One Born Every Minute - Who's had a Forceps delivery?

[Treadmillmom]

Mum of 3 fortunately all text book natural un aided deliveries.
I've just watched tonights One Born Every Minute and the forceps delivery, I am stunned!
The midwife seems to be putting her back into it, dragging the baby out, is that okay for the baby? How is it possible the baby isn't born with neck injuries?
Also mom, doesn't having 2 metal tongs inside you not shred and bruise you?
Tell me please, I was totally grimacing as if I were there.

[crapbarry]

I had a forceps delivery - it was fairly barbaric - DH had nightmares on the rare occasions he got some sleep for a few months after DS was born. I was a bit of a mess - 2nd, borderline 3rd, degree tear, episiotomy, got an infection in the tear, had small PPH. But DS was born (finally!) after a 3 day labour (he was slightly at the wrong angle, and had to be rotated), and relatively unharmed - he was bruised and a bit cut on his head, but that went away after a few weeks. I think I have a photo of him on my profile from when he was a few hours old, and you can see the cuts around his eye, and a huge bruise on the side of his forehead. It took me some time to recover, but I'm mostly fine now 16 months on. I absolutely cannot watch OBEM though, gives me flashbacks to labour and the delivery.

I'm going to be demanding a c-section in preference to a forceps delivery with the next one!!

[recycledteen]

DD1 breech, C-section. DD2 head down, back to back, natural birth. Forceps delivery. Much to labour team's amazement, 3.8kg baby came out looking perfect. No bruising or flattening.

Really hurt me though. Due to tearing rather than neat episiotomy, made a bit of a mess at the time.

[sparechange]

DH was a forceps delivery
He has got a slightly wonky mouth which he was told is nerve damage from the forceps
Not sure if that is 100% true, I've only got his word for it

[oranges123]

They tried forceps with DD and I gather there was a lot of dragging and pulling to no avail, according to DH - I don't remember really. I came within an ace of an episiotomy (the doctor had the instrument in her hand I understand) and then she decided to go for a caesarean as DD's heartbeat was dropping. That was GA so I have no idea what they used and how they got her back up into pelvis after presumably having dragged her some way out.

DD had bruising on her head for a few days but was otherwise fine and I am very grateful I didn't have to heal down below as well as along my caesarean scar. I know others aren't always so fortunate!

[clara10]

DS was a forceps delivery after a long labour and 2hrs of pushing. Consultant had foot against bed and was sweating with the force, 2 assistants were holding me down as at first few pulls i moved down the bed with the pulls, even with legs in stirups. PPH, 3rd degree tear which took about 6 months to return to 'normal'. Couldn't sit properly or drive for about 3 weeks. DS was very bruised and couldn't turn head to right side for 3 months. He was very fretful as a newborn.
DH is still in shock.

DD was an elective section.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Like OP, I have had 4 natural, un-aided deliveries and I couldn't watch last night.

I am feeling even luckier than I did already that I have escaped pretty easily in that department after seeing it done.

I too was wodering how the baby does not end up seriously injured.

I shouted to DH in other room 'They are doing a forceps delivery and the MW looks like she is in a tug of war contest - she is actually leaning back as she pulls!'

[Suchffun]

I had 2 x failed ventuouse attempts, episiotomy, then forceps with DC1. He had a cephalhaematoma (sp) but was fine apart from that...

It wasn't much fun, DS was showing signs of distress, and there were tons of people in the room all being very worried and purposeful, but I'd had an epidural (regret that in hindsight as I think it all went downhill from there) so I was pretty spaced out. I remember the midwife being really strict that I needed some paracetamol NOW to stop me being tachycardic or something and finding it hilarious.

[notyummy]

I was born in a forceps delivery and so was DD. It is pretty brutal tbh - and poor DH was a bit traumatised. I am glad I didn't have to watch!! The worse bit was that I had no pain relief apart from the local jab around the episiostomy site, so it literally felt like I was being ripped in half. I had been v calm and quiet right through labour, but I couldn't help the noises that came out of my mouth when he inserted them and then started pulling. DH said it was like an animal being slaughtered (he didn't say that to 'get' at me btw, it was just the only way he could think of describing it.)

