Forceps or Birth Canal Injury

• The pressure of a forceps on the skin can leave bruises, scrapes, or damaged fat tissue anywhere on the head or face.
• Skin overlying bony prominences (such as the sides of the skull bone) can become damaged even without a forceps delivery by pressure from the birth canal.
• Fetal monitors can also cause scrapes and scabs on the scalp.
• The bruises and scrapes will be noted on day 1 or day 2 and disappear by 1 to 2 weeks.
• The fat tissue injury won't be apparent until day 5 to 10. A firm coin-shaped lump, under the skin and sometimes with an overlying scab, is the usual finding. This lump may take 3 or 4 weeks to resolve.
• For any breaks in the skin, apply an antibiotic ointment 4 times per day until healed.
• Call Your Doctor If: it becomes tender to the touch, soft in the center, or looks infected.