Do you have an epidural for ventouse?

[DomesticG0ddess]

Or just for forceps? Or some other type of pain relief?

I just had a local anaesthetic as I hadn't had an epidural already. Actually I think the local was for the episiotomy - they may not have given me anything if I hadn't had that (just gas and air).

i just carried on with the gas and air

I didn't - not even gas & air, just a shot of local for the episiotomy. I think the decision to use ventouse is usually taken in the course of the birth, not planned, and epidural would take too long to organise if you didn't have one already?

Thanks. But you always have one for forceps, right?

I imagine you wouldn't if they needed to get the baby out quickly.

If they need to do a forceps ina hurry and you don't already have an epidural in the Dr will normally do a pudendal block. Its an injection of local anasthetic with a special needle that numbs the pudendal nerve. Works very well and should mean that any epis is pain free and also helps to reduce the pressure sensation of having baby pulled out.

I almost had forceps in a midwife led unit (the on call gp from the Health Centre came in to do the procedure) and that would have been without epidural, as they don't have them available in MLUs. Fortunately I was given one last attempt to push before the doctor went in - I think it was the thought of having forceps without an epidural which motivated that final push!! However, on a positive note, I had been allowed to labour a lot longer than I would have been in a hospital. The midwife told me later that in hospital, as it was a lengthy first labour with a large baby, I'd have been pushed towards an epidural and forceps several hours earlier!

I had both ventouse and forceps and only had a local anaesthetic - had been on gas and air for the rest of the labout. Really didn't bother me at the time, just wanted my baby out asap. Can't remember it hurting.

Are you very worried about not having pain relief if you need intervention OP?

I know what you mean cakeywakey.

Forceps/ventouse occur right near the end of the labour process. If you have managed up to then without epidural, believe me, you will be quite prepared to just have your baby out, any means!! I remember just pushing like crazy, through the pain to get my baby out.

I had an epidural for a ventouse delivery but my friend had a forceps delivery with no pain relief at all.

I guess I thinking about it because am going to try for a VBAC this time, and would really like to avoid an epidural during the first part of labour so that I don't slow things down (although will have one if I can't cope). But during the second part of labour, even though the MW said the intervention rates were the same as for non-VBAC people, if they are only going to "let" me push for certain amount of time, then I can only imagine that they would be more like to use forceps or ventouse on me? But yes, I am a bit concerned about the pain relief during this bit, because I understand an episiotomy or tearing is likely, esp with forceps?

I had a pudendal block for ventouse, episiotomy and stitching, didn't feel a thing after the block.

I had no pain releif for ventouse or forceps or episiotomy, felt it all
according to birth notes I was injecected with something afterwards while they were stitching me up ( still felt it)

Pudendal block sounds good. Ouch, gateacre. I know someone who had forceps with an epidural and she is trying to have an elective c-section this time as she was so traumatized.

DS was a ventouse delivery and I was on gas and air only, but had a local anaesthetic for the episiotomy first. By the time you get that far an epidural is too late.

I had forceps with an epidural. To be fair I think that all concerned knew that my son was going to have some difficulty getting out! The 2nd stage of labour for me was an awful lot longer than the 2 hrs they told me it would be in the ante-natal classes(!)and they were considering a c-section so that was probably why they offered the epi. Definitely would not have liked it without pain relief - bloody hell gateacre!!

I had ventouse and forceps with a failed epidural for my first and nobody bothered with a local until I was screaming while they stitched me up.

Just had an ELCS with my second for fear of going through the same thing again.

I had a block for a ventouse with episiotomy. No pain from stitches ever.

You sound very worried OP, is it worth talking to your MW about it again to get across your concerns to her more forcefully and hopefully she can give you some more info/reassurance?

Hopefully you won't need any intervention at all. It sounds like your friend's experience is worrying you, but even if you were to end up with forceps being used there's no saying that it would be the same for you. You just can't tell with these things.

Actually the consultant midwife said she would follow up our app with a letter with her email address on it, so that I could email her with any questions I hadn't thought of, so I will do so about this. Thanks.

They were about to do an epis and forceps on me withoutanything, DD2's heartrate was so low.

It was, at least inspiring though anough to make me giveone hell of a final push.