Vacuum and Forceps Assisted Delivery and the Risks of Birth Injury

As a woman goes through the labor and delivery process, at times the baby requires a little help to make it through the birth canal. In fact, about three percent of all vaginal deliveries in the U.S. involve some sort of assistance provided to facilitate delivery. A delivery that is excessively prolonged can prove dangerous to the baby and utterly exhausting and painful to the mother. Two types of assisted delivery processes used by medical professionals when the process of labor has stalled are vacuum extraction and forceps delivery.

Vacuum extraction-assisted delivery process and potential injuries

The process of vacuum extraction-assisted delivery involves positioning a small round cup on the infant’s head which is attached to a vacuum pump – this produces suction that the medical professional uses to guide and pull the baby out of the birth canal. However, this technique must be used carefully and delicately. It is often safe to pull on the baby’s head only two or three times.

If doctors pull on the head too many times, the baby can suffer serious consequences including bleeding in the brain or below the scalp, brain damage, retinal hemorrhage, skull fracture, and long-term neurological problems. These can all prove to be permanent and life-threatening injuries – any of which may be cause for a birth injury claim.

The vacuum extraction technique should only be used if the baby is at full term and born headfirst. Vacuum extraction is not considered safe during the delivery of premature infants.

Forceps-assisted delivery technique and risks to the infant

The process of forceps-assisted delivery is similar to vacuum extraction, except the doctor does not use vacuum suction – rather he or she uses spoon shaped tongs that are generally applied to the sides of the baby’s head. As these tongs are applied, the doctor pulls the baby out of the birth canal gently as the mother continues to push. Often, these tools are used for infants who are premature or positioned abnormally in the birth canal.

The use of forceps can also cause severe injuries to the baby – specifically, its head and face. Potential injuries include skull bleeding, bruising, skull fractures, permanent brain damage, neurological damage – in particular, cerebral palsy.

The use of these techniques in the hands of untrained or inexperienced physicians can leave your child with severe and permanent injuries. Although these techniques can be used safely, they can also cause moderate to serious injuries. A mild side effect, even when these tools are used properly, is bruising to the head or face of the infant. Such bruising usually has no long-term consequence and heals in a short period of time. However, a bruise resulting from vacuum extraction referred to as cephalohematoma can increase the chances of a child contracting mild jaundice. Vacuum extraction can also damage minor blood vessels in the baby’s eyes.

When bleeding or fracture occurs in the baby’s skull, the results can include permanent brain damage and lifelong intellectual and physical disabilities. Facial paralysis, broken bones, and fractures can result from the use of both delivery techniques.

Lifelong injuries, such as cerebral palsy, caused by improper use of vacuum extraction or forceps delivery can lead to rightful claims of medical malpractice. If your child has suffered a long-term or lifelong disability due to medical negligence during the delivery process, you have a right to hold the responsible party accountable. Medical professionals are obligated to follow proper standards of care at all times and when these standards are not met, they can be held responsible.

If your baby’s birth injury was caused by the use of forceps-assisted or vacuum-assisted delivery, you need a strong legal advocate to help you obtain the justice and compensation you and your family are owed. At the premier law firm of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we understand the devastating nature of these injuries and what they do to families. Let’s discuss your baby’s injury and your legal options going forward. To set up a free consultation, call us today at 410-730-7737 or send us an email through our contact form.