Anaesthesia for Forceps Delivery

If your obstetrician feels that you need forceps to help deliver your baby, you will probably require some form of anaesthetic. Often you will already have had an epidural if you get to this stage and this usually provides enough anaesthesia although it may need 'topping up' (a further or stronger dose of local anaesthetic is given down the catheter).

Alternatively, a spinal anaesthetic may be given although the dose is usually slightly less than for a Caesarian.

Sometimes it may be enough for the obstetrician to inject some local anaesthetic.