Forceps-any good stories?

[Methenyouplus4]

In real life, everyone I know who had forceps found it horrendous (both at time and recovery). Did anyone have forceps and not find it awful?

[Squeegle]

Nope

[HPparent]

Not at all, I had an epidural so felt nothing. Had one stitch on the outside and that was it.

[ShineSmile]

I had ventouse, is that very different to forceps?

The actual ventouse birth was fine. I was so out of it by then.

My recovery took absolutely ages but I have no idea if this was because of the birth or other factors like extreme tiredness due to long hospital stay, breastfeeding problems and a very fussy baby.

[Universal]

Yes I had them. All ok. I'm ok. Kids all good!!!! You only hear the horror stories.

[SweetPeaPods]

I had spinal so felt nothing, but I still had to push. It was fine.
The after effects feeling like I had been got by train were more for pushing for 3 hrs rather than the forceps. They gave me cut and stitches and healed fine.

[defineme]

Dd1 was turned with them and I didn't feel a thing what with the epidural spinal block combi I had for twin birth-i still pushed her out. She had no marks and it was a very happy experience. Forceps save babies and women's lives.

[Methenyouplus4]

Yes, I know they're sometimes vital. I've had two ventouse births, one with an easy recovery and one not. My midwife said forceps are generally used when baby higher/ more distressed so I realise they can be life savers. I'm now expecting twins so there's an increased chance of needing them so just thought it would be reassuring to hear that it all forceps births are as awful as the birth stories I've been told from friends.

[SweetPeaPods]

I thought it was forceps or ventouse depending on what dr is more comfortable with? Hospitals generally have a higher % of one.
Ds had a tiny red mark btw , gone within a couple of hrs

[commsgirl]

Not awful at all for me.

2.5 hours of active pushing and baby wasn't going anywhere. She was fine, I was exhausted. I was taken to theatre, given full spinal and she was out in two pushes with forceps. Recovery (episiotomy and 2nd degree tear) was painful for a week, uncomfortable for a few more but definitely not horrendous.

[Wincher]

I had rotational forceps, the scary kind, but it was fine. There was no damage to the baby, I had a spinal so felt nothing, and the episiotomy healed fine.

[SomethingAboutNothing]

I had forceps delivery, didn't really feel anything as I had a spinal block (which is standard as far as I know), DS had some red marks on his head that went after a few days. I had an episiotomy which was sore for a few days but healed nicely (the drs words, I've not checked!)

[MotherOfInsomniacToddlers]

Ive had vontouse and forceps (2 separate births) neither were actuallyhurrendous when happening but did sustain 3rd degree tears. I actually think the vontouse was worse and took a lot longer

[DramaAlpaca]

I had a low forceps delivery with my first because I'd had an epidural & couldn't feel to push & had been pushing a long time. Because of the epidural I didn't feel a thing. I had an episiotomy but it healed fine & I had no problems recovering afterwards.

[Figster]

Yup had them they were needed as developed an infection and ds heart rate became unsteady. I'd had an epidural so no pain just intense pressure 2nd degree tear and stitches. Healed fine.

Ive no regrets about it

[safetyzone]

Had low forceps with my first baby, after over 3 hours of pushing and baby not coming out (turned out she had cord around her neck). Anyway forceps was done at the midwife led unit, only local anesthetic and gas and air, and episiotomy. Sounds a lot worse than it did but I didn't really feel it (was quite out of it with the gas anyway), got baby out safely (had a mark on her face, gone after 24 hours) and epi healed fine. Did feel a bit sore for a few weeks but not sure if it was to do with the pushing, or the epi, or the forceps. The obs did absolutely the best thing for the situation, and I would have done the same again.

[Methenyouplus4]

Thank you for sharing your experiences everyone, I find them really reassuring. It's the recovery I was most concerned about as, as well as (hopefully) breastfeeding newborn twins, I'll also have a 18 month old toddler to care for. All the women I'd spoke to in rw said they'd rather have had c-section than forceps (&2 of those had experienced both) so it made me really uneasy. Thanks again for sharing.

[MulberryPeony]

I had section for my first and forceps for the second. Recovery was much much better with the forceps (and cut and tear and stitches!) than the section. Couldn't feel anything at the time due to epidural. Yes, very sore afterwards but not sure how sore I would have been with just a natural birth anyway.

[Fitzers]

Forceps on my first. I was induced, it took two and a half days, so I was exhausted and my ability to push wasn't brilliant. He was also 9lb 6oz. I felt a strong pull but no pain as I'd had an epidural before being put on the drip. Had an episiotomy as well but I don't remember the recovery as being that terrible, normal enough I would think, bit tender and sore but recovered fine. No long term consequences.

[Millie2013]

I had a forceps assisted delivery, after a failed ventouse. The delivery itself was fine (I was given one attempt, before it was an EMCS), the only problem for me was the recovery, as I ended up with a haematoma and couldn't sit down for 2 weeks (could only lie on my side), but apart from that, I had no other problems and certainly no lasting effects

I think I was just unlucky in getting the haematoma, otherwise it was fine