Part 3 of 6: Disadvantages of Vacuum Delivery
Disadvantages of Vacuum Deliveries (Versus Forceps Deliveries)
The vacuum cup may become dislodged. When the second stage of labor has been prolonged, it is common to find that the baby's head has a significant amount of swelling at the presenting point. Although this is a normal part of labor, if the swelling is significant, it may be difficult to obtain an optimal application of the cup against the baby's head and the cup may become detached. Improper placement of the vacuum cup may also result in detachment.
Vacuum extraction should be used only in full-term infants. Because of an increased risk of bleeding in the brain in premature infants, the vacuum extractor should be used only in term infants. This limits the use of vacuum extraction to deliveries at 34 weeks of gestation or later. Forceps may be used safely to deliver preterm babies.
Delivery may take longer. Vacuum traction should be applied only during contractions; therefore, vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery may be slower than forceps delivery. Forceps delivery may be performed with very little maternal effort, while vacuum-assisted delivery requires maternal participation.
Success rates are slightly lower for vacuum deliveries. Several large trials comparing the success of forceps delivery with that of vacuum-assisted delivery confirmed that forceps are more often successful in delivering the baby.