How are forceps and a vacuum extractor used?
Forceps are smooth metal instruments, shaped like long, narrow spoons, which are carefully applied to the sides of the baby’s head. As the mother bears down, the doctor will guide the baby’s head. When the head is visible, the forceps are slipped off, one at a time, and the mother is usually encouraged to complete the delivery on her own. A vacuum extractor is used for the same purpose. In this case a plastic cup is placed on the baby’s head and attached to a suction device. Again, the baby moves down the birth canal using both sources of power, the mother’s pushing and the pulling of the vacuum. When forceps or vacuum delivery is questionable There may be something about the situation, say, the position of the baby’s head or the shape of the mother’s pelvic bones, which makes the practitioner doubt the success of an intervention. In this case, it may not be offered, or offered only on a conditional basis. Usually, if three pulls of the vacuum, or a similar number of pulls of the force
