Instrumental delivery

1. Big picture

Instrumental delivery, also called operative vaginal delivery, means assisting vaginal birth using forceps or vacuum extraction when spontaneous vaginal birth is not occurring fast enough or when delivery must be expedited.

The examiner wants you to think like this:

Second stage problem
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Is the cervix fully dilated?
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Is the head engaged and position known?
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Is vaginal birth safe and faster than caesarean?
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Choose forceps or vacuum
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Stop early if no descent or complications

Instrumental delivery is not used to “force” a baby through an inadequate pelvis. It is used when the baby is already low enough and the prerequisites are fulfilled.