Forceps in childbirth
![Obstetrical Forceps, by Smellie (1792)](/Images/godic/202501/27/Forceps.Smellie1649.jpg")
![Drawing of childbirth with use of forceps by William Smellie](/Images/godic/202501/27/Smellie_forceps1649.jpg")
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Forceps are a surgical instrument that resembles a pair of tongs and can be used in surgery for grabbing, manoeuvering, or removing various things within or from the body. They can be used to assist the delivery of a baby as an alternative to the ventouse (vacuum extraction) method.