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Instrumental delivery (forceps / ventouse)
Category: Women's Health & Childbirth · All women's health & childbirth
What it is
An instrumental (assisted vaginal) delivery uses forceps (smooth metal instruments placed around the baby's head) or a ventouse (a suction cup on the baby's head) to help deliver the baby during the pushing stage of labour, together with the mother's contractions and pushing.
Why it is done
It is offered when the baby needs to be born more quickly (for example concerns about the baby's heart rate), when the second stage is prolonged, or when the mother is exhausted or advised not to push for a long time for medical reasons.
How to prepare
You will have a full assessment including abdominal and vaginal examination to confirm the baby's position and station, adequate pain relief (often an epidural top-up or spinal if in theatre), an emptied bladder, and consent discussion. Sometimes the delivery is attempted in theatre so a caesarean can follow immediately if needed.
What happens during the procedure
With you in position and pain relief working, the instrument is applied carefully and gentle traction is applied with contractions and your pushing. An episiotomy (a cut to the perineum) is often needed with forceps. The baby is then delivered as in a normal birth, usually within a few contractions.
Afterwards — recovery & results
You will have perineal care, stitches if cut or torn, a catheter briefly sometimes, and pain relief. Most recover alongside normal postnatal recovery, with pelvic floor exercises advised. The baby may have temporary marks, swelling (ventouse) or bruising (forceps) that fade over days; the paediatric team checks the baby.
Risks & considerations
Risks to the mother include vaginal and perineal tears (including tears involving the anal muscle, more likely with forceps), bleeding and infection. Risks to the baby include scalp swelling or bruising, and rarely more serious injury. The alternative — caesarean at full dilatation — also carries significant risks, which is why your obstetrician weighs both with you.
Watch: Instrumental delivery (forceps / ventouse) videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Why not go straight to caesarean?
When the baby's head is low in the pelvis, an instrumental birth is usually quicker and safer than a caesarean at full dilatation, which is technically difficult. Your obstetrician judges which is safer in the moment.
Will I need an episiotomy?
With forceps, usually yes — a controlled cut lowers the risk of severe uncontrolled tears. With ventouse, not always. It is stitched afterwards under local anaesthetic.
Related procedures — Women's Health & Childbirth
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