Babies aren’t the only ones who may be harmed by complications of forceps delivery. There are also several issues that the mother might face when this type of assisted vaginal delivery is done improperly.
Maternal complications of forceps delivery may include:
Bladder or urethra injury
Blood clots (especially in the veins of the legs or pelvis)
Long or short-term urinary incontinence or difficulty urinating
Pelvic organ prolapse (when the uterus sags out of position)
Rectal tears
Vaginal tears
Pelvic organ prolapse and rectal tears can also happen in unassisted deliveries, but forceps increase the risk of these injuries. According to the Cleveland Clinic, rectal tears occur in 10% of forceps deliveries, compared to just 3% of unassisted deliveries.