You have probably heard of the Hamilton maneuver, a maneuver used to stimulate labor without drug administration. A maneuver that should only be performed in a full-term pregnancy under certain clinical conditions, which we will discuss below, and of which the mother should always be informed prior to its practice. Because? Because there are certain risks.
The risks of the hamilton maneuver They are not many but they are important. And it is that in addition to being annoying and causing pain, it usually causes slight bleeding of which it is important to be informed so as not to be alarmed and triggers intense contractions, among others. It may be favorable, but it is always convenient to know its risks before saying yes, don't you think?
What is the Hamilton maneuver?
The Hamilton maneuver is intended to stimulate labor and can be performed from week 38 as long as the conditions of the cervix are favorable for dilation and the start of labor, and the mother agrees.
With a circular movement and manually through this maneuver detach the amniotic membranes with the purpose of stimulating and causing the natural release of prostaglandins, a set of substances that are used, in their synthetic form, to cause labor.
When is it indicated?
The Hamilton maneuver is not a practice that can be used with all pregnant women. The purpose of this maneuver is to trigger labor so it should study each case to guarantee that the clinical conditions exist that justify or make it necessary to end the pregnancy in a short period of time. In general, these are the conditions to resort to the maneuver:
- Full-term pregnancy. Exceeded week 37 of gestation.
- With favorable cervix. The maneuver should only be performed when the conditions of the cervix are favorable to dilation.
- Under medical criteria that justifies terminating the pregnancy.
- In no case should it be performed when it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy due to a medical emergency; such as bleeding or babies with respiratory distress, among others.
The risks
Many women have denounced for years the practice of this maneuver without prior information and even before the recommended week. Obviously it is a practice that we denounce. As much as the technique may be favourable, study the conditions disclosing the risks to the pregnant woman and obtaining her consent should be the general practice.
Fortunately, we currently have more information. And before we face that moment we can know the risks of the hamilton maneuver and know what we are facing in case the doctors consider it appropriate to carry it out. And what are these risks?
- After performing the Hamilton maneuver, many women experience aches and pains in the hours and days that followed, until she went into labor. And it is very difficult to be relaxed at the time of the maneuver.
- One of the most frequent risks is to suffer a slight bleeding during the 24 hours following the maneuver. It is a completely normal spotting (the risk of bleeding is very low), and unless it does not stop, it is not necessary to go to the emergency room.
- It is also likely that contractions appear which can be increasingly intense and end in labor contractions in the following 24-48 hours. It doesn't always happen that way. In fact, if the contractions decrease in intensity until they disappear, it could indicate that the maneuver has not been effective.
- Although the risk is very small, a amniotic sac rupture and consequently, the loss of amniotic fluid.
- There may also be a risk of infectionbut this is very small.
Did you know the risks of the Hamilton maneuver? These are not many, but they are important and can cause great discomfort for the pregnant woman, so it is convenient to be aware of them. Have you had the Hamilton maneuver performed on you or do you know someone who has suffered from any of these problems? Go ahead and share them!