midforceps

English

Alternative forms

• mid forceps, mid-forceps

Etymology

From mid- +‎ forceps.

Noun

midforceps (plural midforceps)

1. (medicine, also attributively) An obstetrical method for delivery of a baby using a forceps when the head is already engaged and the station is above +2 cm (or, formerly, when the head is already engaged but the criteria for low forceps are not met).

   Coordinate terms: high forceps, low forceps, outlet forceps

   • 1951 February, Forrest H. Howard, “The Physiologic Position for Delivery”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 2, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 99:

     Those who are using block anaesthesia are familiar with the fact that the mother has lost the expulsive urge, midforceps are not unusual and outlet forceps are almost routine with a block.

Further reading

• “midforceps”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.