Csection or forceps

[BusyBee86]

What would you prefer to have if you had the choice? Csection or forceps and other intervention?

What was your recovery like if you have had either of these?

[smile4me]

Forceps - have seen the most disgusting c-section wound infections, (pus and unhealing wounds) enough to put me off unless no other options. Also high risk of adhesions and fibroids (affecting future fertility) and placenta acreta. So I'd take the forceps!

[space21]

I had forceps, ventouse and an epidural. They had to turn him in the both canal!! Can't comment on CS but recovery was fine with nothing out of the ordinary.
Why you asking?

[PetiteRaleuse]

C-section. Now I've done that twice there is no way I would contemplate trying to give birth vaginally.

[BusyBee86]

I had a traumatic birth with my first. Had to have two blood transfusions. Saw consultant about possibly having a csection. She said I can have one if I want one. But trying to figure out which would be best.
I know if I give birth naturally again I will def have an epidural(they are amazing) but I also know that you have more chance of needing forceps etc. so just weighing both options up really.

[salcz]

I had a c-section and twas great! I knew I was going to have one and so I researched it. Except he was early and breech so it ended up being an ECS but I still found it to be calm despite being in the wrong hospital, 65 miles from home.

[TheCrackFox]

I have had a c-section and a forceps delivery. I would choose c-section by a country mile.

[AmandinePoulain]

Section all the way!

I had a failed ventouse then emcs for dd1, and I know that there are differences between forceps and ventouse but she had a really nasty bruise from the ventouse that I had been really against them doing (I wanted to go straight for a cs when if was clear that she wanted to stay put, I really didn't want the ventouse but I was so exhausted by then that I was coerced). My recovery from the cs was absolutely fine, and from the ELCS I had for dd2 six months ago. With my ELCS I was home the next day, walking normally within a week and driving 3 weeks later. So CS all the way

[CommanderShepard]

C section.

I had failed forceps and ventouse - they were trying to rotate DD's head and she kept turning it back. Gave birth by EMCS and had a great recovery - was mobile within 8 hours, paracetamol and diclofenac for pain relief, no infection and beautifully done sutures.

Meanwhile a friend had forceps exactly one month before me and she was still recovering when I gave birth. And her episiotomy sutures ruptured. Twice. She had a valley cushion for ages :(

Everyone is different and every birth is different but much as I would like to try for a VBAC next time, I'm not sorry that I had an EMCS rather than forceps

[AngryGnome]

C section all the way. I had a failed forceps attempt which left ds with facial scarring. Unless you live somewhere where not being able to drive for 6 weeks would be a total PITA, then I think recovery from c section is usually not a problem for most women.

[BusyBee86]

So it looks like csection is the way to go. Has anyone had a csection who also has a toddler? Will be almost 3. Was recovery much more difficult with a toddler around?

[emsibub]

Did you need forceps last time? I think forceps... I had them last time with an episiotomy n a spinal and within hours was up. I also had a bad time 1st but the thought of that scar, the risk of infection, not being able to lift anything heavier than my baby for 6 weeks (DD will be 2.6) and no driving with a newborn n a toddler. I'd take a sore bum every time. Like you I'm having an epidural this time, no more being brave! Got me nowhere!

[IfYouCanMoveItItsNotBroken]

I had both and would definitely opt for c section again. My youngest son is 5 months, when he was born by section my daughter was 4 and my son 15 months. In my experience I would have managed perfectly fine if I could have stayed in the house and only left if I felt up to it on a particular day. As it was I had to do the school run (5 mile drive then 500yard walk to door with infant carrier and toddler in arms) after less than a week. I got an infection but I still recovered in half the time it took to recover from 3rd degree tears with my first kids. If can take things at your own pace and have nowhere to be at a set time you should be fine.

[PeppaFuckingPig]

Never had a C-section.
Had forceps. Was adamant throughout my pregnancy that the one thing i did not want to happen was a forceps delivery, having read some truly horrific stories. But...baby was in distress, 80+ hour labour, and 15 days overdue - forceps it was.
And, at the end of the day, i had a healthy baby, and i'm fit and healthy. But it wasn't pleasant for several weeks afterwards. Although, i don't suppose a c-section is either.

[Nishky]

I had forceps for first and c-section for second. The forceps was much better for me - poor dd had a little bruise - but my recovery was way way quicker than the c-section. When my friend came to visit my first words were ' how anyone ELECTS that is beyond me'!

[herethereandeverywhere]

C-SECTION EVERY TIME HANDS DOWN NO CONTEST.

My first birth was Keillands forceps, DD ended up with scarred face, my episiotomy broke down - i.e. gaping wound down below for 2 months which was not restitched so I just had to live with it there, I was faecally incontinent, couldn't feel my bladder to wee (although did not have urinary continence issues), DD was too battered and exhausted to feed and ended up with a gastro-nasal feeding tube, my milk didn't come in until day 6.

