Forceps deliveries are used to help deliver babies whose heads are stuck or when other delivery methods have failed. Forceps, originally designed as wooden spoons, are placed in the vagina and locked around the baby's head to apply gentle pressure until delivery. Forceps deliveries require general anesthesia and usually take about 5 minutes. They can leave mothers feeling bruised but allow for recovery without tearing. About 1 in 8 births require forceps, and they are seen as an alternative to C-sections when needed.

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What to Know About Forceps Births
October 20, 2021 by Dr. Lori Gore-Green (Edit)
Forceps deliveries are carried out to deliver a baby whose head has become stuck in a bent
position or help out when all other methods have failed (e.g., ventouse).
The instruments used for forceps deliveries are called “forceps.” They were originally designed in
ancient Greece and consisted of two wooden spoons with handles.
Forceps deliveries are carried out under a general anesthetic, so the mother is asleep and will not
feel any pain or pressure on her body.
The forceps are placed over the baby’s head through the vagina. The blades of the forceps are
then carefully positioned around either side of the chin, cheeks, top of skull, and forehead.
Gentle, steady pressure is then applied until they lock into place. The midwife or doctor monitors
this by listening to sounds inside the birth canal with a “stethoscope.” It may be necessary to apply
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more than one pair of forceps to ensure an effective fit, and this can take several attempts if the
first attempt is unsuccessful. This type of delivery should only take about 5 minutes.
After the delivery, the midwife or doctor will check that your baby is healthy before you are
allowed to wake up and meet your new little one. Forceps deliveries may leave you feeling a bit
sore and bruised, and it can take a few days to recover fully from having a general anesthetic.
About 1 in 8 labors need to use forceps, so it is not too unusual. Of those, about 4 in every 100
women will need an assisted forceps birth like this. Delivery by ventouse (suction) is becoming
more popular as it usually means no after-effects such as bruising or tearing; however, if this isn’t
working, forceps are be needed instead of an emergency Caesarean section (C-section).
Some mothers find the use of forceps frightening from the word go, as it sounds as though they
are being forced to have a cesarean section. It may be helpful to think about it as an alternative to
a ventouse delivery with no bruising afterward. A good way of looking at it is as a ‘helping hand’
that can make all the difference between tearing and not tearing.
In conclusion, forceps can be a successful instrument, although not always effective. It is much
easier for the mother to recover from than an assisted ventouse delivery, but it may pose a risk to
both mother and baby if not used properly or if the wrong forceps are used.
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