I'll never forget a demonstration I saw one OB do at the nurses station
to show why she prefers well placed forceps over vacuum if some help is
needed getting baby out.  She stood behind me, placed her hands
alongside and under my chin and lifted.  Then she grabbed me by the hair
and lifted (not very high, of course).  Then she asked which we all felt
was the less traumatic.  Forceps got a bad name primarily, I think, from
misuse, so vacuums became the rage.  Now, I wonder what will replace the
vacuum as it gets more and more of a bad name.  With forceps, too many
docs would use them rather than waiting for mom to bring baby down.
After all, once the doc is there, mom better deliver in short order so
as not to waste his time, or else something must be done so he can get
back to the office or whereever!  Sigh.
There are legitimate uses, of course.  If baby is "stuck" and all
natural interventions have been tried to correct the situation and it is
obvious that baby is having difficulty, then one must choose between the
lesser of two evils.  The problem is when they are used more for
convenience that necessity and when the necissity has been brought about
by earlier not-so-necessary interventions.

Winnie

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