The birth of a baby is a joyous event, and midwives and obstetricians do everything they can to ensure a safe and normal delivery. But delivery can be hazardous, particularly for those going through their first pregnancy and labour.
So if mothers experience problems such as foetal distress or maternal exhaustion, obstetric help may be needed to help deliver the baby without injury, such as a Forceps or Vacuum Delivery.
Inevitably, these can carry some degree of risk, so it’s vital that treating clinicians provide the highest standard of care to their patients.
But while every effort will be made to make sure proper procedures are followed and injury is avoided, things do sometimes go wrong.
For instance, if the Forceps are applied incorrectly, or the physician applies too much pressure, both mother and baby can, sadly, be injured.
We're rated‘Excellent’Forceps are smooth metal instruments that look like large spoons or tongs. They’re curved to fit around the baby’s head and provide protection as the baby is pulled through the pelvis.
A Forceps Delivery can be needed if the presenting part of a baby, usually the head, or the buttocks in the case of a breech delivery, is in the wrong position and can’t come through the pelvis. This is known as an obstructed labour.
Foetal distress, such as a drop in the baby’s heartbeat, can be a sign of oxygen deprivation, and can also indicate a swift delivery is needed.
During a Forceps Delivery, a cut to the perineum (an episiotomy) may also be made to reduce the risk of tearing when the forceps are applied.
A Vacuum Delivery, also known as a Vacuum Extraction or Vacuum Assisted Delivery, is another common obstetric intervention, which may be needed when the head is high in the pelvis or when the cervix isn’t fully dilated.
A small cup is applied to the baby’s head to guide it out, and suction is applied in between contractions to slowly pull it down the birth canal. Sometimes a mother needs to push at the same time.
If the cup slips from the baby’s head more than three times, the doctor has to abandon the Vacuum Delivery and proceed to a C-Section.
Before proceeding to a Forceps or Vacuum Delivery, a woman should be properly consulted, so she is advised of the risks and agrees to the procedure.
Of course, this decision may need to be taken during an emergency situation, so consent needs to be obtained quickly.
A local anaesthetic is usually injected to numb the area between the vagina and anus, if an Epidural is not in position, to provide pain relief.
There are risks with both of these procedures.
Woman often feel that Caesarean Section is a safer mode of delivery, but the risks associated with C-Sections are greater than those concerning Forceps or Vacuum Deliveries. So wherever possible, these will be considered as an option before proceeding to any surgery.
If you feel that mistakes were made during the delivery of your baby, and that you or your baby suffered an injury as a result, you should seek the help of a specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor, with experience in this area of law.
Our friendly, empathetic team of experts have helped many people just like you, and have a strong track record of success. Call us for a free, no obligation claims assessment, so we can speak about what’s happened to you and how we can help you.
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