Assisted birth and caesarean birth
Assisted birth – vacuum birth
Vacuum birth
This is the more common technique used for assisted deliveries. The vacuum cup is made of plastic and is attached to a suction device. A doctor inserts the cup into the vagina and creates a vacuum against the baby’s head. This helps the doctor to gently pull the baby out as you push.
What do I need to know?
- you may need an episiotomy
- if vacuum birth fails, a caesarean birth might be needed
- serious baby injuries after a vacuum birth are rare but can include bleeding under the scalp called a cephalhematoma
- it may cause a raised bruise on the baby’s head, but this soon fades
- minor scalp wounds from the pressure of the cup can occur.
More information: The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) – Assisted birth
In this guide:
- Assisted birth – vacuum birth
- Assisted birth – forceps birth
- Caesarean birth
- What can I expect for a caesarean birth?
- Risks of caesarean birth