Assisted delivery
About one woman in eight has an assisted birth, where forceps or a ventouse suction cup are used to help the baby out of the vagina. This can be because:
- your baby is distressed
- your baby is in an awkward position
- you're too exhausted
Both ventouse and forceps are safe and only used when necessary for you and your baby. A paediatrician may be present to check your baby's health. A local anaesthetic is usually given to numb the birth canal (the passageway the baby travels to be born, from womb to vagina) if you haven't already had an epidural. If your obstetrician has any concerns, you may be moved to an operating theatre so that a caesarean section can be carried out if needed.
As the baby is being born, a cut (episiotomy) may be needed to make the vaginal opening bigger. Any tear or cut will be repaired with stitches. Depending on the circumstances, your baby can be delivered and placed onto your tummy, and your birthing partner may still be able to cut the cord if they want to.
Ventouse
A ventouse (vacuum extractor) is an instrument that uses suction to pull the baby out. A soft or hard plastic or metal cup is attached by a tube to a suction device. The cup fits firmly onto your baby's head and, with a contraction and your pushing, the obstetrician or midwife gently pulls to help deliver your baby.
The suction cup can leave a small mark on your baby's head, called a chignon. The cup may also leave a bruise on your baby's head, called a cephalhaematoma. A ventouse is not used if you're giving birth at less than 34 weeks pregnant, because your baby's head is too soft.
A ventouse is less likely than forceps to cause vaginal tearing.
Forceps
Forceps are smooth metal instruments that look like large spoons or tongs. They're curved to fit around the baby's head. The forceps are carefully positioned around your baby's head and joined together at the handles. With a contraction and your pushing, an obstetrician gently pulls to help deliver your baby.
There are many different types of forceps. Some forceps are specifically designed to turn the baby to the right position to be born, for example, if your baby is lying with its back to your back.
Forceps can leave small marks on your baby's face but these will disappear quite quickly.
Afterwards
You will sometimes be fitted with a catheter (a small tube that fits into your bladder) for up to 24 hours. You're more likely to need this if you have had an epidural because you may not have fully regained feeling in your nerves.
The RCOG (Royal College of Obstretricians and Gynaecologists) has further information on assisted delivery.
