Intended for healthcare professionals

Clinical Review

Forceps delivery in modern obstetric practice

BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.328.7451.1302 (Published 27 May 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:1302
  1. Roshni R Patel, clinical academic training fellow1,
  2. Deirdre J Murphy, professor (D.J.Murphy@dundee.ac.uk)2
  1. 1Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Bristol, BS2 8EG
  2. 2Division of Maternal and Child Health Sciences, University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY
  1. Correspondence to: D J Murphy
  • Accepted 29 April 2004

This review discusses the specific uses and potential advantages of forceps over other modes of delivery. To enable women to make an informed choice about mode of delivery, obstetricians need to be adequately trained and supervised in the use of forceps

Introduction

Global increases in rates of caesarean section show no sign of abating. The US National Center for Health Statistics reported that deliveries by caesarean section in 2001 had increased to almost a quarter, the highest level since 1989.w1 A similar rate was observed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 2000.1 The greatest increases and variation between institutions are seen among first time mothers with a singleton pregnancy at term and women who have had a previous caesarean section. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has recommended training in instrumental delivery to control and reduce the rates of caesarean section.w2

In the United States the rates of forceps delivery have decreased despite an increase in operative deliveries.w3-w6 In the United Kingdom, the rates of instrumental vaginal delivery range between 10% and 15%1 w7; these have remained fairly constant, although there has been a change in preference of instrument. In the 1980s most instrumental vaginal deliveries were by forceps, but by 2000 this had decreased to under a half. Much of the decline has been attributed to an increasing preference for vacuum extraction or for caesarean section when complex vaginal delivery is anticipated.2 3 w8 Lively discussion in both the medical and the lay press has centred on morbidity associated with operative deliveries, the importance of maternal choice, and best clinical practice.4 w9 w10 Most women still aim for spontaneous vaginal delivery. If complications do arise during labour it should be possible to offer women suitable alternatives and not solely caesarean …

View Full Text

Log in

Log in through your institution

Subscribe

* For online subscription