Forceps no episiotomy

[cantreachmytoes]

I recently started a thread about good forceps births, assuming, wrongly that an episiotomy would be considered part of a "bad" outcome.

So has anybody had forceps with no episiotomy and no more that 1st degree tears? I'm asking because that's what I had and I'm wondering if it's really unusual or something that does happen but because we tend to air complaints online, I just haven't come across similar stories.

iPhone and my fingers clearly don't gel when it comes to commas!

We've got some new drs at our hospital who seem to hate ventouse cups. So they are using forceps for a straightforward low cavity lift out where I'd normally expect to see a ventouse used. In this case it wouldn't be unusual to see no epis and only a small tear.

But normally for a more routine higher up forceps then you have an epis.

I had a low cavity forceps - they didn't even try the ventouse and did an epis before even attempting forceps.

Hi, not exactly what had you been asking for... anyway:)
I had ventouse and no episiotomy at all.
Doctors said it did not happen for a long time.
I am so proud of my fanjo;)))

Ventouse doesn't increase the diameter of the head but forceps does. Forceps deliveries are often quicker which allows less time for the perineum to stretch. Most obstetricians will use an epis because of the possibility of an avoidable 3rd degree tear - there would be little defence in court (and people have gone to court) for not using one if there was time. (Don't do O+G any more but I used to.)

I had H-F forceps for my first and had an epi. I had ventouse with my third, no epi, 2nd degree tear (he was quite a bit heavier than the previous two and had cord wrapped round his neck and shoulder).

I had forceps delivery with my DD, no epi. 2nd degree tear, healed well. Have double prolapse and lopsided fango from stitch up though, all of which the NHS refuse to do anything about.

I had ventouse (failed) and then forceps for my 2nd child's delivery. I'd had an epidural anyway. I asked the doctor not to do an episiotomy - didn't refuse it, but said that I would really, really rather not have one if it was at all possible. She was bloody wonderful (now a consultant). She delivered my 8lb 8oz son without giving me a single graze. I also had hardly any blood loss. I will be eternally grateful to her. (It's not that I have a particularly stretchy vagina either - I tore with the natural delivery of my first baby.)

I've spoken to the obstetrician at my 6 week appointment and it seems that she used the forceps to 'unstick' the baby and bring him further down the canal, but she did not bring him out. She then removed the forceps and I pushed. His heart rate etc was still fine, he was just stuck (and had been for quite a while).

She said that she does on average 1 episiotomy a year because she doesn't like them!