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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Putting a clip on the babies head during labour - should it have hurt that much?

19 replies

TotallyKerplunked · 30/07/2012 21:37

I was reading the thread in the pregnancy topic about how painful people found labour but I couldn't find any mention of pain when putting a clip on the babies head to monitor the heartbeat.

For me that was the most agonising part of my labour and it is still the bit that upsets/obsesses me nearly a year later. That was the only point in the labour where the pain was unbearable and I screamed.

I was 1-2cm when I was taken to delivery (BP had soared), DS was struggling and there were whispers of a CS, this obstitrician came in and without saying a word to me or DH shoved his hand up to put a clip on DS, it seemed to take ages and I was struggling and screaming at DH to make him stop. He left and 3 contractions later DS was born. Apart from the pain I felt violated, I wasn't asked/informed about what he was going to do and he never even bothered to say "i'm DR X"

I had a healthy baby and fortunately my bits weren't left in a bad state so I dont feel I have a right to moan and DH cant understand why it bothers me so much (its become a bit of a issue during sex). Did anyone else have this done and find it painful or is it just me being a drama queen?

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hugandroll · 30/07/2012 21:42

I didn't feel it as I'd had an epidural by this point (on ds1). It prob hurt due to you being so little dilated. If its affecting your sex life you may have PTSD, you can request a birth debrief from your hospital to go through why it happened, why your weren't asked etc.

YoulllWinGoldOneDay · 30/07/2012 22:02

That is appalling. If it is the case that he just walked in and carried out the procedure- that is assault. And even if your memory of what was said was wrong (not doubting you by the way, just to be very clear, just trying to illustrate a point) your memory as you have recounted it is of an assault. You are recalling being assaulted. That is why it is traumatic. Being touched, so intimately, without consent or explanation, is extremely traumatic.

From what you have said, it doesn't sound like your DH is being particularly supportive (who on earth told you you don't have a 'right' to 'moan'). It sounds like you might need to talk to someone else. There is a birth trauma hotline somewhere. And have you though about asking for a birth debrief and, if you feel it appropriate, even a complaint from there.

Rubirosa · 30/07/2012 22:11

Wow, that sounds awful - have you thought about formally making a complaint? It sounds like assault to me. Doing something to you without your consent and without stopping when asked is inexcusable.

AllBellyandBoobs · 30/07/2012 22:21

I had this done when I was about 7-8cm dilated and don't remember any discomfort despite it taking a while and two different people having a go. It sounds as though you were very unfortunate. I did have a very heavy handed midwife try to break hindwaters that didn't actually exist and that was excruciating. It still makes me wince now

Cydonia · 30/07/2012 22:30

That is shocking, I can't believe they didn't prepare you for it. I had to have it done twice as the first one came off. First time was a female doctor, she was very gentle and I had gas and air so wasn't too bad, but still hurt. Second time was a male doctor, again had gas and air, I don't know if I was just more sensitive by this point or he was a bit rough but it was much more painful that time. In fact I remember the pain from that more vividly than the pain of the actual birth!
I guess it is a painful procedure but at least I had it explained to me beforehand and had the chance to use pain relief. I also had to have two blood samples taken from the baby's head and a ventouse delivery so I felt like I spent the whole labour with my legs up in stirrups! It's not nice and you do feel violated, but the doctors and midwives were really good and I felt that the procedures were explained to me with the pros and cons and my choices. I think if you feel this wasn't the case with your delivery maybe you should contact the hospital and see if you can discuss it with someone.

tara0202 · 30/07/2012 22:33

I had a clip put on baby's head both times and it wasn't that bad really. Sounds like you had a terrible doctor :(

Original poster

TotallyKerplunked · 30/07/2012 22:46

I've applied to get a copy of my birth notes, not sure how helpful that will be but at least I would know his name.

According to DH he came into the room and spoke to MWs in the corner then told DH to turn me on my side and put my leg in stirrup so they could hear DS better. No mention of the procedure, DH was shocked but thought it was normal, and tbh he was more concerned with stopping the trainee massacreing my wrists with the cannula.

I don't know if a complaint would do anything, surely they would just say they had verbal consent and had to act quickly in the circumstances?

OP posts:

Rubirosa · 30/07/2012 23:00

I think a complaint would do something - hopefully it would mean the doctor involved received some training not to assault anyone else! If he didn't have verbal consent and your DH can back you up on that then the hospital should take this very seriously.

Wiggy29 · 31/07/2012 00:06

I agree that this sounds very upsetting and unprofessional. I had a different experience but, like you, despite having a painful labour, my real fear this time round is a feeling of lack of control (through not being consulted/ informed of options/ procedures). I think I will approach things very differently this time round as I'm less naive and I'll ensure that DP knows my exact intentions and will push that for me if I'm not in a position to myself. Hope you get some answers.

