Instrumental vaginal delivery—the consumer's view

Abstract

Recent media headlines have painted a negative picture of instrumental vaginal delivery. There are few published data available documenting patient understanding, concerns and experience of assisted vaginal delivery. Our aim was (1) to assess primigravid patients’ knowledge and attitude to instrumental delivery and (2) to assess the experience and subsequent attitudes of women who have just had their first instrumental delivery. The study was carried out in the maternity unit of a district general hospital. This was a questionnaire survey assessing primigravid women antenatally, and postnatal patients after their first instrumental delivery. One hundred and twenty-three primigravid women completed the antenatal questionnaire and 53 patients completed the postnatal questionnaire; 91.8% of antenatal patients knew about the different types of instruments available to assist vaginal delivery. This knowledge was obtained from non-professional sources in 58% of cases. Two-thirds of patients expressed concerns about instrumental delivery. Eighty-three per cent of these related to potential damage and/or marking of the baby's head by the instrument. Postnatally, 45 of the 53 babies were bruised or marked at birth. Fifty-two of 53 patients were satisfied with the amount of information given during the instrumental delivery and how this had been communicated to them and 49 of the 53 patients would agree to another instrumental delivery if necessary.