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Safe Vacuum-Assisted Vaginal Birth: Compendium
Safe Vacuum is the name of a method to make vacuum assisted birth safer for women, newborns and health workers. The method is based on best practice and research from hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Uganda and Tanzania. The method and this compendium comprise and describe:
- The components of Safe Vacuum
- The action steps for successful implementation of Safe Vacuum
- A training framework for Safe Vacuum Assisted Birth
Respectful Maternity Care Checklist
VAB Indications, Contraindications & Registry
Example of Risk Factors for Failed Vacuum
Example SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)
Vacuum extraction Checklist
Clinical Debriefing Template
VAB Baseline Survey Questions
Community Brochure
Safe Vacuum Presentation on Misconceptions
ToT Part 1 Training Report (March 2025)
Mentorship Visit Checklist Example from SBBC 2
Prioritized Summary of Jhpiego HMBS Course
Registry Data Points Example
ALL Scenario Cards
Training Log – an example from HLH
Case Report from Haydom Lutheran Hospital – an Implementation Example
Clinical Mentorship – a Case report from Haydom
Quarterly VAB Committee Review Meeting – Proposed Structure
SV Safe Vacuum Plan of Action
Collaborating Partners
Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stavanger University Hospital, Oslo MET, Tanzanian Midwives Association, Association of Gynaecologists and obstetricians of Tanzania and Erasmus Medical Center
Learning Journey
The Safe Vacuum learning journey serves as an orientation, ensuring every new midwife, doctor or clinical officer progresses from novice to Safe Vacuum-ready in a supported and structured way. It integrates knowledge, skills, behaviors, and clinical judgement across all five competency modalities of the Circle of Learning.
Skills Practice Binder
Everything a team needs to get started at the Learning Corner for skill practice – binder materials and step-by-step video demonstrations for assembling and using the vacuum extractor.
- Scenarios
- Checklists
- Training Log