IMMEDIATE MATERNAL AND NEONATAL EFFECTS OF LOW-FORCEPS DELIVERY ACCORDING TO THE NEW CRITERIA OF THE AMERICAN-COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS COMPARED WITH SPONTANEOUS VAGINAL DELIVERY IN TERM PREGNANCIES

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the maternal and neonatal ef fects of elective low-forceps delivery, as currently defined by the 19 88 criteria of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . STUDY DESIGN: During a 6-month period we conducted a prospective stu dy that included 50 nulliparous term parturients who were randomly all ocated to spontaneous or elective low-forceps delivery. Patients with either maternal or fetal disorders that could affect the outcome were excluded. All deliveries were attended by three experienced obstetrici ans. RESULTS: Spontaneous and forceps delivery groups were similar reg arding maternal or gestational age, fetal scalp pH, antepartum materna l hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, maternal outcome, mean birth weigh t, and number of neonates with low Apgar scores or cord arterial pH <7 .20. In the spontaneous delivery group the time elapsed since randomiz ation to delivery was significantly longer (18 vs 10.2 minutes, p < 0. 001) and the mean cord arterial pH Was significantly lower (7.23 vs 7. 27, p = 0.01) than in the forceps delivery group. CONCLUSION: Elective low forceps delivery may be used to shorten the second stage of labor without immediate maternal or neonatal side effects.