Question 1

I’ve been injured by forceps and I want to know what I can do about it.

Accepted Answer

If your injury will take a significant amount of time to heal or is permanent this may require ongoing treatment costs, travel expenses, and time off work as well as impacting your ability to care for your baby.

Question 2

My baby was injured or scarred by forceps and I want to know what I can do about it.

Accepted Answer

If your baby’s injury will take a significant amount of time to heal or is permanent this may require ongoing treatment costs, travel expenses, and time off work for you to care for your baby and take them to appointments.

Question 3

I suspect the forceps injury was caused by negligence.

Accepted Answer

You might have been assured that the injuries to you or your baby were unavoidable, and in many cases, this may be true. But if you have doubts, read on to learn about your options.

Question 4

I've been told the injury was an unavoidable risk of a forceps delivery, but I want to know more.

Accepted Answer

It’s possible another delivery method would have been more appropriate or that the way the forceps delivery was carried out was negligent. In this article, we’ll help you understand where the inherent risk ends and possible negligence begins, and how to work out which applies to you. Negligence can occur before, during, or after your forceps delivery.

Question 5

The injuries have caused financial stress and I need help.

Accepted Answer

You might need more time off work to recover than was expected, or your partner or another person may need to take time off to care for you and your baby. You or your baby might also be facing costly treatments, or you may have life-changing injuries that affect your ability to work permanently. Read on to learn about your entitlements to compensation, which can be significant.

Question 6

Vaginal/perineal tears and lacerations.

Accepted Answer

Forceps delivery can result in serious 3rd or 4th-degree tears to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus). Medical staff may have been negligent if they used excessive force or didn't position the forceps correctly leading to more tearing than would be reasonably expected.

Question 7

Episiotomy complications.

Accepted Answer

Your obstetrician may perform an episiotomy (a cut made to the perineal to widen the vaginal opening) to aid in a forceps delivery. If the episiotomy is done incorrectly or the cut extends further than is necessary this could cause you more pain, bleeding and delay your healing, and could constitute medical negligence.

Question 8

Urinary and anal incontinence.

Accepted Answer

Forceps delivery can cause damage to the muscles and nerves in your pelvic floor leading to urinary incontinence. It can also increase the risk of damage to the anal sphincter muscles which control bowel movements. Your obstetrician may be negligent if they failed to assess and warn you of the risks of a forceps delivery in these circumstances, if they use excessive force, or if the delivery technique is inappropriate and results in urinary or anal incontinence.

Question 9

Blood loss and blood clots:

Accepted Answer

Blood loss and blood clots can occur after a forceps delivery. This usually heals without further intervention, but in some cases can lead to long-term conditions. If the forceps delivery wasn’t performed correctly or another delivery method would have been more appropriate you could be eligible for compensation.

Question 10

Pelvic organ prolapse.

Accepted Answer

A forceps delivery can cause pelvic organ prolapse. This means that organs such as the uterus, bladder and rectum descend into the vaginal canal, and can cause discomfort and the need for frequent urination. Medical staff may be negligent if they didn't properly assess or warn you of the risks associated with a forceps delivery, or if forceps delivery was performed unnecessarily or improperly.

Question 11

Pelvic pain.

Accepted Answer

Forceps delivery can cause pain and discomfort to the mother, especially if there’s trauma to the pelvic muscles or nerves. If medical staff don’t manage your pain adequately during or after the forceps delivery, or if another delivery method would have been more appropriate for you then this could constitute medical negligence.

Question 12

Cerebral palsy.

Accepted Answer

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects movement and posture. Forceps delivery can increase the risk of your baby developing this. Your obstetrician could be negligent if a forceps delivery was unnecessary or if excessive force was applied leading to brain injury and cerebral palsy.

Question 13

Scarring to the face and scalp and eyes.

Accepted Answer

Improper placement or excessive force when applying the forceps can lead to bruising, lacerations and swelling on your baby’s face or scalp, or damage to the cornea of their eye. Often this heals but sometimes scarring can be permanent. Your obstetrician may be found negligent if they didn't properly assess your baby’s position or if they applied the forceps incorrectly or used too much force.

Question 14

Skull fractures.

Accepted Answer

In rare cases, a forceps delivery can result in skull fractures if excessive force is used during the extraction process. Medical staff may be found to be negligent if they failed to use the proper technique or if a forceps delivery was attempted when your baby was in the wrong position for safe extraction.

Question 15

Intercranial haemorrhage.

Accepted Answer

Forceps delivery can sometimes cause bleeding inside your baby’s skull. This is called an inter-cranial haemorrhage. This can happen if excessive force is applied to the forceps, or if they slip during delivery. Medical staff may be found negligent if they didn't recognise the risks of a forceps delivery or if they didn’t perform the task with proper skill and care.

Question 16

Shoulder dystocia.

Accepted Answer

Shoulder dystocia happens when the baby’s shoulder is caught behind the mother’s pubic bone. When a medical professional pulls on the baby to release it, it can cause damage to the nerves in the shoulders. This could lead to a brachial plexus injury or Erb’s palsy, which affects the nerves controlling the baby’s arms and hands. If the forceps were used incorrectly leading to excessive traction or stretching of your baby’s shoulders and arms during forceps delivery this could constitute negligence.

Question 17

Facial palsy.

Accepted Answer

Forceps delivery can injure your baby’s facial nerves, leading to temporary or permanent facial paralysis. If your obstetrician used the forceps improperly leading to compression or stretching of the facial nerves they could be found negligent.

Question 18

Seizures.

Accepted Answer

If your baby suffers from seizures following your forceps delivery this is a serious complication that can be a sign of underlying brain injuries. Medical staff could be found to be negligent if due care wasn’t taken with your delivery. For example, if undue force was used, the forceps weren’t positioned correctly, or your delivery was delayed.

Question 19

Hematomas.

Accepted Answer

A hematoma is a localised collection of blood outside of a blood vessel. With a forceps delivery pressure or trauma to the head caused by pressure from the forceps could cause a hematoma under the scalp. Medical staff could be found to be negligent if undue pressure or poor technique was used with the forceps, or if they didn’t provide adequate and timely treatment for the hematoma after your baby had been delivered.

Question 20

Hydrocephalus.

Accepted Answer

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal collection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain that causes a build-up of pressure in the skull. This can sometimes be caused by the trauma associated with forceps delivery. Medical staff could be found to be negligent if undue pressure or poor technique was used with the forceps, or if they didn’t provide adequate and timely treatment for the hydrocephalus after your baby had been delivered.

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