What harm does forceps delivery do to pregnant women and fetuses?

Pregnant women may sometimes use forceps to assist in delivery. Generally, this method of use will not cause adverse effects on the pregnant woman and the fetus. However, if used improperly, the harm is relatively large, because the forceps will be placed on both sides of the fetus's head and then used in conjunction with induced labor. If used improperly, it will cause damage to the newborn's head and even induce edema or hematoma.

What is a forceps delivery ?

Forceps delivery is a commonly used obstetric surgery to solve difficult labor and is an assisted delivery method used in the second stage of labor. The specific operation method is to place the forceps on both sides of the fetal head, buckle the two leaves of the forceps together, and cooperate with uterine contractions to pull the forceps, thereby assisting in the delivery of the fetal head.

When is forceps necessary ?

Forceps are an assisted delivery method used in the second stage of labor. When the mother's cervix is ​​fully dilated, but the fetal head is in a low position and the fetal head cannot be delivered smoothly, or when the mother and baby have complications and the fetus needs to be delivered as soon as possible, forceps are needed to complete this process. The purpose of using forceps at this time is to shorten the delivery time and avoid serious consequences.

Will forceps delivery cause harm to the baby or the mother ?

There are indeed some risks in using forceps for assisted delivery, such as possible damage to the mother's cervix and vaginal wall, and scalp injury, edema or hematoma in the newborn. However, obstetricians generally undergo rigorous training before allowing this operation, and in most cases it will not cause serious harm to the mother and fetus.

Will the mother be consulted before forceps delivery is performed?

Before performing this operation, the doctor will first seek the mother's opinion and respect the mother's and her family's choices. If the mother disagrees, forceps delivery will not be used. There are also some mothers who prefer to choose cesarean section when they are unable to give birth naturally, and doctors will respect the mother's opinion.

When a mother is asked by a doctor for advice, how can she decide whether she should use it ?

Many people know the benefits of natural childbirth for mother and fetus. Of course, during the delivery process, most doctors will try their best to help expectant mothers to have a natural delivery. Now, medicine also advocates minimizing the use of forceps delivery. However, if the doctor asks the mother for her opinion and asks whether to use forceps delivery, it often means that the doctor, based on the condition of the mother and fetus, believes that there are indications for surgery and the delivery needs to be ended as soon as possible. If you have too many concerns at this time, you may miss the opportunity for surgery and cause more serious consequences. Moreover, a large number of survey and research results show that if forceps delivery is used correctly, it rarely has adverse effects on the baby's intellectual and physical development.

Therefore, when deciding whether to use forceps for assisted delivery, mothers do not have much time to consider. If mothers have concerns in this regard, it is best to communicate with their doctors in advance to discuss what to do in case they are unable to give birth naturally. This helps save time and is beneficial to both mother and baby.