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Monday, September 10, 2012

forceps delivery using instruments

A forceps delivery is a type of operative vaginal delivery. It's sometimes needed in the course of vaginal childbirth. Forceps are instruments designed to help in the delivery of the fetus by applying traction to the fetal head. Many different types of forceps have been described and developed. 


Generally, forceps consist of 2 mirror image metal instruments that are manipulated to cradle the fetal head and are articulated, after which traction is applied to effect delivery. 

Forceps have 4 major components, they are:

Blades: The blades grasp the fetus. Each blade has a curve to fit around the fetal head. The blades are oval or elliptical and can be with a hole in the middle or solid. Many blades are also curved in a plane 90° from the cephalic curve to fit the maternal pelvis.

Lock: The lock is the articulation between the shanks. Many different types have been designed.

Handles: The handles are where the operator holds the device and applies traction to the fetal head.


Shanks: The shanks connect the blades to the handles and provide the length of the device. They are either parallel or crossing. 

A forceps delivery poses a risk of injury for both mother and baby. 

Possible risks to you include:

Pain in the perineum, Difficulty urinating or emptying the bladder, Short-term or long-term urinary or fecal incontinence, Lower genital tract tears and wounds, Anemia, Uterine rupture, Weakening of the muscles and ligaments supporting your pelvic organs, causing pelvic organs to slip out of place and Injuries to the bladder or urethra.

Your health care provider might recommend a forceps delivery if:

You're pushing, but labor isn't progressing, your baby's heartbeat suggests a problem, you have a health concern and your baby's head is facing the wrong direction.

Your health care provider might caution against a forceps delivery if:

  • Your baby has a condition that affects the strength of his or her bones, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, or has a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia
  • Your baby's head hasn't yet moved past the midpoint of the birth canal
  • The position of your baby's head isn't known
  • Your baby's shoulders or arms are leading the way through the birth canal
  • Your baby might not be able to fit through your pelvis due to his or her size or the size of your pelvis
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