ABSTRACT
All women undergoing an instrumental delivery must be catheterized and have adequate analgesia. The specialist registrar will be informed and be present in the room for all forceps and ventouse deliveries. Anaesthetic and theatre staff should be present and informed consent for a Caesarean section (CS) procedure should be obtained prior to attempted vaginal delivery. If trial of instrumental delivery fails and a CS is needed, then the CS should be performed by either the senior specialist registrar or the junior specialist registrar and both should be present. In all babies who have passed meconium, the oropharnx should be sucked out as soon as possible. If the baby needs urgent paediatric aid then baby should be passed to the attendant paediatricians as soon as possible and this should not be delayed by attempts to suck out the oropharnx. For forceps delivery, the ease of application, position of the fetal head, number of pulls and degree of traction should be recorded.
