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.

Wow, I must have been fairly lucky, some of these stories are awful. DS1 got stuck half way out because cord was round his neck - I could push out the top of his forehead but no further because the cord wouldn't stretch that far. Consultant just said "forceps please" and that was it - next time his little head appeared, he was grabbed by the temples and pulled out until someone could cut the cord and release him. He did have a red mark either side of his face for a few hours after, and the MW said he had headache (no idea how she knew!). I had episiotomy and healed up pretty quickly.

Dread to think what could have happened if no forceps.

Mine was absolutely fine. DD was very low, but brow presentation and not going anywhere despite being nearly fully dilated. She was a little distressed so they said they would give me 2 mins on forceps and then straight to EMCS. If she hadn't have been so low (the doc could touch the top of her head with ease!) I would have been more nervous about it, but I was in cloud cuckoo land to be honest.

Whopping epidural, small epistiotomy and 2 tugs later there was our beautiful daughter. AGPAR of 9, healthy as anything. A small red mark on her eyebrow but it was just pressure, it went in a few hours. No side effects for either of us, bar a little pain every now and then still where my epistiotomy was.

I have heard some horror stories since so would always rather avoid but nothing bad to report here.

Oh, and yes DH reports the surgeon was fully braced for each tug!

I had a forceps CS . DD1 was stuck so high up as i had placenta praevia, they opened me up and then had to fish her out from afar

Reading this thread, I'm in awe of all you ladies - you're so brave! My heart goes out to those of you who had traumatic experiences - some of your stories are really frightening.

Forceps with DD1, got a spinal block in theatre after 3 hours of pushing so didn't care what they were doing as I finally couldn't feel a thing.

As it was going to be CS if the forceps didn't work, I assume it must have been Keilands they used.

Had hellish bruising afterwards, was walking like John Wayne for weeks. Also had no pelvic floor to speak of for some time, so when I had an upset stomach from the antibiotics I was given, to my utter mortification I found myself having a large accident at the top of the stairs. And DH had to clean it up as it was just beyond me.

Trying to see it as a positive thing just now as currently pg with DC2 and statistically it's unlikely you'll need forceps twice - and also hoping that since a baby AND a set of BBQ tongs came down that particular avenue only 2 years ago, DC2 should come shooting out like something from Monty Python!

God some of these stories

WHY is this happening? And just accepted as a normal part of childbirth practice?

It seems that it's entrenched into the national (and female) psyche that you should just grit your teeth and be grateful if you and your baby are alive at the end of it. But maybe if we weren't so stoic then the medical system would have to change for the better?

beveridge my indignity was complete when I threw up and therefore involuntarily poohed and weed at the same time, about a week after I gave birth. I really concentrated on my pelvic floor exercises after that!

'WHY is this happening? And just accepted as a normal part of childbirth practice?

It seems that it's entrenched into the national (and female) psyche that you should just grit your teeth and be grateful if you and your baby are alive at the end of it. But maybe if we weren't so stoic then the medical system would have to change for the better?'

My opinion?

First of all, because it's women who give birth, so there's very little money devoted it, wards are short-staffed and staff try to keep costs down.

Secondly, it would appear that many women believe 'drug free' vaginal is the ultimate way to give birth. There's a lot of scaremongering about pain relief here.

I'm inclined to agree with you on both counts Expat.

My first was a forceps. I think it was due to a combination of stuff, starting with induction, lots of monitoring and interventions, leading to me not being able to push him out. I don't really remember the actual event.
I couldn't sit down properly for at least a fortnight afterwards.
Boy ended up in SCBU with jaundice, I'm sure the massive bruise on his head didn't help.

Second, I had at home. No forceps needed. I don't think this is a coincidence.

Frightful forceps tale here too. DS was back-to-back and too low for emcs. Ventouse failed twice; I had a massive haemorrhage, then forceps (huge consultant pulling with all his might). I then had my vagina reconstructed and spent the night in the HDU, then a week in hospital (had not planned to go to hospital at all!). I was in excruciating pain (and shock) for weeks. I was also incontinent for a while (I was utterly horrified when I realised that I couldn't feel myself weeing at all when I weed down my leg in the hospital). It stopped me bonding properly with DS (fortunately DH stood in for me) in the first months. Poor, poor DS had scratches and bruises all round his head, and still has a funny shaped head now. But at the time, after 36 hours of back to back labour and no drugs, I just wanted him to come out safely, and I didn't much care how they got him out. It was the aftermath that was far worse than the actual forceps.

