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There is also significant risk of injury to the vaginal walls during placement of the forceps. Forceps, on the other hand, must encircle the baby’s head, and it therefore is crucial to know the exact position of the head. The soft, plastic cups are pliable and can be folded for insertion and maneuverability. Due to its design, the vacuum extractor may be applied to the top of the baby’s head as it becomes visible in the birth canal. One advantage of the vacuum extractor is that it is typically easier to place than forceps. Although vacuum extraction may be associated with trauma and hemorrhaging, forceps may cause similar injuries and may result in more serious nerve or skull injuries.Įase of placement. One study found that vacuum extraction exerted approximately 40% less force to the baby’s head than delivery with forceps. Less force is applied to the baby’s head. Vacuum extraction exposes the baby to less traction in comparison to forceps delivery. Advantages of Vacuum Extraction Deliveries Over Forceps Deliveries Damage can occur to the mother’s vagina, bladder, or rectum. There is also a possibility of injury to the mother, especially with forceps deliveries in which the baby’s head is relatively high in the birth canal or is in a suboptimal position. This can result in a number of medical conditions, such as seizures, stroke, and cerebral palsy. Risks of Operative Vaginal DeliveriesĪ baby’s head can become compressed and brain vessels injured during a vacuum extractor or forceps delivery. Also, these deliveries can sometimes be done if a woman has been in the second stage of labor for several hours and, for whatever reason, is unable to make further progress. One important benefit of operative deliveries is that a baby who is showing signs of fetal distress (such as an abnormal heart rate) can be delivered quickly, evaluated, and resuscitated as needed. Benefits of Operative Vaginal DeliveriesĪpproximately 10 – 15% of all babies born are delivered via operative vaginal delivery, of which about one-third are vacuum extraction deliveries and the remaining two-thirds are forceps deliveries. However, there are also substantial risks associated with these tools. There are situations in which the use of vacuum extractors or forceps is called for and can be a life-saving measure. Unassisted vaginal deliveries are what many people think of as “natural” births. Operative vaginal deliveries, also known as assisted deliveries, are those in which birth-assisting tools like vacuum extractors or forceps are used.
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Operative Vaginal Deliveries vs Unassisted Vaginal Deliveries Moreover, each of these two methods (vacuum extractors and forceps) has advantages and disadvantages, which doctors should weigh when deciding between the two. The decision to use a birth-assisting tool should be made very carefully. These include trauma and brain hemorrhages (bleeds), brain swelling, skull fractures, stroke, seizures, and brain damage such as cerebral palsy and HIE. When used improperly, both of these tools can cause serious injuries. Vacuum extractors and forceps are birth-assisting tools that are used to guide the baby through the birth canal. FLOC & NSDA 2022 Legal Oratory Scholarship.