Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

Indication for forceps delivery
- Fetal distress in the second stage of labour
- Delay in the second stage of labour – if the duration of the
second stage exceeds 11/2 hours or more than one hour
of pushing, or if the fetal head is delayed on the perineum
for more than 30 minutes.
- Malposition: occipeto lateral, occipito posterior position
- Maternal exhaustion or distress
- For the delivery of the after coming head of a breach
presentation.
- Preterm delivery: this is still a matter of debate, but some
obstetricians and pediatricians like to protect the fetal
head, with its soft skull bones, if delivery occurs before
about the 36 th week of gestation.
- Conditions in which pushing is undesirable, such as
cardiac conditions or moderate to sever hypertension.
Preparation of the woman
A woman about to be delivered with forceps will often be get
fully explanation about the procedure itself and the need for it
is likely to result in greater retrospective satisfaction and relief.
Once the decision has been made, adequate and appropriate
analgesia must be offered.
When such analgesia has been instituted the woman's legs
are placed in the lithotomy position. Both legs must be
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