[Delayed pushing and frequency of vacuum extraction in deliveries under lumbar epidural analgesia].

With the object of reducing the high of vacuum extraction in deliveries with lumbar epidural analgesia, we introduced "late pushing" in these deliveries in 1988. By this is understood that the parturient women is first encouraged to push when the orifice is completely dilated and the infant's head is visible at introitus. Before the "late pushing" was introduced, the frequency of vacuum extractions in deliveries with lumbar epidural analgesia was 44% of the vaginal deliveries. During the period of investigation, the frequency was 43%. Introduction of the "late pushing" thus did not result in any alteration (p greater than 0.4). Parturient women with lumbar epidural analgesia and slow progression of labour differed from the remainder of the parturient women with lumbar epidiral analgesia by significantly higher birth weights (4,000 g as compared with 3,400 g) and this may explain the increased frequency of vacuum extraction in this particular group of parturient women. The authors consider that lumbar epidural analgesia has the advantage that delivery is less painful for the mother without any simultaneous increased risk for the infant.