2 forceps deliveries - what happens if I have a 3rd baby?

[Kveta]

I have no intention whatsoever of having a 3rd, but that's probably got a lot to do with the 2nd only being 5 days old, so all the hell of pregnancy/labour/birth etc is still very fresh in my mind!

anyway, with my 1st baby, I had a low forceps delivery due to failure to progress, as was pushing for 90 minutes and no sign of baby. Had tearing and episiotomy. It was all rather unpleasant, so in second pregnancy, I asked consultant what the likelihood was of a second forceps delivery, and was told virtually zero. Was assured that there was no reason they could see that I would have anything other than a natural vaginal delivery.

So on tuesday, after pushing for an hour, and no sign of baby, I was whisked into theatre, with surgeons muttering about c-sections and maybe trying forceps. Once there, and pain relief sorted, they discovered that DD was back to back and had her head presenting the wrong way, so decided to do a rotational forceps delivery.

Post-natally, EVERY midwife said 'this is your first baby then' and when I said no, they expressed surprise that they hadn't read my fucking notes that I had needed forceps. It seems that it is not normal to need them in 2 pregnancies.

So I am now concerned that if DH and I were ever foolish enough to have another, I'd end up with forceps again. Given the state of my nether regions after 2 forceps babies, I am seriously thinking about a chastity belt to avoid this scenario.

I just wondered if anyone else has had 2 or more forceps deliveries, and if so, was it explained why?

I don't know the answer but just wanted to sympathise. I know after forceps without epidural with DD I tell myself it won't happen again so I have an idea of how shocked you must be especially after consultant confirmed it was so unlikely.

I hope you heal quickly and are enjoying newborn snuggles.

Hi - interesting you ask as I had two forceps deliveries and am due with my third in two days!

Never explained exactly why but similar sort of story - first was without pain relief and was awful. Pushed enough both times for baby's head to crown but I think rotation was the problem both times so I think I need the forceps to correctly rotate the baby's head. Midwife said at my last appointment that I should have alerted the hospital to this earlier this time round (I did!) and that it was unusual - maybe something to do with my pelvis? Talked about doing a c-section this time but I would still rather have a third forceps delivery than a section, however traumatic those deliveries were.

I'm getting scared now myself as due so soon and no idea what to expect. Was also induced with the first two but have no idea whether I'll go into natural labour this time or not. I suspect I might as have been having various pains and twinges that I didn't have with the other two.. it's very confusing.

Midwife also commented that it was wrong of the hospitals both times to not brief me properly at the time and after as to why forceps were necessary. I still don't know for sure.

I have 3 DCs. DC1 & 3 were both forceps deliveries as were both back to back and needed turning to get them out.
A midwife told me afterwards that the shape of my pelvis probably encourages them into the back to back position so there would be a good chance of further DCs also being back to back. Whether this would also mean further forceps deliveries I don't know.

thanks, sorry to hear you went through this too. will have to ask for a debrief and see what they say.