A fetus at a station of -1 cannot undergo forceps or vacuum delivery. True or False?

• A. True
• B. Not specified
• C. False
• D. Only in emergencies

Answer: (C)

The position of the fetal head in the pelvis (station) guides whether an instrumental vaginal delivery is considered. Instrumental delivery with forceps or vacuum is planned when the head is low enough to allow safe application and safe traction, typically after engagement (head at or below the ischial spines). A head at -1 is not engaged, so in most routine cases an operative vaginal delivery would not be performed. Yet this is not an absolute rule—there are rare, carefully selected situations (often in emergencies or in highly experienced hands) where forceps or vacuum can be attempted even with a head not fully engaged. For that reason, the statement is not universally true, so the correct choice is false.