I had a VBAC with my 2nd DC which was a forcep delivery. After 21/2 hours of pushing I was taken to theatre and given a spinal block. I am not sure what forceps I had but my baby was high up the birth canal and also had to be turned. I was given an episiotomy but still suffered a 4th degree tear as they said they turned the baby wrong and unfortunately caused the tear.

My baby had neck problems and had to have months of physio. She also had bruising and swelling along her jawline for a week after the birth.

It has been 2 years since my forcep delivery and I still have problems. I am so grateful that my DD is ok now but in hindsight I wish I had had a c- section instead.

My DS1 was delivered by forceps with no epidural and I used to have flashbacks of the consultant bracing herself against the bed and tugging, tugging, tugging. I felt brutalised. Makes me shudder now and it's nearly 6 years ago. Stitching was grim and took ages to heal. DS1 was bruised over his eye but it faded quickly. I did read somewhere that it could explain why he sometimes gets one red hot ear and the other stay completely normal. Nerve damage or something...

DS2 was lovely water birth at midwife unit to compensate, only to be back in original situation with DS3. I heard someone mention the words forceps and simply said "No way". They helped him out with ventouse instead...

I was born using forceps. It missed my eye by a millimetre and left a big red mark which eventually faded.
libbysister Whenever I cry I get a big red mark by my eye - the foreceps mark.

I had a student watch my forceps delivery, but I was asked first. I didn't mind as I figure they've got to learn on someone, might as well be me.

I was born by forceps and have a little scar on my head. Ds was also born by forceps.

I find it interesting that on the hospital tour before I had ds we were told in great detail of all the risks associated with various forms of pain relief but nothing about the risks associated with forceps.

A Diversion. Expat - thought you delivered in Scotland?

It would be unusual for an Obstetrician here to refer to themselves as 'Mrs'. It is very common down south though.

The background dates back to the days of the barber surgeons who didn't go to medical school so were not entitled to call themselves doctor as they weren't medically qualified.

The surgeons have retained the title and re-assume it once they pass their surgical exams (ie membership of the Royal College of Surgeons). Those of us who have better things to do than chop people up (TIC) retain good old 'doctor' from graduation to retirement.

Obs/Gynae as I referred to above it a bit odd. In England (i've not worked in Wales/ Ireland) most Obstetricians/Gynaecologists will use Miss/Mrs/Ms/Mr whereas in Scotland they tend to continue to use Dr. The exam they pass is MRCOG (Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) but it is a 'surgical' speciality.

This issue causes lots of confusion (a common myth is that all Consultant grade staff are 'Mr' as I've explained above that isn't true. However no one generally minds if people get it wrong.......

.......except those who have just passed their exams and are determined that EVERYONE should call them 'Mr/Ms Surname'. It is quite funny really as often they will introduce themselves to professional colleagues (often several grades higher/ older) who have introduced themselves by first name to call them by the formal Mr/Ms. When it happens the older/wiser/cynical amongst us just raise an eyebrow and get on with life!

PS: ashamed to admit it but the Obstetrician would need to give me a very good reason as to why Kjellands were preferable to a LSCS. Low cavity forceps (there are various types) wouldn't bother me.

Note: not saying Obstetrician didn't use Mrs just that it was unusual..... were they an (English) locum?

Doesn't sound like it from the conversation though...

I can't understand how the baby's head doesn't come off! Seriously! I could hardly watch the forceps delivery in OBEM.

I did. It was some English gal who delivered me, though. And a Canadian midwife.

Oh, there was an Irish midwife there, too.

It was like a mini League of Nations in there there :o.

Anyhow, after 24 hours of labour, she could have told me her name was Jack the Ripper and I'd have told her to have at it.

X-post, sorry!

When I had DD2, same hospital, it appeared to have been taken over by Irish midwives.

The one who delivered her was called Attracta.

I never forgot that!

What a name!