A forceps delivery is a type of assisted vaginal birth. Your obstetrician or midwife will recommend an assisted birth if they have concerns about your baby’s health during the birth.
Forceps
A forceps is a smooth metal instrument that looks like a tongs. It fits around a baby’s head.
There are different types of forceps. Some help your baby to turn. Others are for babies who are in the right position but need some help being born.
What happens during a forceps delivery
Your obstetrician will examine you to check the position of your baby’s head. They will position the forceps around your baby’s head and squeeze to gently grip your baby to move them into position.
During a contraction, you will be asked to push. The obstetrician will gently pull on the forceps to help deliver your baby’s head. It usually takes about 3 to 4 pulls to deliver your baby’s head.
Your obstetrician will know if your baby’s head is moving further down the birth canal with each pull.
When your baby’s head is delivered the forceps are taken off. The rest of the birth will be the same as if the forceps had not been used.
Risks of forceps delivery
Forceps are more successful at delivering babies than a ventouse or vacuum-assisted delivery. But they may cause bruising or tears to your vagina and perineum.
You will probably need to have an episiotomy (cut in your perineum) before a forceps delivery. This is to reduce the risk of tears to your perineum.
Forceps can sometimes cause marks on your baby’s face. But these usually disappear in 1 to 2 days.
Risks of assisted vaginal birth (forceps or ventouse)
If a forceps delivery is not successful
If the forceps delivery is not successful, your obstetrician may need to do a caesarean section.
