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Childbirth

Did anyone give birth in stirrups?

52 replies

LongNeck · 13/09/2016 19:44

Against my wishes, I was made to give birth in stirrups as I was told by the midwife that the baby was distressed and this was the only way it would come out. Another midwife I told this story to was horrified and said stirrups were never necessary for a safe birth when no forceps or ventouse are involved. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm feeling awful about it.

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SprogletsMum · 13/09/2016 19:49

Yep dc3 was born with my legs in stirrups. She was undiagnosed breech and even though all my instincts were screaming to stand up and sort of hunch over I was forced into them.
Having read around a bit since having her it seems my instincts were putting me in the optimal breech birth position.
I also had a dr try and fail to insert a catheter twice as her bum was coming out.

Saltlake · 13/09/2016 19:53

I did for a ventouse delivery.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 13/09/2016 19:54

It's a bit blurry as ultimately DS was delivered by forceps but I think I was in stirrups when I was trying to push him out without assistance. Being on my back really didn't suit me, just felt unnatural. Next time around want to avoid lying on the bed at all!

namechangedtoday15 · 13/09/2016 19:54

Yes. Premaure twin delivery. Twin 2 was breech. Consultant and about 20 other people was positioned literally between my legs so he could intervene immediately that he appeared (had to slow down his actual delivery to reduce risk of a bleed on the brain).

What do you feel awful about? Not having a choice of position or did something go wrong with the delivery?

I think it's quite difficult for other medical staff to comment on something when they weren't there without the full story. Presumably the midwife did what she thought was best at the time for you and the baby?

Frazzled2207 · 13/09/2016 19:55

Yes I did my ds was very nearly born with forceps and the docs were getting ready for that. It is the most undignified thing but I was so exhausted I wasn't in a position to argue tbh. Sorry you had a bad experience.

Fairybella · 13/09/2016 19:58

Yes for both, sometimes it helps to open up your pelvis... Sometimes women squeeze their legs together when there is so much pain.

Did you have spd?

Was your baby ok?

Alwaysmeadulting · 13/09/2016 20:00

Yes 13 yrs ago. Baby distressed and they were wanting to monitor scalp blood gas. Don't think it was a well managed labour though.

RatOnnaStick · 13/09/2016 20:00

I did have them for a bit with ds1 as I was bleeding and his head wasn't pushing through easily. Once id had an episiotomy it became much easier and I took my legs out. He was born very quickly after that.

In hindsight I think they were starting to worry and were preparing for intervention.

I didn't find the stirrups very bad. Quite comfy for a bit actually.

LivinOnAChair · 13/09/2016 20:02

I gave birth in stirrups and ended up with a ventouse after pushing for 90 mins :( I wish I hadn't had to be in them though as I'm still suffering from pelvic girdle pain almost 7mo later. Do you think they might have put you in stirrups anticipating needing an instrumental birth?

LillyBugg · 13/09/2016 20:02

I gave birth in stirrups, but I can't really say if it was against my wishes. I wasn't capable of making any choices when it happened. I can't say it bothers me, I could let hold my legs up anyway so I guess they helped. Does it upset you that it happened? I find it odd that a midwife would be 'horrified', this seems a little extreme.

LillyBugg · 13/09/2016 20:02

Couldn't hold my legs up.

MrsBungle · 13/09/2016 20:02

Yes for my forceps birth, to be fair, I didn't mind it. I was knackered and I liked my legs being supported.

LongNeck · 13/09/2016 20:04

There were no issues with the baby, it was just the midwife who wanted me not to move around. I didn't see a doctor at all. I'm upset that I was forced into an unnatural and uncomfortable position to suit her and my wishes were ignored and that this was dressed up as being best for the baby that wasn't true. She was awful for a load of reasons but this was the worst.

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Mummyshortlegz · 13/09/2016 20:05

Yes, I had severe spd and then couldn't walk afterwards. No interventions but I had had an epidural. I think the midwife was getting desperate to get baby out. I had a section for my second for various reasons (prévia and breezy) but I wanted one as giving birth in stirrups left me in a very bad way mobility wise.

originalusernamefail · 13/09/2016 20:05

I had an epidural for DS2 so had stirrups to push against. I was too exhausted to have remained upright even without epidural as he was a 36 hour labour.

allthecarbs · 13/09/2016 20:05

I did. They were all prepped for forceps as he wasn't coming out but I managed to find some strength from somewhere and get him out. So was only in stirrups for a short while.

I've never heard of using them without forceps/ventouse though

LBOCS2 · 13/09/2016 20:05

I did with my first, it worked well for me - I wanted something to 'brace' myself against as I pushed and they were perfect. I had galloping preeclampsia so we were both being monitored the whole labour so I didn't have much choice on being on my back.

MidMay · 13/09/2016 20:05

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Most midwives will only resort to lithotomy (stirrups) if there is a concern with baby and delivery needs to be expedited, especially if a woman's mobility is comprised (eg by an epidural). It may be worth looking into having a debrief so you can understand why this happened.

BettyOBarley · 13/09/2016 20:08

Yes I did, but they had mentioned forceps if I didn't start pushing "properly"

WeeMadArthur · 13/09/2016 20:09

I did and after pushing on a soft bed for about five hours it gave me something solid to brace myself against and DS came out about 15 minutes later. I wish I had thought to use them before but the NCT birth talks were dead set against them

Whathaveilost · 13/09/2016 20:11

Yes with DS1. Everything was going fine and then things changed suddenly and extra assistance was needed. More medical staff came. I can't remember all the details as it was very chaotic ultimately all eventually ended well and DS was born safely.
To be honest I couldn't have cared less what they used, I just wanted my baby to be safe.
Once he arrived I never gave it another thought until I read this thread.

LongNeck · 13/09/2016 20:13

Thanks for sharing, it seems unusual then if there's no risk of assisted delivery. There was no epidural either. I might look at a debrief. I think the midwife I spoke to was horrified that my wish to remain mobile in labour was ignored when there was no medical reason. I always thought that being mobile sped up labour but it was quite quick anyway. If she was that concerned then surely a doctor would have been called.

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kidsandcatseverywhere · 13/09/2016 20:20

I did for dc6. I was induced by drip and they gave me the max of the drug which caused the contractions to do nothing for hours then come as one constant contraction for 10 minutes. They panicked and just starting shoving all sorts up there. My dd was born without a hitch but they insisted on the stirrups.

kidsandcatseverywhere · 13/09/2016 20:21

I would add I actually found it Ni different in terms of pushing or anything from my other 5 who were born in a variety of positions. What I DIDNT like was the lack of care about who and what was going in there !

AddictedtoGreys · 14/09/2016 03:47

Yes with my DS as he was forceps delivery

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