth center to hospital because of baby/maconeum) so we were limited to many positions that we would have used. Any thoughts??

i'd love answers to this question too. i too saw a c-section because of swollen cervix (OP baby, loooooooooong labor, IV fluids, epidural). could it have been remedied?

raeben · 08-11-2009, 09:32 PM

i'd try homeopathic arnica because it really doesn't have side effects and is a specific for bruising, swelling and general tissue injury. i carry some with me all the time anyway in my mom purse.

DoulaCBE · 08-12-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beautifulbirth

Another doula posted ice fingers before. I wanted to know how well moms tolerate the cold. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Thanks for all the helpful info, everyone!

The vagina/cervix doesn't have the same cold receptors that our skin does. Frankly the melting ice cold water that drains out of the vagina is where any discomfort would come from.

DoulaMegz · 08-12-2009, 09:04 AM

Interesting! I had a VBAC mamma who made it to 4, then the OB (PSYCHO!) wanted her on pit for no apparent reason and badgered mom into it. So she got the epidural and the pit. An hour later OB claims that cervix is now 3cm because of swelling (I don't think it's a coincidence that they had this conversation with mom while I was out on a potty break) and called a c/s. I would have liked to have had some options for mom to try. We all doubt she was actually swelling, pretty sure OB just wanted to c/s.