Birth Injuries - Vacuum-assisted Delivery

For mother’s experiencing a difficult delivery, doctors may opt to use vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD) to assist in the birth of the baby. In VAD, a bowl-shaped device is attached to the baby’s head and suction creates a vacuum, allowing the doctor to pull the baby out. In the US, VAD has in some cases replaced the use of forceps, with VAD being used in approximately 20 per cent of births. Statistics show that 59 out of every 10,000 VAD births result in life-threatening complications.

As with any procedure, there are advantages and disadvantages to using VAD. The advantages are that VAD is simple to use, does not bruise the baby’s face and if too much pressure is applied, the vacuum detaches itself. Therefore, compared to delivery using forceps, the risk of applying excessive pressure and causing bruising is much lower. The disadvantage is that with VAD the hold on the baby’s head is weaker, sometimes making it hard to attach properly or get a good hold, thereby lengthening the delivery time. The force of the VAD can still be strong enough to damage the baby’s skin, cause hair to fall out or cause bleeding under the skin.

If you child is unduly injured during a VAD procedure, medical malpractice or negligence may have played a role in the injury. As with any mechanical delivery, caution needs to be used by the healthcare professional when such devices are put into use. Misuse of the VAD can cause severe edema or in more traumatic cases, subgaleal haematoma (bleeding between the skull and skin layer) or irreparable brain damage.