What happens in a forceps or ventouse birth?
You will be asked to lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. The midwife or obstetrician will examine you, and your bladder emptied with a catheter. If you haven’t already had an epidural you will be offered one, or a single spinal injection or local anaesthetic to numb the area around the vagina.
You may also need an episiotomy (cut in
the back wall of the vagina) to enlarge
the vaginal opening. In a ventouse
delivery, the obstetrician or specially
trained midwife will attach a suction cup
to your baby’s head and gently pull,
along with your contractions, to help
your baby be born.
An episiotomy is not always necessary and women are less likely to experience vaginal tearing than they would with forceps.
In a forceps delivery, the forceps are gently positioned around the baby’s head until the next contraction when you will be asked to push and your baby carefully pulled. An episiotomy is usually required.
What can birth partners do?
It might be helpful to think about the support you can give your partner if forceps or ventouse are used. This could be offering reassurance if this is a change to your birth plan or simply holding her hand during the birth.
Some partners have said they found it difficult watching the forceps and ventouse being used so also consider where you might want to stand during the birth.
What are the effects of a forceps or ventouse delivery on babies?
Some parents-to-be worry that their baby may be harmed during an assisted birth. But any effects are likely to be short term. Forceps can cause bruising while a ventouse may temporarily affect the shape of a baby’s head.
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