In plain words
An operative vaginal birth is a vaginal birth that uses a tool to help the baby out. The tools are a vacuum cup or forceps. A clinician places the tool on the baby's head and guides the baby down with the mother's pushes. The decision is made when labor is slow, when the baby's heart rate needs faster delivery, or when pushing alone is not enough. About three percent of U.S. births are operative vaginal births. Mothers may notice a swollen scalp or a mark on the baby's head, which usually fades. The mother may have a higher chance of a tear. Recovery is often similar to a vaginal birth without a tool, with some extra soreness.
The deeper version
Operative vaginal birth, using vacuum extraction or forceps, accounts for roughly 3 percent of U.S. births in recent national data, with substantial variation by region and hospital. Indications include and non-reassuring fetal status. Risks to the mother include perineal trauma, including , and ; risks to the neonate include and scalp lacerations, and rarely intracranial hemorrhage. Vacuum and forceps have comparable neonatal outcomes in several cohorts, and the choice depends on clinician training and clinical circumstance. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publishes guidance on operative vaginal delivery.
Where it comes up
- Vacuum and forceps birthsBirth and the First Days
- Sex after birth: when, pain, dryness, desirePostpartum: Your Body
- Perineal massage, tearing, and episiotomyGetting Ready for Birth
- The stages of labor, plainlyBirth and the First Days
- Heavy bleeding after birth (hemorrhage)Birth and the First Days
What mothers here say about operative vaginal birth
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 154: Operative vaginal delivery, 2015
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics — National Vital Statistics Reports: Births, final data