Have you or your baby suffered an injury from an assisted delivery?
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Forceps deliveries are a form of assisted delivery for women who may experience significantly elevated difficulties or risks when giving birth conventionally.
The use of forceps is well established and considered safe in UK medical practice when conducted by qualified, competent healthcare providers.
Forceps are metal instruments shaped like a pair of spoons; they have a curved surface designed to fit around a baby’s head without damaging it. Once in position, the instrument provides purchase on the baby to the operator and enables them to manoeuvre the child through the birthing process to aid a successful delivery.
A number of different designs are in use, with some designed more to assist in rotating the baby to assist in the delivery process, rather than a pulling action.
There are several conditions that can contribute to the need for a delivery using forceps. These can include:
There are risks associated with a forceps delivery, and as such, the procedure should only be used when deemed appropriate by a doctor.
The risks to you may include:
The risks to your baby could potentially include:
Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitors made a successful hospital negligence claim for the family of an elderly patient who fell out of bed.
As with any medical procedure, the use of forceps in an assisted delivery does present some inherent risk, which should be managed effectively by trained medical personnel.
When the people responsible for looking after you and your baby during a forceps delivery fail to deliver a professional standard of care, you are entitled to claim forceps injury compensation to address the consequences.
You can consult a Blackwater Law medical negligence solicitor for free initial guidance on how to go about this.