Ventouse (vacuum) delivery

A ventouse (or vacuum) delivery is usually performed when a mother in labour is having difficulties in giving birth to the baby.

A ventouse is a plastic cup that is attached to the baby's head by suction. The baby will be delivered by the combined effort of the mother pushing and the obstetrician using the ventouse.

Ventouse delivery is generally a less invasive procedure than a forceps delivery, so pain relief may not be required.

There are some slight risks associated with ventouse delivery:

In some cases, the ventouse can cause a blood blister on the baby's head (cephalhaematoma) after a ventouse delivery. The blister is restricted to the tissues of the scalp and does not affect the brain and will disappear in one to two months
If the baby gets stuck in the birth canal and needs to be rotated, ventouse may not be possible, and the use of forceps will be required
The ventouse cap may keep detaching from the baby's head. If this keeps happening, it will delay labour for too long and a forceps delivery will be required

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