However I did have a relatively easy recover, although a lot of stitches.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

I had one, DD was distressed and they needed to get her out fast.
It was really surreal but I remember every bit of it. The consultant had her foot on the bed base pulling like DD was a calf.
I must say though that although I had bad bruising and stitches I have had no issues afterwards.
The main thing for me was that I felt I had failed to give birth properly. DD had big tong marks on her head and was bruised and swollen. I have no photos of her in the first 24 hours as I was so shocked and thought everyone would say she was an ugly baby

[BabyGiraffes]

I was incredibly lucid after 24 hours of labour and totally and absolutely refused forceps! They tried ventuose which came off immediately, leaving a small gash on dd's head. I then pushed her out myself... just needed a little more time!
I know forceps have their time and place but they scare me silly. I would always go for cs if in doubt.

[MilaMae]

I was forceps and a complete mess apparently (black eyes,scratches and more). My mother had been in labour nearly 2 days and apparently dad would have lost us both without them(so I was always told).

My dd had got engaged prior to my C/S,took some serious manhandling to get her out,dp says it was like a rugby scrum.I'm guessing babies are hardy little things.

[openerofjars]

I had ventouse after DS got stuck, and was just about to have a crash cs when they decided to get the sink plunger out. To be honest, the stitches after the episiotomy were the worst bit, and they got infected afterwards. Mind you, I was off my face on G&A.

But the forceps... I mean, even the words "mid cavity"...

[kitkat1967]

I had a forceps delivery after failed ventouse (several goes) as I had pre-eclampsia and was not allowed to push. Don't remember much about the forceps but for the ventouse efforts the doctor had her foot on the bed and was pulling as hard as possible - was a rather comedy moment really.
DD was born with 2 black, and bloodshot eyes, brusing round her face and had to spend 2 days in NICU on baby paracetamol in a covered incubator as they wanted to keep her away from light. Then 10 days in SCUBU as prem.
Not sure if there are any lasting effects from all of this - eyesight def OK but some lack of coordination makes me wonder.....
Wish I'd insisted on c-section when it was mentioned - think it would have been a better outcome for her.

[LadyGoneGaga]

They have to pull like billy-o for a ventouse as well. Doctor had her foot up on the bed as I recall and was properly pulling as hard as she could. I had legs in stirrups and was also pushing as hard as I could. But after a 6 hour second stage (DS had a flexed neck and turned sideways) I honestly didn't care. DS had a small lump/graze on his head which went completely within a week and apart from an episiotomy (which healed well) I was in good shape.

I was definitely glad they did ventouse rather than C Section.

[bebejones]

I had a low forceps delivery to help get DD out who was a bit stuck & distressed. Had only been pushing 20mins but she was tachycardic & needed to be delivered. She was back to back & they didn't realise so she had some marks on her face over her eye but they faded really quickly. I had an episiotomy & stitches (had an epidural so didn't feel a thing until about 11 hours later at 3am when it wore off) but was fine & healed relatively quickly. Couldn't see any of it at all, but given it was low forceps I shouldn't think there was much force DD just needed to be maneuvered!

[DrNortherner]

I had Wrigleys forceps with DS after a failed ventouse as he was posterior. DS had a mishaped head and lots of bruising. I had a full episiotomy and internal and external stitches and it took me a good 6 months to heal down there. I could not stand up for very long at all in the early days as it felt my whole undercarriage was just going to collapse.

Am not sure it looks like it should but dh soesn't seem to care!

[8rubberduckies]

I had a forceps delivery - I didn't see what was actually going on down there as was off the planet on Pethidine, but ds had two black eyes, a cut on his hand which subsequently got infected (he came out like Superman), and a cut above his right eyebrow; he still has a scar now aged 2.5.

