What are Obstetrical Forceps?
An obstetric forcep is a device consisting of two blades, with handles, designed to grasp and apply traction to the fetal head in the birth passage and facilitate delivery.
Obstetrical forceps are used to perform the following functions:
When one or more of these functions are attempted there is the simultaneous action of compression of the fetal head. The compression of the fetal head is the undesirable factor in the use of forceps and requires the proper use of forceps to minimize this compressive force.