My second birth was ELCS, I was up and about as soon as the catheter was out, only in hospital for 2 nights, never needed to request top up morphine pain relief (so managed on diclofenac and paracetamol after the epidural wore off), all healed beautifully and I just stuck to the rules about no lifting exerting until after 6 weeks - piece of cake in comparison. Oh and my milk came in on day 3, DD2 fed beautifully from the off.

Re: toddler and CS recovery: just stick to the rules! I relied on my DH during his paternity leave then got my parents to stay an extra week after. I began refusing to lift DD1 when I was about 7 months pregnant just saying she was too big now and taught her how to get into and out of the bath using a step (with me supporting in case she slipped but not taking any weight). TBH the recovery was so much easier than after my first birth that managing a toddler around my recovery was a breeze. Rely on others to load and unload the washing machine, hoover etc. or save for a cleaner/mothers help for the few weeks after.

I cannot comment on other types of forceps but the risks associated with Keillands forceps which are used to keep c-section rates down (how the midwife introduced the consultant who butchered performed the procedure on me and DD) are so high that they are not used in the US as insurers won't cover Drs who use them (too costly to continually keep paying out for the damage they cause). I have until DD is 18 to decide whether to sue for the damage she will see in the mirror every day of her life.

[trustissues75]

Depends on the forceps from what I've read...I will be having it all over my notes that anything that requires more than just a little lift out is a no no and don't bother to try to persuade me because OH is on my side and won't allow me to be be bullied - I've read some truly terrible stuff about Kiellands and the other mid-cavity foreceps and if US insurers refuse to cover them because they are having their arses whipped with court proceedings over their use then that's a pretty good indicator for me that they are not to come near me with those things, especially if they're wanting to use them just so they might avoid a C-section for their league tables...

[PeppaFuckingPig]

I had keillands forceps. I wasn't aware that there were different types of forceps...?
I had read about the risks associated with keillands, which is why i hadn't wanted a forceps delivery.
Does anyone know why they still use keillands if there are other forceps available which are 'less risky'?

[trustissues75]

Kiellands are for high cavity when the baby needs rotating - they are very high risk, require skill and, from what I can gather, rarely used but their use is increasing due to what appears to be the NHS reducing C-sections for reasons that I can only really understand as "just because". They are very dangerous in the wrong hands and even in the right hands they're not something you want...if they fail you end up with an emcs anyway and precious time wasted...I'd just go straight for the emcs and I'd be very bolshy about getting it.

[CommanderShepard]

I have no idea which forceps they attempted on me. Sometimes I think about asking to see my notes; I think it'd be quite interesting.

[KnottedAnchorChief]

I had forceps first time and elcs second. I would take cs any day.
Took me 6 months to recover from forceps delivery, including an op after 4 months to repair the damage as best they could. I was feeling absolutely normal after about 10 days of cs and had to keep reminding myself not to do too much. I had 3 yr old at home after cs and it was fine as they don't need carrying or lifting really and that's just about the only thing you can't do for a while.

[Nicknamegrief]

It is different for everyone and I would ask your consultant (if you trust her/him) or midwife what they would recommend in your case and trust them.

Haven't had forceps myself but had EMCS, VBAC, EMCS and ELCS. There have been good and bad things in every recovery and neither method of delivery in my experience is particularly pleasant.

My sister in law had forceps for her first and no other subsequent problems and has had relatively easy subsequent deliveries. Whereas a close friend had forceps, lots of trauma, repair surgery then a planned section. Baby was so big the pressure from carrying him has undone the majority of the repair work and she's got to have it redone despite a ELCS.

The baby is what makes it worthwhile though.

[CommanderShepard]

X-posted with trust - that's interesting; I assume Keilland's then but I was moved to theatre and prepped for a section before they tried forceps or ventouse (and manual rotation as my DH has just pointed out! ) I don't think they tried forceps for very long but I have no sense of time when recalling her birth - I'm sure I didn't push for long but DH says it was 2 hours.

[Nicknamegrief]

Busy bees, you possible could have the option of planning a normal delivery but due to your history requesting in notes that no forceps and having unplanned csection if required (non emergency). That could give your the reassurance to avoid forceps but possible have a successful VB.

After my VBAC which was a little messy for various reasons I had quite a thorough management plan for my third which was very reassuring and despite moving and changing hospitals everyone was happy with it- although she didn't play ball so I had another EMCS but I felt a lot more confident about being listened to and therefore about the delivery.

[herethereandeverywhere]

With respect, I "trusted" the consultant (many years experience at a large London teaching hospital) and look where it got me. Be aware of the hidden agenda that many healthcare professionals have. With hindsight my consultant was known for getting babies out with Keillands and keeping CS rates down. DD was really stuck, at one point he alluded to shoulder dystocia (called a colleague for assistance because "I have a shoulder problem") Yet STILL he persisted with the brutal things.

Do your own research and trust your own views is my advice.