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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Forceps delivery

30 replies

Maybug12 · 17/02/2016 01:09

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and now at the stage of my pregnancy where I am fed up and ready and waiting for labour to commence! I feel relatively positive about it - I don't have a strict birth plan and will go with the flow, whatever I need to do to deliver baby safely. However one thing I am absolutely petrified about is the use of forceps. I don't know why - this is my first baby so I can't put it down to previous experience. I am SO scared of this concept that I want to ask my midwife if they feel they would be needed could I have a c section instead? Or would the use of forceps be a quick decision where it would be too late to opt for a emcs? I don't know if this is even a reasonable thing to ask or if I am being over the top or silly! Also I am not in any way shape or form suggesting that a c section will be better or easier, I just have this real fear of forceps! :(

OP posts:

Runningupthathill82 · 17/02/2016 02:09

In my case it was too late for an EMCS and forceps had to be used. In the run up to labour I would've said the same as you, about wanting to avoid them.
But in the end, I just wanted my baby out quickly and safely. The forceps did that. OK, it wasn't an ideal delivery, but with the epidural I couldn't feel a thing, and I certainly didn't look, either!

Canyouforgiveher · 17/02/2016 02:35

Listen, forceps are not usual so you really shouldn't worry too much about them (I had then with a very very large baby with a very large head). But it is ok to talk to your midwife/consultant about how you would prefer a section rather than a forceps delivery.

To be completely honest, I would have preferred a c-section and wish dh and I had thought about it before hand like you have so that when they said "we need to use forceps do you consent" we would have said "well can we discuss a c section". It wasn't a complete emergency in my case-I think they could have sectioned me in time.

But hindsight is a wonderful thing and baby and I did just fine - even with a high forceps delivery that wasn't particularly skillfully performed. I didn't feel a thing because of the epidural and have had no long term consequences at all and 2 other successful birth.

really the chances of you needing that kind of assistance is low - but talk to your midwife.

OneBiscuitAtATime · 17/02/2016 03:41

Avoiding instrumental delivery was the one thing in my birth plan that I felt strongly about, and wouldn't you know it that is exactly what happened. Baby wasn't happy and this was the speediest option to get him out. When the time came all I was concerned about was getting my baby out safely.

spydie · 17/02/2016 08:53

I felt exactly the same as you OP! I'm now 16 days post delivery with forceps, and it was ok. I was induced, baby back to back and although she turned it wasn't complete and got stuck in the birth canal. She had the cord round her neck and after delivery the registrar said she wouldn't have come out on her own.

When he said about going to theatre for an assisted delivery we both asked if vontouse could be used over forceps. The answer was they had one shot at this and if it didn't work it would be an EMCS, which would be highly traumatic since she was quite far down and would need to be pulled back up.

It really was all fine honestly. I won't lie and say recovery afterwards was easy, it wasn't, but an EMCS would have been a lot worse.

I wouldn't worry about it OP, at the time you really will just want that baby out in the safest way possible :-) xx

Shadow1986 · 17/02/2016 08:59

In my case, they told me I was going to need an episiotomy (cut down there) and then ventouse (the suction cap) - I was petrified of being cut down there and I begged for a c section but it was too late and not an option.

If you feel really strongly about it I would speak to your midwife prior and see if she can reassure you or give any advice.

But just to let you know the ventouse and episiotomy was all done while I was numb, so couldn't feel it and it worked, got the babies (twins) out quickly. And I healed ok afterwards. Healed a lot lot quicker than a c section would have so in hindsight I'm glad I couldn't have the c section.

VeryPunny · 17/02/2016 09:06

Had forceps, it was fine. Only had two tiny stitches afterwards and recovery was fine. It did take about a week for contience to return and I needed to be super vigilent with the old pelvic floor exercises, but I've had 2 kids in 2 years....

The actual proceedure was utterly, totally fine.

Original poster

Maybug12 · 17/02/2016 09:12

Thank you for your replies, they are actually really helping me calm. I'm not sure why I have worked it up so much in my head - I'm not normally one to worry about something before it has even happened, just feeling particularly anxious about it, but it is good to hear your stories, so thank you x

OP posts:

Thenightswatch · 17/02/2016 09:16

I was induced and had a forceps delivery with my first, he was 9lbs 9 with a huge head.

He got stuck, I had to get a episiotomy, failed ventouse, then the forceps. It wasn't that bad, i was just glad he got out safe. I had another baby 15months later, and I'm due again a further 15 months with dc3, so didn't put me off at all. It really wasn't that bad for me, but I did have an epidural, the afterwards healing of episiotomy was worse than any forceps use.

