This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Types and uses of forceps

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The type of forceps used depends on the position and presentation of the baby.

The distinction is based on whether the baby needs to be rotated or not before being delivered, and for this the forceps are described as having two curvatures:

  • Cephalic - the inner curve which fits around the baby's head
  • Pelvic - a lengthways curve which fits the curve of the maternal pelvis.

Thus if a rotation is to be attempted, the pelvic curvature should be minimal to prevent damage to the maternal pelvis.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page