Forceps:

Forceps are a metal instrument used to help a woman have a vaginal birth.  They can be used when the baby is stressed in labour, when the labour is not progressing, or when the mother is too tired to push her baby out.  They can only be used when the cervix is fully dilated and the baby's head is low down in the pelvis.

Forceps increase the risk of damage to the perineum or vagina at the time the baby is born and are more common if the baby is in the posterior position.

The purpose of the POP-OUT Trial is to test if manual rotation reduces the use of caesarean section, forceps, and vacuum deliveries.

Example of "Neville-Barnes forceps: view from above

 Example of "Neville-Barnes forceps: view from the side

Example of forceps on a baby