YoulllWinGoldOneDay · 31/07/2012 08:46

Yes, it is possible that they will close ranks and say something like that there was verbal consent, it was a confusing situation, etc. BUT they will sit down and talk to all the staff involved. The consultant will have to explain what he did and why. And that will mean that, regardless of the outcome of the investigations, he will know the upset he caused.

I had a totally different maternity care complaint, but that aspect was quite important to me. As it was, they did cover their backs a bit, but at the same time instituted some new training, which I felt was an admission that there had been a problem and they needed to do better in future.

elizaregina · 31/07/2012 15:29

please please please complain of course it would do something, it would make that man stop and actually tell another lady exactly what he was doing...

if you dont say anything how on earth would he know that it was wrong?

you dont have to take it to the law courts - and get compensation but even call PALS _ the patient advisory liason service and tell them....if its too upsetting to go into it much you can tell them that also and you want feedback as to what has been done - but you wanted to tell them as you never want him to do it again to someone else...

you poor poor thing.

LLLaura · 31/07/2012 17:03

you are perfectly justified in feeling the way you do, at the very least you should make the head of midwifery aware of the appalling treatment you were subjected to, so that it can be highlighted to this doctor that this practice is not justified and should not contunue.

a. they can't do things like that to you without informed consent
b. it is inexcusable not to even introduce themselves
c. you have the right to be heard, and they should have respected your objection and stopped immediately, it is effectively assault.

I know this as I had a similar experience with 4 different people trying to break my waters when I was only 1-2 cm dilated, utterly excruciating, and still the memory which I cannot suppress. Again people took their turn without speaking a word to me or introducing themselves.

It does sound like PTSD, there are good websites with advice, but a full de-brief might help start the process of healing for you.

LLLaura · 31/07/2012 17:05

p.s. I would suggest you ask for a de-brief, then you go through your notes in detail with a senior person from the hospital. To ask for a copy means they charge you, which is frankly adding insult to injury!

BuntyCollocks · 31/07/2012 18:02

I didn't feel it. The foetal blood samples, however ... I blacked out and came round to DH and DM in tears.

Cydonia · 31/07/2012 20:31

Actually I think it might have been the blood samples that I felt the most, it's all a bit of a blur! But let's face it, any type of internal exam/procedure is, at best, uncomfortable and you should always be prepared for it by the staff present.

newyearsday · 07/08/2012 20:24

How awful. Please, please, please make a formal complaint about this doctor.

I made a complaint about the registrar who attended me in labour. She was physically very rough with me, made me lie on a bed for hours with back contractions, every procedure she (roughly) attempted needed doing again and I kept being told off for moving! She didn't communicate with us about what and why she wanted to do things, and one procedure/intervention led to another, I felt like an observer rather than a participant. The monitor on the baby's head was a shock (she didn't ask, she told me and then her arm was up me, it didn't work, she told me to stop moving, and tried again). Yes, it was agony!

I definitely had trauma afterwards from her treatment of me.

I complained via the PALS office. I received an apology letter which answered some of my questions. I also had a debrief with a obs consultant, who was very apologetic, which helped enormously. The registrar in question had moved on to another hospital but I was assured my complaint would feed into her training programme. I read a book about birth trauma and others about c-sections and vbac. I had some counselling. I was motivated to heal because one day I wanted to have another baby.

emsyj · 09/08/2012 18:19

I had a clip on DD's head during labour, but I was almost fully dilated at that point and it didn't hurt.

You must complain, they should offer you a meeting so that you can talk about what happened and resolve the issues for your own peace of mind. You can then think about whether you want to take it any further. You're not being a 'drama queen' to still be concerned about something that is making you upset a year after the event.

Coles22 · 19/12/2018 16:37

This reply has been deleted

This post has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

Orsy2017 · 20/12/2018 15:48

I've had to make a formal complaint so it is worth it. It was worth it to me to come face to face with the bitch that tried to use forceps on me after I? explicitly told her 'no'!
My complaint is past local resolution now and I'm waiting for the final report but I will be taking it to the Parliamentary ombudsman. I was assaulted, simple as that.
I was also give suppositories without consent and found a false consent form in my file. I was fuming. I was told I'd forgotten at the meeting. I most certainly had not.
I'm complaining about that too as it is assault.
If you don't make a stance than they'll just continue to do what they want. I told her face to face what I thought of her. Made me feel so much better. Also, it left me with PTSD, so I've got that avenue to explore too. I'm not giving up.
NHS is rubbish to be honest. Maternity services are full of sadists as far as I can see.

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