6. Have a helper put pressure on the mother’s pubic
bone (not her abdomen). This is to keep the
baby’s head tucked to its chest, not to push the
baby out. Carefully guide the baby’s body down
to deliver the top shoulder. Hold the baby by the
hips or legs. Be careful! Pressure on the baby’s
back or abdomen can injure its insides!
You may need to put your
fingers inside the mother to
bring the arms out. Try to
grasp the arms by following
them down from the shoulder.
Bring the arm across the chest
by gently pulling on the elbow.
Deliver the top shoulder.
7. Carefully lift the baby to deliver the back shoulder.
8. The baby now needs to turn so it faces
down towards the mother’s bottom. You
may wish to support its body with your
arm, placing your finger in the baby’s
mouth to help the head stay tucked.
This is because when the baby’s chin is
tucked to its chest, it passes more easily
through the hip bones.
9. Lower the baby until
you can see the
hairline on the back
of the neck. Do not
pull the baby! Do
not bend the neck
or it may break!
10. Keep the baby’s head tucked in while you raise the
body to deliver the face. Let the back of the head
stay inside the mother.
11. The mother should relax,
stop pushing, and ‘breathe’
the baby out. The back of
the head should be born
slowly. If it comes too fast,
the baby could bleed in the
brain and die or be damaged.
Difficult Bir ths 91
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012