A delivery may be assisted using either vacuum extraction which involves a small suction cup (metal or plastic) placed on the back of your baby’s head and very gently pulled, or forceps metal tongs that guide the baby out.  There are several reasons why the obstetrician, and in some units, the midwife, will advise this type of birth.  Generally an assisted delivery is performed because the mother is too tired to continue pushing after a prolonged second stage of labor, and the vacuum suction cup or forceps can help accelerate the baby’s progress through the birth canal.  An assisted delivery may also be necessary if your blood pressure has risen suddenly, or if there are signs of fetal distress.  You will be given either an epidural, or local anesthetic before the procedure is preformed. This is a safe way for your baby to be born, although there is a very small chance that your baby may bleed under his scalp and may need to go to the neonatal unit to be cared for and monitored after birth.  After vacuum extraction, most babies will have a little bump where the soft cup has been attached to the head, and the baby’s head may look slightly elongated.  Babies delivered with forceps may have small marks on the side of the head, where the tongs were.  Any swelling or marks should disappear in a few days.  An episiotomy may be necessary with assisted delivery.  An episiotomy is a cut made between your vagina and rectum to make more space for your baby to be born in order to prevent tearing.  It is sometimes needed in assisted delivery, and more likely to be needed if the forceps are used in the delivery.

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