Forceps delivery: Questions and Answers

What is forceps delivery?
This is delivery using a surgical instrument with two blades to help the baby out. known as forceps. It is important that before forceps are applied for delivery, the patient is carefully assessed to ensure the mode of delivery is safe for both the mother and the child.

When is forceps delivery used by a doctor?
Forceps are used in the second stage of labour (when the baby is ready for expulsion) if there is:
o Delay in appearance of the baby’s head
o Maternal distress
o Foetal distress and
o During some preterm deliveries.

When should you avoid forceps delivery?
o When a baby’s head is too large for the mother’s pelvis.
o When the foetus presents another part other than the head at the time of delivery,
o Before the head sinks into the pelvis,
o When the cervix is not fully dilated,
o If the mother has not ruptured her waters,
o When a mother has a full bladder,
o When a mother’s uterus is not contracting.

How is it done?
o Analgesic (a painkiller that does not result in loss of consciousness) is given,
o The bowel is emptied.
o The patient is placed in position on the operation table.
o The vulva is cleaned with sterile swabs,
o The vagina is examined to rule out contraindications,
o The pelvis size is assessed.
o The proper position of the foetal head is ascertained,
o If all conditions are favourable, the midwife applies the forceps and extracts the baby accordingly.

What are the dangers?
If the delivery process with forceps is wrongly applied, the mother could have uterine rupture; trauma on the cervix, vagina and perineum: postpartum bleeding and genital infection. On the other hand, the infant could get intracranial haemorrhage (bleeding within the skull), facial palsy and facial bruising.

What makes forceps delivery unsafe?
o Lack of skills.
o Persisting with forceps even when there use is challenged.
o Not raking the contraindications seriously,
o When the rotation of head with forceps is applied wrongly.

All cases of failed forceps delivery must be carefully reassessed. Any abnormal position must be corrected before reapplication with a more experienced team. In some cases. Caesarean section is recommended.

END: PG21/49