Jason Brady, Partner and Head of Medical Negligence secured a settlement in excess of £200,000 for a mother who suffered life-changing physical and psychological injuries following a series of failures during her daughter’s birth.
Posted on 8th September 2026
When forceps are used during childbirth, they can be an important part of safely delivering a baby. A forcep delivery, also known as an instrumental delivery or assisted birth is often used if the baby is showing signs of distress during delivery or if labour is taking too long to progress.
However, if they are used negligently, applied with excessive force, or chosen when another delivery method would have been safer, both mother and baby can suffer serious injuries. In these circumstances, families may be able to bring a forcep injury claim for compensation.
NHS data has previously shown that 45% of births in England were by caesarean section, 44% were unassisted vaginal births and 11% were assisted births with forceps or ventouse. Compared with other countries, data indicates that the UK has a higher rate of assisted births. This could be for a number of reasons, including in part a historical focus on reducing the number of caesareans, as well as more complex births due to a higher maternal age, or existing medical conditions. An assisted delivery is also more likely for those giving birth for the first time, compared to those who have previously had a vaginal birth.
Common Injuries Linked to Negligent Forceps Delivery
Unfortunately, a forcep delivery does have potential risks , including severe perineal tears, heavy bleeding and psychological trauma to mothers. For babies, potential injuries can include cuts, bruising, skull fracture and facial nerve damage.
The majority of forcep deliveries take place without issue, however injuries can occur when safety rules are not fully followed, for example if the baby is not in the correct position, if excessive force is used or if there is a failure to escalate to a caesarean section. These failures can lead to avoidable harm and may result in someone wishing to seek birth injury forcep compensation.
When Could You Make a Forcep Injury Claim?
You may be able to make a forcep injury claim if the care provided during pregnancy, labour or delivery fell below an acceptable medical standard and caused injury. This could include a failure to identify that forceps were unsuitable, a failure to obtain informed consent, poor technique during delivery, a delay in moving to emergency caesarean section, or inadequate diagnosis and treatment of a tear or haemorrhage after birth.
Speak to Specialist Clinical Negligence Solicitors
If you or your baby suffered an injury following an assisted birth, it is understandable to have questions about whether more could have been done to prevent it. Speaking to specialist clinical negligence solicitors can help you understand your options and whether you may have grounds to pursue a forcep injury claim.
Looking for expert legal advice?
Contact us today and speak to a member of our team. Find out if you can could be entitled to compensation.
