Assisted Delivery
(Forceps or Vacuum Delivery)
When childbirth is not progressing in the pushing stage of labor, a health professional sometimes uses forceps or a kind of suction cup (vacuum extractor) to help deliver the baby. This is called an assisted delivery, or an operative vaginal delivery. If there are concerns about progress or about the well being of the baby in second stage then your midwife will consult with the on call Obstetrician. A transfer of care will be facilitated to the Obstetrician if an assisted delivery is required or if there are other medical reasons for a transfer of care.
Forceps Delivery
Forceps are a device that looks like a long pair of spoons or tongs. Forceps can be used to assist delivery when the client or baby is in distress during labor and the baby's head is far down in the birth canal. Forceps are sometimes used when the baby is not turning to face the right way or isn't moving down the birth canal (vagina). This can be because the uterus is not contracting well enough to deliver the baby. Before a forceps delivery, if you do not have an epidural, the vaginal area is usually numbed by injecting an anesthetic into the lower spine or vagina. Also, an incision in the area between the vagina and anus (episiotomy) may be made before a forceps delivery to make room for the Obstetrician to place the forceps. Forceps are then gently pushed up on either side of the baby's head and used to turn and/or pull baby out.
Vacuum Extractor Delivery
In some situations, doctors use a device called a vacuum extractor instead of forceps. The cup-shaped extractor applies a gentle suction to the top of the baby's head and holds the baby in place. The vacuum extractor prevents the baby's head from moving back up the birth canal between contractions and can be used to assist the client while pushing during contractions.
Risks of Assisted Delivery
Both vacuum and forceps delivery can cause tears. Forceps delivery is more likely than a vacuum delivery to damage the vagina, perineum, or rectum, but forceps are less likely to affect the baby. There may be some bruising or swelling on the baby's scalp (cephalohematoma) or face where the forceps or extraction cup was applied, but this usually goes away in the days after delivery. In very rare cases, a baby delivered with forceps or vacuum extraction has bleeding inside the skull (intracranial hemorrhage).
(Forceps or Vacuum Delivery)
When childbirth is not progressing in the pushing stage of labor, a health professional sometimes uses forceps or a kind of suction cup (vacuum extractor) to help deliver the baby. This is called an assisted delivery, or an operative vaginal delivery. If there are concerns about progress or about the well being of the baby in second stage then your midwife will consult with the on call Obstetrician. A transfer of care will be facilitated to the Obstetrician if an assisted delivery is required or if there are other medical reasons for a transfer of care.
Forceps Delivery
Forceps are a device that looks like a long pair of spoons or tongs. Forceps can be used to assist delivery when the client or baby is in distress during labor and the baby's head is far down in the birth canal. Forceps are sometimes used when the baby is not turning to face the right way or isn't moving down the birth canal (vagina). This can be because the uterus is not contracting well enough to deliver the baby. Before a forceps delivery, if you do not have an epidural, the vaginal area is usually numbed by injecting an anesthetic into the lower spine or vagina. Also, an incision in the area between the vagina and anus (episiotomy) may be made before a forceps delivery to make room for the Obstetrician to place the forceps. Forceps are then gently pushed up on either side of the baby's head and used to turn and/or pull baby out.
Vacuum Extractor Delivery
In some situations, doctors use a device called a vacuum extractor instead of forceps. The cup-shaped extractor applies a gentle suction to the top of the baby's head and holds the baby in place. The vacuum extractor prevents the baby's head from moving back up the birth canal between contractions and can be used to assist the client while pushing during contractions.
Risks of Assisted Delivery
Both vacuum and forceps delivery can cause tears. Forceps delivery is more likely than a vacuum delivery to damage the vagina, perineum, or rectum, but forceps are less likely to affect the baby. There may be some bruising or swelling on the baby's scalp (cephalohematoma) or face where the forceps or extraction cup was applied, but this usually goes away in the days after delivery. In very rare cases, a baby delivered with forceps or vacuum extraction has bleeding inside the skull (intracranial hemorrhage).
