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! :(

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!