A–Z Glossary

Chignon

A temporary raised area of scalp swelling caused by the suction cup used during vacuum-assisted delivery.

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Assisted delivery interventions overview

Assisted delivery interventions overview

What assisted delivery means Assisted delivery interventions are obstetric techniques used when the baby is expected to be born vaginally but the final descent and birth need help. In most maternity settings, the term refers to assisted vaginal delivery, also called operative vaginal birth, using either forceps or a vacuum cup. These interventions are distinct […]

Step-by-step assisted birth overview

Step-by-step assisted birth overview

What assisted birth means Assisted vaginal birth is a planned clinical maneuver used near the end of labor, not a separate type of labor from the beginning. It is considered when the baby is low enough in the pelvis, the cervix is fully dilated, and the care team believes vaginal birth is likely with controlled […]

How baby moves during pushing

How baby moves during pushing

The second stage: more than pushing downward The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with birth. This is the phase many people call the pushing stage, but the baby’s movement is more complex than a straight-line passage. The fetal head must fit through a curved, muscular, bony canal […]

Vacuum vs forceps delivery comparison

Vacuum vs forceps delivery comparison

What vacuum and forceps delivery have in common Vacuum-assisted delivery and forceps-assisted delivery are both forms of assisted vaginal delivery, also called operative vaginal birth. They are usually considered in the second stage of labor, after full cervical dilation, when the baby’s head is low enough for a vaginal birth to be realistically completed. Common […]

Risks benefits and recovery after vacuum delivery

Risks benefits and recovery after vacuum delivery

What vacuum delivery means Vacuum delivery is an assisted vaginal delivery in which a clinician places a soft or rigid cup on the baby’s scalp and applies controlled suction. During a contraction and maternal pushing effort, the clinician gently guides the baby through the birth canal. The aim is not to pull the baby out […]

How vacuum extraction is performed and when it is needed

How vacuum extraction is performed and when it is needed

What vacuum extraction is Vacuum extraction is an operative vaginal birth technique in which a clinician places a suction cup on the fetal scalp and applies controlled traction during contractions while the birthing person pushes. The device does not pull the baby out independently; it augments the expulsive forces already present in the second stage […]

Vacuum-assisted delivery explained

Vacuum-assisted delivery explained

What vacuum-assisted delivery means Vacuum-assisted delivery, also called vacuum extraction or ventouse delivery, is a form of assisted vaginal delivery. In this procedure, an obstetric clinician places a suction cup on the top of the fetus’s head and uses controlled traction to help guide the baby through the birth canal while the birthing person pushes. […]

Assisted delivery explained and types of methods

Assisted delivery explained and types of methods

What assisted delivery means Assisted delivery, in the context of childbirth, most often refers to assisted vaginal delivery. It is a vaginal birth in which an obstetric clinician uses an instrument to help guide the fetal head through the birth canal while the birthing person pushes. The two established methods are forceps-assisted delivery and vacuum-assisted […]