Forget anything negative you may have heard about forceps-assisted childbirths. It appears the technique is coming back into favor as a safer alternative to vacuums and C-sections. The results of a recent study appear to have changed doctors’ minds.
The study looked at over 400,000 first-time childbirths and found that babies delivered with forceps were 45 percent less likely to experience a seizure when compared to births assisted with a vacuum or C-section. A loss of oxygen to the baby’s brain can lead to a seizure and can result in permanent damage.
It is puzzling to some doctors that C-sections and vacuums became so prevalent over the years since data does not seem to show they are safer than forceps-assisted deliveries. In 2007, about one-third of all births were C-sections, which was a significant increase from a decade prior. Doctors also used vacuums more often is difficult childbirths as well.
The advantage of using forceps during delivery, according to one doctor, is that it allows the doctor to reach the baby quicker. This easy access can lessen the risk of birth injuries, such as seizures.
Do you know someone who experienced birth injuries during delivery?
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