Dear Folks:
  This is in response to RAINBOWpeds comment about vacuums being described in
the literature as"okay". On May 21 of this year, the FDA issued a public
health advisory: "Need for CAUTION when using Vacuum Assisted Devices." They
begin their advisory with the sentence, " This is to advise you that vacuum
assisted delivery devices may cause serious or fatal complications, and to
provide guidance to minimize the risk." Over the past 4 years, the FDA has
received reports of 12 deaths and nine serious injuries among newborns related
to vacuum use in delivery. It is estimated that the vacuum is used in 5.9% of
deliveries.
  So the literature no longer describes the use of the vacuum as okay.
  Now what do we do? Can't leave the baby stuck in the canal. Do you think if
this information gets widely disseminated, that women will be more likely to
hire doulas, stay home as long as possible when labor starts, stay active in
labor, and avoid epidurals? We can dream, can't we?
  For those babies so damaged at birth by vacuum that they can't breastfeed, I
recommend resting in bed with mamma, givingArnica and/or Rescue Remedy (to
mother and baby), using cranio-sacral techniques once the baby feels like
being touched, using Therapeutic Touch, spoon-feeding hand-expressed
colostrum, and loving and patient waiting. Warmly, Nikki Lee