Sparklycat · 17/02/2016 09:21

It's ok to be worked up about it OP, I have read so many horror stories about injuries to mum and baby through the use of forceps that I also did not want them used, when I went through my birth plan with my midwife and said I would say no forceps and have an emc instead she said that if forceps were needed then even if I had an emc they would use forceps the other way to pull the baby back out the birth canal so I wouldn't avoid them either way as it happened I ended up with a emc for other reasons but after the midwife saying that I just resigned myself to 'what will be will be'.

AntiquityReRises · 17/02/2016 09:29

I've had an emcs then vbac with forceps. Forceps scared me a lot too & I ended up holding the pen in my fist in the air refusing to sign the consent form & demanding a c-section! But like others, he was so far down it would've been more traumatic for him to have had to go back up.

Recovery was easier after forceps than cs.

pinguina16 · 17/02/2016 11:28

Hiya!
I'm one of the horror stories with forceps. I don't want to scare anyone so I'll keep quiet unless you ask.
I just want to clarify that risks with forceps are mainly to the mother (if you want type of risks and stats, let me know). The horror stories about babies I have heard of (in the press) is when procedures were not followed and forceps were used incorrectly.
Very happy to stand corrected by others

Sleepingbunnies · 17/02/2016 11:30

As above I am another horror story with forceps and I would do anything to avoid them. :(

Junosmum · 17/02/2016 13:04

By the time forceps are needed baby is so far down the birth canal that a section would be more dangerous. You'll probably be fine.

I had forceps. I won't tell you my story but I won't be having more children it was that awful. Baby is totally fine and the minor marks on him had gone by day 3, I agree that risk is to the mother.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 17/02/2016 13:18

I was the same, even started the exact same thread around the same time in pregnancy

My birth plan said absolutely NO forceps, I'd much much rather a section. As it happened I ended up with emergency forceps with no pain relief (no time, labour was

BendydickCuminsnatch · 17/02/2016 13:20

YY the risk is to the mother - I'm still having physio 8mo on and will be having a section next time. Didn't want to scare you OP! But I honestly still feel fab about my labour and it was brilliant :)

stairway · 17/02/2016 15:19

I think you are right to be cautious about forceps use. I've had an emcs and then a birth with ventouse.
I wouldn't want either if those again but I recovered well from both eventually.
If I had another baby I would only accept low forceps or ventouse.
If they suggest mid to high forceps I personally believe c section to better for both of you.

ValancyJane · 17/02/2016 16:12

I put a sentence in my birth plan to the effect of 'I do not want the use of forceps unless it is an emergency situation. If it becomes clear that this might be necessary I would prefer a caesarean section.' I ended up with an EMCS due to complications, and am glad I did as had the labour progressed I reckon I would have had forceps as I think she would have become very distressed and I think they would have needed her out urgently. That said, I know a few ladies from my NCT group who needed forceps and they luckily haven't had any lasting issues from them.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 17/02/2016 16:41

But be aware sometimes there is no other option and no time to be notified wether the forceps will be high/low.

stairway · 17/02/2016 17:28

The thing is bendydick .. High forceps gave to be dine in theatre as they may fake anyway and then c section would be done anyway so I'm not entirely convinced it would be quicker than a crash c section at that point.
Isn't it true they are rarely used in America now so presumably csection is always an option.
Though I do think a lift out procedure is much better than an emcs.

stairway · 17/02/2016 17:31

Oh dear many typos. Hope it makes sense. Tbh next baby I think I will ask for an elective to avoid an emergency situation as it is almost impossible to argue with drs in the throws of labour.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 17/02/2016 17:35

Ohhhh really yeah I never thought of what happens if it fails. Jeez. Don't really want to! Anyway I was never consulted on the matter. Definitely having a section next time!

BackforGood · 17/02/2016 17:38

IME, by the time forceps are being suggested, you just want baby out - if that's what they are suggesting, then that's going to be the best way.

stargirl1701 · 17/02/2016 17:40

I put in my birth plan than I refused to consent to Keillands (sp?) forceps but I would've been ok with low forceps. Didn't need them in the end at either birth.

SuperCee7 · 17/02/2016 17:53

I had a forceps delivery. They took me into the operating room and drugged me up for cses but tried forceps first. Quick little cut and baby was out a couple of minutes later. I healed fine (well- I got an infection but that's not down to the forceps) But was nothing to worry about in my case.

purplepineapples · 17/02/2016 18:20

I had a forceps delivery with my first and an episiotomy. Absolutely no issues whatsoever. It was done in theatre in case a section was required.

I wouldn't have any concerns having another if this one I'm having (currently 1 week overdue) was in the same situation. As already said, when it gets to that point you've had enough and just want the baby out quickly and safely.

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