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We are currently experiencing a great revolution in motherhood where the value of normal birth has grown more and more. Aiming at the woman’s faster recovery in the postpartum period, breastfeeding that happens more naturally due to the fact that the milk comes down faster and the risk of complications is much lower than when performing a cesarean section, however there are situations where medical intervention is necessary so that the baby is born and a forceps delivery is performed. Forceps delivery is a vaginal delivery, but performed with the help of a surgical instrument similar to a large spoonfor the baby’s withdrawal. The instrument is opened and each end is fitted around the baby’s head in order to assist expulsion and remove the baby more quickly from the vaginal canal. This method is widely used in risky deliveries or where the baby is stuck making it difficult to leave and intervention is necessary so that the exit occurs without suffering for mother and baby.
But like everything in life that offers risks, forceps delivery is not a situation well regarded by the population and exposed as a traumatic situation for mother and baby , so it should only be used in dire need. However, the method is used as the last alternative in normal delivery before leaving for an emergency cesarean section . It is worth noting that the method of high forceps so invasive and used in the past is not used today, opting for the delivery of forceps for relief, when the baby’s head is already coming out and even so it is only used around 5% of normal deliveries .
The instrument is also different from ancient times, which looked more like two spatulas. These were liable to hurt the baby where they were held to pull the baby. Nowadays, the forceps are more concave, they fit the baby’s head. This would cause less trauma than the old spatulas.
Consequences of Birth Forceps
There is a lot of incorrect information that is reported about forceps delivery, one of them is the sequelae left after the procedure, there is not much evidence to prove the evil action so nothing can be said. However, reports from mothers in the 60s and 70s, where forceps were used more often and with less criteria, are justifiably famous. The babies came out badly bruised, the sides of the head got deep marks and took a long time to heal. In some cases, babies had their skull deformed for some time, due to the strength of the procedure. If the baby suffers some superficial bruise from the procedure, it will be much less than the consequences of the old forceps. Some caesarean deliveries also use forceps to pull the baby. Usually when this baby is still very tall.
A consequence of forceps delivery is also the inevitable epsiotomy during the procedure. The woman will have a cut in the perineum(perpendicular to the vagina towards the rectum), to facilitate the baby’s exit with the procedure. Fortunately these days, high forceps are no longer used. The method is now smoother and is only intended to help the mother at the time of force so that the baby is born more smoothly. The doctor responsible for forceps delivery may use the method when the mother is unable to push, or when the baby is about to be born and somehow is unable to get out. We must remember that the forceps are not as risky as our mothers and grandmothers say. It is a good way to collaborate for a birth without trauma for mother and child and also to save the baby’s life. Another method also used to help baby get out faster is the suction cup or vacuum delivery method, where a device is used that “sucks” the baby out where the doctors can welcome him.
See also: All About Normal Childbirth – Does Cordon Interfere?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
