Follow Up of Babies Delivered in a Randomized Controlled Comparison of Vacuum Extraction and Forceps Delivery

Abstract

Babies delivered in a randomized controlled comparison of vacuum extraction vs. forceps delivery were reassesed at 9 months of age. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups as regards head circumference, weight, or head circumference to weight ratio, nor in the results of hearing and vision tests. The reasons for hospital readmission, pediatric follow-up and parents'' and health visitors'' worries appeared to be unrelated to the mode of delivery in nearly all cases. The finding in the original trial that neonatal jaundice was more common following vacuum extraction was reinforced by an additional case of jaundice in the vacuum extractor group which had necesstiated readmission to hospital.