Did "the village people" tie her womb or is it obstructed labour?
I was watching a Nollywood movie (a Nigerian movie) a few days ago and I saw a clip of a woman in labour. She appeared to have been pushing for ages but was unable to deliver her baby. You had the relatives praying outside the door while the doctor kept screaming “push push push.”
The doctor stepped out of the labour room and was confronted by a “demon” who confessed to holding the woman’s baby in her womb and refused to release the baby. Sounds like a movie you have seen? I’m sure that’s a yes!
While this may be true, the midwife in me saw obstructed labour.
Obstructed labour is also known as labour dystocia. “Obstructed labour means that, in spite of strong contractions of the uterus, the fetus cannot descend through the pelvis because there is an insurmountable barrier preventing its descent.” WHO
Causes of obstructed labour include:
- Cephalopelvic disproportion (small pelvis or large fetus)
- Abnormal presentations (brow, shoulders, face with chin posterior)
- Locked twins
- Pelvic tumour
- Tight perineum
What happens when labour is obstructed?
Your obstetrician will discuss with you what’s happening offer you an emergency CS to deliver your baby safely. Your doctor will also discuss the procedure, anaesthesia, possible risks and post-op care. Once you have all this information and you are happy to go ahead with the surgery, they’ll ask you to sign a consent form.
This may happen a lot faster if you or your baby are showing signs of distress.
Have you ever heard of obstructed labour? Did you also think it was the “village people?"