Historically, obstetric forceps were discovered in order to ‘deliver’ mothers from the extended pain brought about by obstructed labor. In the old days, complicated deliveries would last for several days and in almost all cases the child would already be lost. Forceps were the last resort to prevent the mother from dying too. Gradually their function as a tool in aiding delivery was further explored.
Although ancient literature points to the prevalence of instrumental deliveries even as early as the 6th century BC, the credit for the development of modern forceps-assisted delivery goes to the Chamberlain family of France, during the late 16th century. They would, however, keep it behind the curtains till in the late 17th century when the 3rd generation physician of the family line, Hugh Chamberlain, would reveal the secret in an attempt to win a challenge put forward by his contemporary, Francois Mauriceau. He was challenged to deliver a woman with a deformed pelvis, but could not succeed.
The designs for delivery forceps were initially made with the least regard to the well-being of the child as it would already be dead, but later models would incorporate wider blades and smoother curves to minimize trauma to the mother as well as the baby. By the mid-18th century, concepts of modern obstetrics were developed by William Smellie who is widely regarded as the ‘Father of British Midwifery’. Over the next two centuries, forceps specific to common obstetric complications were developed which involved modifications to the curves and traction handles suited to each specific scenario. Some popular ones include Kielland’s forceps, Simpson’s forceps, and Wrigley’s forceps, all new models were lighter as they used stainless steel, unlike the older ones which were made of Iron.
However, with the introduction of Cesarean surgery and the method of vacuum delivery, forceps slowly receded into the shadows. But they were finding use in other fields now. With the invention of locking mechanisms that fit into smaller models, forceps for application in surgeries were developed. From the forceps used for simple dressings to the ones that are used to insert diagnostic tubes into blood vessels, the forceps have become a versatile tool in modern medicine.
The evolution of forceps is interesting in that the original idea of Chamberlain's forceps can be demonstrated even in its most recent successors.
Sources:
Sheikh S, Ganesaratnam I, Jan H. The birth of forceps. JRSM Short Rep. 2013 Jun 5;4(7):1-4. doi: 10.1177/2042533313478412. PMID: 23885296; PMCID: PMC3704058.
Sachs M. Aus der Geschichte des chirurgischen Instrumentariums: 3. Die Kornzange (16. Jhd.) [From the history of surgical instruments: 3. The dressing forceps (16th century)]. Zentralbl Chir. 1995;120(11):908-11. German. PMID: 8533488.
http://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/treasures/william-smellie-1697-1763/
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-828X.2004.00246.x