Car mechanic invents childbirth assistance device
by Carder
The contraption, called the Odón Device, works like this: A doctor fits a plastic bag inside a lubricated plastic sleeve and fits it around the baby’s head. The bag is then inflated, allowing it to grip on the baby head, pulling until it’s emerged from the birth canal…
The goal of his invention is two-fold: For women in underdeveloped countries who don’t have access to Caesarean sections, the device could help safely bring their babies into the world. It could also supplement forceps and vacuum extractors in cases where newer doctors are untrained to use them.
~ Journalist Elise Solé describing Argentinian car mechanic Jorge Odón’s invention to assist mothers in childbirth, Yahoo! Shine, November 14
[Picture via Diego Giudice/The New York Times/Redux]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Cant hurt
Forceps were used during my first delivery. Afterwards, the doctor said to me on the order of ”You really didn’t need forceps but I wanted to show my intern how to use them. It saved you hours of pushing.” My son had bruises on his head.
I hope this will be used only when necessary and does no damage to baby or mom.
This looks horrifying. I suppose it could be useful in true emergencies, but like many things with birthing, it will make the doctors job easier and shorter so will probably be way overused. Like I said, in true emergencies, fine (so long as it receives proper testing and such), but why can’t we leave perfectly healthy birthing moms and their babies alone??
Praxades!!!! Oh my goodness! That makes me so angry!!! I would have kicked that doctor’s butt!
Your son became a pop quiz? Was this a teaching hospital? (nothing wrong with that usually, except in situations like this I think) I was delivered with mid-forceps though, so I think in my case it probably was necessary.
Kali says:
This looks horrifying.
Most medical devices do look horrifying. But if this is easier to use and gentler on the child than forceps, then it is a welcome improvement.
From the homeland of Pope Francis comes a device for helping poor women to have healthy babies. God bless the clever car mechanic who turned his ingenuity toward saving lives.
Agree with previous comments that such technology should only be used when necessary.
But I do applaud the inventor and hope more ways can be found to use technology to help mothers and children. To me, one of the core goals/beliefs of the pro-life ethic is that women should be empowered to have healthy babies. Anything that can help in this is a tremendous asset.
Sydney, This was 1990 and I was more confused than angry at the time and being young and passive, I never said a word to the very arrogant doctor nor complained to anyone else at the hospital. My abusive ex was in the room and he never said anything either (he had no problems being nasty to me but he’d never dare stand up to another “powerful” man!)
This doctor was out golfing until right towards the end of my labor anyway and I wish he had never been there at all. The placenta did not expel right away and whatever the doctor did to get it out hurt worse than the delivery.
If I had to do it again, I would have my babies at home with handpicked prolife medical professional(s) available. I’ve learned the hard way that having the title of doctor doesn’t automatically make one compassionate.
memyselfandI, I don’t know the protocol and I do understand people needing to learn, but permission should have been given in writing by myself to have an intern in the room and to use forceps. Very unethical of this doctor and me and my son were definitely taken advantage of.
After the delivery, the doctor was stitching me up (with the intern sitting next to him). The doctor was pointing things out and I felt like an automobile, not a human. It felt like they were mechanics under the hood of a car. I asked one question during that time because it seemed to be taking a long time, “How many stitches do I need?” The doctor said, “You don’t want to know.”
When I came to grips with it all and was ready to chew some butt, I looked for this doctor. A friend who also had this doctor told me he ended up dying in a skiing accident some years after I delivered.
This was in a Catholic hospital.
If this invention helps women in developed countries get through their labors okay that is awesome. It looks terrifying though, plastic over baby’s face (yes I know they aren’t breathing yet, but it still freaks me out).
“My abusive ex was in the room and he never said anything either (he had noproblems being nasty to me but he’d never dare stand up to another “powerful” man!)”
Might as well stayed home if he was going to be so worthless. What a coward. If your wife is in labor you’re supposed to be standing up for her rights while she might not be able to.
They should really get patient’s permission for teaching things on.
I think a picture that was more instructional would be better-like picture isn’t selling the item, or doing the man who invented it any justice. And if your not selling it, then your not selling it.
Two questions:
To what pressure does the bag inflate to? I know a few children who while being delivered had a hip displaced due to the doctor pulling to hard or their position in the birth canal. Pressure can affect the force applied.
Was this devise tested to ensure that the cranium does not collapse?
The cranium is supposed to “collapse” in a way, that’s why they have soft spots, otherwise the baby couldn’t come out! A hard skull wouldn’t fit through the birth canal. My son had a huge conehead, it was hilarious. My daughter did not because she was a c-section and wasn’t pushed through the birth canal.
