Birth with forceps or Ventouse assistance

The risks to your baby include:

• a mark on your baby's head (chignon) being made by the ventouse cup - this usually disappears within 48 hours
• a bruise on your baby's head (cephalohaematoma) - this happens to between 1 and 12 in 100 babies and disappears with time; it can cause a slight increase in jaundice in the first few days, but rarely causes any other problems
• marks from forceps on your baby's face - these usually disappear within 48 hours
• small cuts on your baby's face or scalp - these affect 1 in 10 babies born via assisted delivery and heal quickly.

A ventouse (vacuum extractor) is an instrument that is attached to the baby's head by suction. A soft or hard plastic or metal cup is attached by a tube to a suction device. The cup fits firmly on to your baby's head.

The doctor will help deliver the baby with this device when you push with your contractions.

It is common that an episiotomy (a cut to the perineum) will be required with an assisted birth.

This is to prevent a more significant tear.

Any tear or cut will be repaired with stitches that will dissolve.

Before you are discharged, the midwife or doctor will advise you specifically on how to care for any vaginal tear.

General advice:

• Keep the area clean and dry
• Avoid constipation
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Report any concerns you may have to your midwife, health visitor or GP

If you have had a third or fourth degree tear; please see section about and links to patient information for specific advise for after care.

Please visit the 'Tears/Cuts During Birth' page for further information