Forceps delivery - anyone got experience they will share?

[NearlyDue112]

So with DD I agreed to a forceps delivery (baby distressed and very stuck) but at the last minute it was decided that emcs was a better option so we didn't try forceps in the end. When I've mentioned this to a few people the reactions have scared me a little. Quite a few women have suggested I was very lucky to have cs rather than forceps and one friend told me about her forceps delivery where the force of 2 doctors was needed to get baby out and she was torn and traumatised by it all and she was sure it must have hurt baby (she blames his colic on the delivery). So Im not sure I would consent to forceps again after what I've heard unless other options were ruled out first. If you have had forceps delivery before WWYD? Would you do it again or would you take cs if that was also an option? Is it as bad as people have made out to me? Or have I just heard the bad stories? I do recognise that we may have no choice as cs is not always an option.

[KatieScarlett]

Both of mine were episiotomy and forceps.
Bit sore afterwards (many stitches) but otherwise fine. DC had no ill effects other than some short lived bruising.

[cholla]

I had a forceps delivery with ds, absolutely fine. In my experience it was completely fine, I healed quickly and there was no last damage- physical or psychological.

I guess there are bad stories about everything.

[Xmasbaby11]

I had forceps as dd was a large baby and took too long getting out.

It was pretty grim and I can still remember the sensation. Dd was fine but I ended up with a severe prolapse - not caused by forceps but baby's size and long labour.

[Sleepingbunnies]

I had a bloody horrendous forceps delivery. Would have much prefered a CS

[Xmasbaby11]

Oh and I had elcs for dd2. Far far better and recovery was fine!

[PenguinRoar]

This is a really emotional one to answer. My best response is that I would leave the decision to the doctor as they will want to do the best they can for you and your baby.

I had a forceps delivery that very nearly became an emergency c section following complications. It wasn't pleasant, but it was an emergency and the doctors had to use their best judgment to safely get the baby out and prevent both of us from serious harm.

You could put in your notes your preferences and discuss concerns with your midwife, but given the same situation again, I would absolutely let the medical team make the final call.

[Cantchooseaname]

I had forceps delivery. It wasn't a choice really, I was railroaded into it (and a lot of other things). I ended up with numbness in my right leg. The forceps stretched/ bruised the femoral nerve. I couldn't walk after birth, seriously struggled for 8 weeks- no strength in my leg, foot dropped. 9 months on I still have minor issues- from mid shin down it feels weird. It is definitely weaker. Between that, stitches and constipation the first few weeks were miserable.

I don't want to try for a second until I understand delivery options better. I'm not sure I'd ever want to risk that again.

[piglet81]

Forceps were my great fear. As it happened I ended up with an emcs, which had never even crossed my mind. Still think I'd do anything to avoid forceps if I have another - they just seem so medieval. But obviously there are good and bad experiences of every variable in childbirth...

[Flisspaps]

I had forceps with DD, I ended up with 3a tear, PPH and retained placenta. She had lots of bruising. I vowed NEVER again, I'd decline consent and insist on CS.

DS 2 years later - he refused to descend despite me pushing for several hours at home. In hospital, consultant tried to convince me to have forceps and I insisted on CS.

Prepped for theatre, I relent and consent to 1 attempt with forceps in theatre. DS born - I have no tear but PPH. DS had facial palsy which was sorted after 6w if breastfeeding.

I'd decline forceps again if I could have another child!

[Nospringflower]

I had forceps for my second child. Wasnt too horrendous at the time but needed lots of stitches afterwards and could hardly sit down for first couple of weeks.

3rd child they said think we need forceps and i was asking if there was nothing else could be done! Thankfully managed to oush him out just in time!

I would have them for sake of baby but would prefer a section.

[teainbed]

I had rotational forceps with my first. It wasn't pleasant but I really didn't want a C-section. I think my recovery was fairly quick, and everything healed nicely. Had two 'normal' vaginal deliveries subsequently and no tears or stitches.

[Poseyrose11]

I had a forceps delivery with my son. It wasn't the birth I pictured but it wasn't as bad as I had feared. I have healed fine and although my son had a little bruising round his eye there doesn't seem to have been any other effects. I was also delivered by forceps and am fine and my mum went on to have another two children afterwards.

I think the worst thing about having forceps is other people's reactions to it. If they asked me how the birth went and I told them about the forceps they would say how horrific they are, how they think they shouldn't be used, why didn't I insist on having a c section etc. Just made me feel a bit like I'd done something bad if you see what I mean, when I really didn't have a choice. My son was too far down for a c section but was a back to back large baby and he just wasn't coming out on his own.