I understand that the cranium is soft to begin with (LOL). I am saying that if too much pressure is applied than necessary the cranium can become damaged. Is that a better word than collapse?
My chiropractor would not like this. That poor babies little fragile neck! Plus how do they keep from suffocating the poor child!
Aw I see what you’re saying Thomas. Idk I’m not a doctor, but I figure if they can use forceps and babies are usually bruised but no permanent damage I doubt this is any worse than those metal claws pulling on the baby’s head.
Deanna babies are still attached to the umbilical when they are being born so they don’t suffocate while they are being pushed out. I remember being freaked out before my son was born that he couldn’t breathe when being born, but the midwife explained things. The umbilical cord provides the oxygen to the baby and the pushing helps get all the amniotic fluids out of his/her lungs and belly and everything so s/he is ready to breathe when the placenta is not attached to the mom and the umbilical is clamped and cut. C-section babies sometimes have more difficulty breathing because their lungs aren’t cleared naturally by the contractions, my daughter had to go on oxygen and get suctioned and everything (but she was in distress anyway before being born so that had something to do with it too).
I know a child who has permanent brain damage and a permanently distorted cranium due to misuse of a vacuum extractor. I guess I should be thankful my son’s head was just temporarily bruised.
Poor baby! Interventions can cause some major damage but if they are used correctly it’s usually safe and better than dead babies. I have heard of people doing voluntary c-sections and the like which I think is insane. They have much higher rates of complications. I know one doctor got sued because he pretended that a c-section was necessary when it wasn’t and the woman nearly hemorrhaged.
Jack,
Every woman hemorrhages during childbirth. Both from the disruption of the vaginal tract during the passage of the baby and from the expulsion of the afterbirth. There is ALWAYS blood loss.
… That’s not what the word hemorrhage means.
I read a story about a doctor who used forceps and pulled so hard the poor baby was decapitated. Can you imagine how horrible that must have been not only for the baby but the parents?
I worked OB don’t know but I wouldn’t think this would be much different than vacuum extraction except instead of traction on the occiput alone you are putting traction on the entire head and the neck. I don’t know but it looks like this could cause damage to the mother’s vaginal tissues and/or the babies head when it is applied. Anything could be misused in the wrong hands of course but how many babies would you have to use it on to find out if it has more or less risk than vacuum or forceps? Looks interesting, though most women can be instructed and should be allowed to push their babies out on their own. Many, not all, OBs are in a hurry the indications would need to be very specific. Most nurse-midwives are patient and work with their patients so it would probably be only used in rare instances if at all.
omygosh phillymiss, what a horrifying story!
Many, not all, OBs are in a hurry the indications would need to be very specific.
Women have more damage when things are rushed (unless it is an emergency of course and then it is necessary). Had I been allowed to labor naturally all the way through, I doubt I would have had countless stitches. Of course, more damage, means more charges. It was definitely more about the doctor and what worked for him than for me and my son.
My last deliver was so much easier. I was put into a sitting position vs. on my back. Using the force of gravity makes sense during delivery. Even in the picture above, the device is working against gravity. Not good.
I think the doctor being in a hurry was a bigger part of my situation than even his wanting to show his intern. The golf course was calling. He should have ignored the ski slope’s calls.
Absolutely horrifying. That was in a Catholic hospital? So much for “pro-life = pro-women.”
And to be sincere: I’m really sorry that happened to you, Praxedes. What a horrible violation. :(
Thanks BV. After hearing phyillymiss’ story, I’m glad it wasn’t worse than bruising.
Unfortunately, neither my ex nor I complained so there is no way hospital administration would have known about how I was treated unless the intern said something which I doubt. If I had made a stink, I’m hoping steps would have been taken to deal with this doctor. By the time I came to grips with the reality of the situation and was ready to cause a ruckus, the doctor has passed away. Had I remembered the intern’s name, I would have hunted him down too.
I’m not sure if the doctor was Catholic or not (he was not my normal ob/gyn who was not available the week I delivered). I think we all realize that many people who use the word Catholic or Christian, don’t believe or behave very accordingly. I had medical personnel recommend I abort my youngest child due to a uterine cyst and this was not at a Catholic hospital.
The last time I was hospitalized (a few years back), I received an anonymous survey (sent by a neutral party) in the mail asking about how I was treated by staff during my hospitalization. I think this is a great idea for all hospitals.
So much for “pro-life = pro-women.”
You make a great point for religious freedom. Catholic hospitals should be able to regulate who they hire and fire and the principles they want to adhere to.
It’s a clever device. Hopefully it will be used wisely.