A vacuum extractor is a medical device used in assisted delivery of a baby when it becomes apparent that a woman will not be able to deliver on her own. A number of techniques can be used in assisted delivery to help a woman deliver before turning to a cesarean section to get the baby out. When developing a birth plan, women may want to talk with their care providers about the situations in which vacuum extraction might be used, so that they can be fully prepared.
Soft and hard cup vacuum extractors are available. As the name would suggest, a soft cup vacuum extractor uses a soft, flexible cup which is positioned over the baby's head, while a hard cup extractor uses a hard cup. In both cases, a gentle vacuum is created to help the cup adhere, and the baby is gently pulled out, with support being provided to stabilize the baby. During vacuum extraction, repositioning of the baby is difficult, making it important to confirm that the baby is in a safe position for delivery before the procedure begins.
Vacuum extraction was introduced in the 1970s, and treated as much safer than using forceps. However, there are some risks to vacuum extraction. It needs to be performed by someone who is competent and who has received the proper training, and it needs to be performed patiently. It is critical that the baby be stabilized to avoid twisting the spine or neck, and that the cup be applied carefully to avoid causing damage to the skull.
When a vacuum extractor is used during delivery, it is not uncommon for the baby's scalp to have bruising, cuts, or blisters. Sometimes eye hemorrhage occurs. The risk of maternal hemorrhage and infection declines when a vacuum extractor is used in assisted delivery, but the risks to the baby can be increased. Pregnant mothers should familiarize themselves with the risks so that they can make an informed choice during delivery. It is also important to be aware that vacuum extraction is only used when the baby has started descending and the head is quite low. It is intended to facilitate the last part of delivery.
People also associate the term “vacuum extraction” with abortion. Some abortions are indeed performed with a suction device, but the device used is not the same as the vacuum extractor used in assisted delivery. Suction-aspiration or vacuum extracted abortion is a common choice for surgical abortions performed early in a pregnancy.