The effect of forceps delivery on cognitive development.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the influence of forceps delivery on cognitive development of preschool children.


METHODS
A cohort of 3413 children who were born at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, California, were selected at age 5 for intelligence quotient testing with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test and the Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices. Data were analyzed by means of the Student t test to compare mean intelligence quotient scores of intervention modes of delivery with spontaneous delivery.


RESULTS
No significant difference in intelligence quotient was seen in 1192 children delivered by forceps (114 midforceps) compared with 1499 who were delivered spontaneously.


CONCLUSIONS
The association of forceps delivery with adverse cognitive development cannot be supported.
Wesley
B D
BD
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
van den Berg
B J
BJ
Reece
E A
EA
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D009035:Mothers; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps; D011247:Pregnancy