When childbirth is not progressing in the pushing stage of
labor, a health professional sometimes uses forceps or a kind of
suction cup (vacuum extractor) to help deliver the baby. This is
called an assisted delivery, or an operative vaginal delivery.
Forceps are a device that looks like a long pair of spoons or
tongs. Forceps can be used to hurry delivery when the mother or
baby is in distress during labor and the baby's head is far down
in the birth Forceps are sometimes used when the baby is not
turning to face the right way or isn't moving down the birth
canal (vagina). This can be because the uterus is not
contracting well enough to deliver the baby. Epidural anesthesia
makes this problem more likely than does no medicine or an
opioid medicine for pain.1 Before a forceps delivery, the
vaginal area is usually numbed by anesthetic into the lower
spine or vagina. Also, an incision in the area between the
vagina and anus (episiotomy) is commonly made before a forceps
delivery. Forceps are then gently pushed