I was battered and bruised and could hardly walk for 3 days after and had infected stitches. Lovely.

I'm aware that some forceps deliveries are fine, and mine was probably one of the more problematic ones, but I was given a choice of either a caesarean or forceps at the time; wish to God I'd gone for the caesarean.

[RIZZ0]

I had forceps. DH said he had to try not to cry out at the force they were using.

Took two operations over the following year to return me to anything like normal. The result was ok but left me unable to have another vaginal birth so had to have a C/S with second.

I think they are barbaric.

[Margles]

I had Keilland's forceps - I don't remember much pulling and tugging and didn't have a episiotomy. DD's head was bruised but soon cleared up.

Hmm, perhaps I was lucky or perhaps she would have been born face up if they hadn't been too impatient to get me out of the delivery suite concerned about foetal distress.

[undertheduvet]

I had foceps with DS1 just the ones to lift him out, not the high ones.
I'd had an epidural (after 18hours in labour) so didn't feel anything had stitches after and it was very bruised and sore, couldn't sit down at all on day 4 which didn't halp with breastfeeding.
DS was ok from the forceps, slight mark on his face but they had tried ventouse before the forceps which didn't work. Not a good sound to hear the popping off of the ventouse cup! Thought they'd pulled his head off.

Was watching last night and was shocked at the force used to pull the baby out, glad I had no idea at the time, DH however said last night that he found it very traumtic seeing it happen to me.

Had DS2 last June, much shorter labour this time (about 4hours) so no time for epidural. DS2 getting distressed as Im pushing due it turns out to having the cord round his neck.
Midwifes and doctors were telling me they needed to get him out asap and they would need forceps, however having had them last time there was no way on earth I was letting them at me with no pain relief other than G&A and a little local jab! That was all I needed to get him out on my own.
I ended up needing an episiotomy but I feel i recovered far quicker this time round due to not having forceps.

No more babies for me!

[NotWoozy]

From what I have read over the years about forceps, they are not the Devil's Work per se, but the person holding them needs to be very very proficient in using them. This applies particularly in the more difficult ones (Kiellands). Many will say that modern obstetricians no longer have the necessary skills to use these instruments, which explains the terrible injuries to both mother and baby which can occur (Erb's Palsy, retinal detachment etc for baby, incontinence, tearing, rectoceles, PTSD, fear of getting pregnant again for mother). Foot on end of bed for traction when pulling is a definite no no, but I can't remember where I read that.
I personally will never ever allow them near me. They can decide on a c section at 5cms rather than those things at 10cms.

[Buttonnosedsausage]

I had forceps after failed ventouse and episiotomy.
It took 2 people to deliver force ds. The nurse had to call the obstetrician to pull him out after she failed.
I almost had a emcs

Dh was more traumatised

[Northumberlandlass]

I had forceps when I had DS, they gave me spinal block before the started.

They cut me pretty much up to my cervix so they could get a hold of DS. As mentioned on other threads, there were 2 male nurses, one either side of me their arms hooked under mine, a nurse either side of me pressing onto my pelvis to try and open me up.

When the consultant pulled, I shot down the bed, poor DH was v traumatised. He kept reliving the blood pouring off the end of the bed onto the towels below. It took many attempts to get him out. My MW (friend too), was crying.

When DS was born he was extremely bruised and swollen, he had a 2" cut down his cheek (you can still see the scar). He was resuscited in the operating theatre.

The consultant said there was a possibility that neither DS or I would of made it.

It was a horrid birth, but am thankful we were both ok. It took me a long time to recover, had a lot of damage to my bladder which has taken a lot of repair.

My DH won't talk about it now. He said he felt so helpless and thought we were going to die

x

[freshmint]

me.
teeny weeny sri lankan registrar put her foot on the bar of the bed to steady herself and then hauled dd1 out

[freshmint]

ps was keilands forceps
my fanjo looks like a patchwork quilt. made by a 7 year old for a school project...