Good forceps birth?

[cantreachmytoes]

I recently gave birth and forceps were used. I had no episiotomy, just first degree tears that needed stitches (and anesthetic was used). The forceps were used to rotate baby, despite my yells to "Just pull him out!"

All the stories I've seen with forceps are nightmarish and/or involve episiotomies. My midwife spent a LONG time "stretching" me which may be why I didn't have one..?

Did anyone else have a similar experience?

I have no personal experience to add, however as a medical student on O&G placement, all instrumental births involved an episiotomy and/or considerable tearing...I would say you've been very lucky indeed!

Was this your first baby? with subsequent births everything tends to stretch more easily, whereas with the first there is less 'give', so to speak. Out of interest, how did the midwife "stretch" you?

This was first baby and he was 4.1kg / 9lb. I don't know exactly what she was doing (going to ask though the ob at the 6 week check because I'm interested), but she had her hand(s) in my vagina doing circular movements for a very long time. I'm guessing that was it. I hadn't done any perineal massage before the birth either.

I had forceps for ds2's birth, because his heartbeat had dropped and they wanted him out. The midwife said later that had I been left to it, he would have only taken another 10 mins to arrive naturally, so I guess they were just lifing him out really.

I had an episiotomy, and when the community midwife checked it a few days later, she said it was a tiny one.

I too have read the horror stories, but I feel fortunate that I (thankfully) can't really relate to them in terms of my own experience.

I had an episiotomy and kiellands forceps to rotate DS. Found it emotionally horrible but physical recovery was fine. DS had no noticeable damage, just a few tiny red marks which quickly faded. Nine months on I have a few internal grazes (TMI) but otherwise absolutely fine. I was out doing long walks with the pram a week after giving birth. Having read the horror stories I feel very lucky!

Wow Reg, impressed about the long walks bit. 4 weeks on and I'm still not on even medium walks. Perhaps that's less to do with forceps and more to do with exhaustion levels before and from the birth! Good on you though!

Yeah, I too feel very lucky...

I had a forceps delivery with dd1 - 4.1 kg, epis and 2nd degree tear, blood loss of 1800 ml. In spite of all that I seemed to get off lightly with recovery; I (stupidly) took a 20 minute walk uphill to town TWO days post partum and although I felt a bit shaky, I wasn't in any great discomfort physically.

I don't really like to contemplate it too deeply as I fear the inevitable conclusion is that I have a wizard's sleeve for a chuff. Cf birth of ds - 9lb 10 and he practically fell out in the birth pool.

I had forceps with dd who was brow presentation and distressed, small episiotomy but 2 tugs and she was out. No marks on her bar 2 small pressure marks that went within the hour, and I was fine really. Saved me from an EMCS.

I had forceps with DS1, I had an epiostomy and a PPH but (and I know it sounds absurd) the experience was good.

I wasn't in too much discomfort afterwards, I believe a good sense of humour about it all works wonders!

Well, yes, as DD's heart rate plummeted and the fab doctor got her out on first tug and if it had taken any longer, she might not have made it (she had to spend a while being resuscitated as it was).
She had forcep marks but they'd faded within a few hours; I had an epiostomy but the stitches were done well, I didn't get an infection or anything and was able to walk the mile into town and back 4 days later (although I felt rubbish after doing that); it saved me from having an EMCS which would have meant a longer time in hospital and not being able to drive.
And it meant labour was FINALLY over!!

my first was delievered with simpsons forceps,due to having to be manully rotated,i had stitches and he has a little mark on his face,i also had an epidural,so didnt feel a thing,thankgoodness. baby no4 was also forceps,but keilands,as he was high up,and hadnt moved down,i only had gas and air and again stitches,but was up and out 3 days later,as i had the other children to walk to school.

I felt like someone had driven a double decker bus out of me for weeks afterwards, but I refused the episiotomy and it paid off. Not a graze and hardly any blood loss. Baby had a conehead for 10 days but otherwise fine.

To the ladies who had Kiellands forceps (or any other forceps for that matter),
do you think you could have asked for a c section instead?

There are hospitals where forceps are banned, I'm curious how they manage?
Surely then a c section can be performed in place of forceps?

I know it's surgery, but forceps are associated with the highest degree of morbidity. I'd HATE to have forceps- a lot of women go on to have fecal incontinence, perineal tears, and pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of forceps births. Babies are at a higher risk of brachial plexus nerve damage, brain heamorrheage, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy. I'll never forget Baby Alexandra's story and how she died because of Kielland's forceps.

Hello again DLTW

I think that the forceps banned in the US (as you mentioned on your previous thread devoted to this topic) are Kiellands (rotational) forceps, not Neville Barnes forceps which are used to pull baby out.

In many cases by the time NB forceps are suggested, baby is too far down the birth canal for a CS - if a CS was done in these circumstances then forceps would need to be used to pull the baby back up to the uterus before delivery.

I'll add that you seem oddly preoccupied with the risks of forceps, and would remind you that CS is not risk free. I did find the study in the BMJ where it stated the risk of death was up to 16x higher and linked that to your previous thread on forceps (just to show I'd not pulled the figure out of a hat!)

As this thread is asking for positive stories I shall now retreat to allow posters to continue to post exactly those

Flisspaps, the risk of maternal mortality with a c section is TWICE that of a VB not, 16. Your information is from the 1990s, and no longer applicable.

I'll just look for a link to confirm this for you. It's on mums net as well if you'd like to check.

No a CS is not risk free at all but I'd take the risks of a CS any day over the horrendous risks of a forceps birth. Funnily, I prefer the risk of staph infection to the risk of lifelong fecal incontinence or sexual dysfunction.

Read this-

www.pregnancycare.eu/pregnancy/labour-and-delivery

It's a comprehensive list of studies that prove that forceps are associated with the highest risk of morbidity.

journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2006/09000/postpartum_maternal_mortality_and_cesarean.12.aspx

This link is from 2006 when the maternal mortality from c sections was thrice that of VB.
It as now reduced to twice, but I can't find find the link :( I'll post it as soon as I can locate it...

As for Neville Barnes forceps, most OBs in USA would still prefer c sections because a lot of them were sued for forceps related injuries(they are the leading cause of birth injuries). There was an article stating that forceps use will soon be completely abandoned in USA.

Here's a link that states how forceps are responsible for intracranial risks to the baby

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1981.tb01211.x/abstract