Retinal hemorrhage and vacuum extraction delivery

All women were cared for at the University Hospital of Jacksonville, and only normal, lowrisk patients delivered at term were included in the study. Vacuum assisted deliveries were performed with an Equell Pump BUS model 17U at 50 —60mm Hg or Air-Shields DiaPump, Model A at 50 —60mm Hg. Patients with abnormal labors or macrosomic infants were excluded, as were those requiring indicated midpelvic applications of the vacuum extractor. Control term infants of mothers with equal parity were chosen by matching with the next appropriate delivery. All infants were admitted to the normal newborn nursery immediately following delivery. The study and control groups were similar in maternal age, parity and gestational age. The physicians performing the deliveries were unaware of this study.