Forceps delivery

[Maybug12]

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! :(

[insideout]

My first was born (9years ago)with forceps delivery after 32hrs labour, she was back to back, stuck and very distressed. It wasnt pleasant but the only long term(non) issue is a tiny little scar on the side of dd's face its about 1mm by 3mm and no one else can see it unless you shine a light on it! my second (8years later) was born 35 minutes after the induction drip was started, no intervention needed, am currently 21 weeks pregnant with no.3!

I think its sensible to consider how you want your labour to proceed but try not to get hung up on everything going perfectly as planned, definitely speak to your midwife about your concerns and write a birth plan if you need to, just be prepared to throw it out if needed!

[Bastardshittits]

I had a failed forceps delivery, it wasn't in theatre so I assume I was a low forceps case. It wasn't particularly awful, despite no pain relief. The ventouse had failed prior to that so I was knocked out for a cat 1 crash section where DS was pushed back up to be delivered. DS ended up quite shocked and had a low apgar so spent some time in scbu. He had s nasty bruise on his face but no lasting damage.

[GiraffeHouse]

I had forceps. Asked for a section but they said too late and too dangerous as baby so far down, they would have had to push him back up and that is risky.

[TurquoiseDress]

Hi OP- I felt exactly the same as you re being petrified of forceps!

I knew the chances of me needing one were low as only a small % of women need them in the end.

But I just felt that knowing my luck I'd end up with forceps anyway!
I didn't believe that anything I wrote on my birthplan would be taken any notice of either.

So I took matters into my own hands & succesfully got an ELCS for maternal request. It was absolutely the right decision for me, baby was perfectly OK & I had a straightforward recovery.

So many people, mainly midwives, just told me to go with the flow, accept whatever would happen etc but I felt so much better once the ELCS was booked in & I could enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

I wasn't particularly reassured by my midwives telling me that they/doctors would do "whatever it takes" to get the baby out

Not sure what point I'm trying to make but ultimately it's down to you what you are comfortable with & willing to accept.

For every poster on here who says they had forceps & it was fine, there'll be another poster who had a horrendous experience with them.

Good luck & try to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

[Melmam]

Forceps here too but I also had to get a episiotomy I didn't feel a thing as I had the epidural it was the quickest way to get him out at the time. Healing was sore due to the stitches but after 2 weeks I felt fine. You will be fine just try to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy what will be will be xxx

[purplepineapples]

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.

[SuperCee7]

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.

[stargirl1701]

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.

[BackforGood]

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.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

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!

[stairway]

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.

[stairway]

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.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

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

[ValancyJane]

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.

[stairway]

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.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

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 :)

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

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

[Junosmum]

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.

[Sleepingbunnies]

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

[pinguina16]

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

[AntiquityReRises]

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.

[Sparklycat]

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'.

[Thenightswatch]

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.

[Maybug12]

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

[VeryPunny]

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.