 What does the Tydeman tube do?
Its sole purpose was to test the effectiveness of a novel device called a Tydeman tube. To understand the desperation of Debra and how the Tydeman tube might help to relieve it requires a brief foray into basic obstetric knowhow. "Some of the babies will be so close to coming out by the normal route," says Tydeman, "that it's then difficult to get them back up and remove them through the hole in the woman's tummy." The Tydeman tube is a gadget intended to make this manoeuvre safer and more effective. Between them they came up with a device – the Tydeman tube – to make pushing on the foetus more controlled while simultaneously releasing any vacuum that might be holding it in place.
 The Tydeman tube is placed in the uterus near the baby's head. The tube opens into a soft silicone cup, which is placed on the part of the head that is exposed through the cervix. Pushing air in through the tube releases suction forces that may be holding the baby in place.
 The Tydeman tube is placed in the uterus near the baby's head. The tube opens into a soft silicone cup, which is placed on the part of the head that is exposed through the cervix. Pushing air in through the tube releases suction forces that may be holding the baby in place.  The Tydeman tube is placed in the uterus near the baby's head. The doctor can inflate or deflate the tube as necessary to help ease the baby out of the birth canal.  The Tydeman tube is placed in the uterus near the baby's head. The tube opens into a soft silicone cup, which is placed on the part of the head that is exposed through the cervix. Pulling air out through the tube releases suction forces that may be holding the baby in place.  The Tydeman tube is placed in the uterus near the baby's head. Pushing air in to inflate the tube keeps the umbilical cord from closing around the baby's neck.