Is Vacuum Assisted Delivery Safe?

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If you’re afraid of a vacuum assisted delivery, rest assured the procedure is safe and complicates are rather rare. While the procedure is safe, here’s a look at possible complications from a vacuum assisted delivery.

Vacuum Assisted Delivery Complications
The most common complication is a raised bruse on the top of the baby’s head, called a cephalohematoma. This bruse should go away on its own in a few weeks or up to 2 months. Babies that get a bruise are more likely to develop jaundice, because the red blood cells in the bruise begin to break up. This releases bilirubin. The pressure put on the baby’s head can also cause a retinal hemorrhage, or bleeding in the eye. This complication also occurs with non-assisted births though and doesn’t cause long-term problems. Finally, a vacuum-assisted delivery can put you at increased risk of vaginal, anal and perineum tears.