Forceps Delivery

Forceps delivery is a form of assisted vaginal childbirth in which a doctor uses an instrument made of two curved metal blades to grip the baby's head and gently guide it out through the birth canal. It is used instead of a cesarean section or vacuum extraction when the mother is exhausted or has a medical condition that makes prolonged pushing risky, or when the baby's heart rate shows signs of distress and needs to be delivered quickly. Before the forceps are applied, the cervix must be fully dilated, the membranes ruptured, and the baby's head position confirmed; the outcome of the delivery depends heavily on the skill and experience of the person performing it.