[user1471422867]

I had a forceps delivery, episiotomy and third degree tear, this was my birth nightmare and unfortunately it came true. This was also followed by a severe pph, not related to forceps though. I should say my baby was absolutely fine, a few bruises, but fine which is the most important thing.

This is a big factor as to why I may not have another child and if I do it will be an elective cs, which I would want and hospital said I would need. My husband and I are still traumatised by it all even 8 months on.

[MotherofPearl]

All 3 of mine were delivered by forceps, and had episiotomies for each. I seem to be really rubbish at the second stage of labour! With DD1 she was in distress and still quite high up the birth canal, so the doctor using the forceps seemed to really have to put her back into it, so to speak. But I'd had an epidural so really didn't feel a thing.

DS was stuck but really right near the exit, so that forcep use was minimal. With DD2 it also felt less forceful.

Obviously my undercarriage is now a little battered, and the stitches did cause me problems at first, but otherwise I think I healed up pretty well eventually, and am grateful to have been saved an EMCS, which seems to take longer to recover from.

[AboutTimeIsh]

I had on my notes that should it come to it, I would accept ventouse, decline forceps and request direct to CS. Midwife told me that if it came to that, it would be something I would have to "negotiate" with an obstetrician on the day

In the end, didn't need any intervention, but DP was v well trained to intervene on my behalf - especially if "high forceps" delivery was mentioned. (Google high forceps - it's not good.)

[AboutTimeIsh]

My issue with forceps was the high rate at my hospital of CS after forceps attempts, and concern about possible injury to baby

[Fintress]

I had a high forceps delivery, baby was in distress. It was bloody painful but my daughter barely had a mark on her. I had quite a lot of stitches but they were pretty painless.

[MollyRedskirts]

I had a forceps delivery with my first DS, and a section with my second.

Forceps - very large baby, nearly 11lb. 3rd degree tear, which healed incorrectly and I had a repositioning op later on to sort out the scar tissue. The tear left me almost faecally incontinent (a miracle I didn't have an accident!) for a good while. Luckily the muscles and nerves healed, and it's not a problem now, but because of it, I was told I'd need a section for future babies in case I tore again and ended up worse.

Section - My mobility was awful thanks to SPD, and I was on crutches for a while afterwards and still not able to walk more than the length of my living room. I made a nest for myself on the sofa with everything I needed within reach, and managed that way for weeks. I had a lot of abdominal pain, and my scar opened up in the middle by about 1cm, which meant I had to attend weekly appointments with nurses to check on the healing and get it dressed.

I would absolutely choose a section over forceps, because although it was harder on my mobility, I knew the end of it all was in sight and I got steadily better. With the birth injury from the forceps birth, I was petrified I was going to have toileting issues for the rest of my life and be in pain from scar tissue.

[ButtfaceMiscreant]

I had forceps for DC1, narrowly avoided a crash section. I had a major PPH immediately after (and another a week later) but DC1 just had purple eyebrows and a "James Bond villain" mark on her cheek for a while. My recovery was horrendous, took me 5 weeks to feel anywhere close to normal (due to pph) and took me 2+ weeks to be able to sit comfortably - my community midwife helpfully told me I had the most bruised and swollen undercarriage she had seen when she checked my stitches.

DT2 was a threatened forceps delivery after DT1 was a normal delivery - not sure why as he wasn't in distress and the magic 30mins between twins that they kept quoting hadn't yet passed - but I said shouted "I don't think so!" and pushed him out on my own! Still had a major pph (& one a week later) and tore, but recovered a lot more quickly and felt almost my normal self straight away.

[Grotbagsstinkyarmpits]

I had a forceps delivery with DC1 after a long-ish labour (26 hours). DC1 had an enormous head and was a bit stuck. It was absolutely fine- only took too pushes from me and the help of the forceps. A little sore afterwards for a week or so (stitches). Medics were all v good and no problems whatsoever.

[NearlyDue112]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's a bit mixed views. Maybe worth discussing how complicated/high the forceps delivery would be compared to cs from what people have said. I've also heard that forceps are banned in the USA. Does anyone know if that's true? And if so why?

[pinguina16]

Like Sleepingbunnies, had a C-section been an option I would have preferred that (a C-section without complications of course ).
My baby was fine but the damage to me is long lasting. I was fully discharged from hospital when my little one turned 2.

Some women recover well after forceps but the risk of a severe tear goes from 1% in spontaneous deliveries to 8-12% when forceps are involved. Again some women make full recoveries after a severe tear but others not and suffer urinary and/or faecal incontinence. The incidence of pelvic organ prolapse is also higher in women who have had a forceps delivery (straight after birth or later on in life).