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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Anyone refused forceps and insisted on cs

75 replies

Floozie66 · 10/02/2017 09:20

After reading all the horror stories fro forceps i have come to the conclusion that a lot wonen are left with more gynae problems following forceps which are often left untreated by the nhs compared to problems following cs. Therefore if push comes to shove i would elect cs over forceps delivery - mw had also advised that baby can be pushed back up to facilatare this. Jusy wondering if anyone had a major battle with the obstetrician regarding this choice or was pushed into forceps delivery by saying it was too late for a cs

OP posts:

savagehk · 10/02/2017 11:01

As with baby and thewrath I had Keillands forceps. No damage to me or baby (tear, stitches for me, but no negative side effects). I was prepped for forceps or cs if that didn't work (unlike baby they did tell me that in advance).
I have read elsewhere that forceps are sometimes still required in a cs birth to get the baby back out of the birth canal, not sure how true this is, but worth looking into if you are determined for a csec rather than forceps.

Helspopje · 10/02/2017 11:05

There are two types of forceps
High rotational forceps as per pp memtioning kleiland upthread
Low lift out

V different things and v different levels of risk both to their use and to the prospect of moving to cs in their place

Youd need to specify which you were declining in your birth plan to make if in any way useful

ACatCalledFang · 10/02/2017 11:06

Forceps are indeed sir times required in CS births. My DS had to be extracted using forceps in an EMCS, and I was only 2cm dilated - it was never explained to me why they used forceps (but was mentioned quite casually to DP) but I assume it's because he was quite low down/wedged in an awkward position.

ineedwine99 · 10/02/2017 11:07

I had forceps and no problem, baby wasn't coming down despite pushing and she was getting distressed so despite me originally saying no forceps i was at the point i'd have let them do anything to ensure she was ok. I was prepped for theatre just incase forceps hadn't worked so they could have done an emergency c section if needed

indigo13 · 10/02/2017 11:26

I had a forceps delivery and it was fine. I know its not a nice idea and some people have issues after but I cant see how you'd rather have major emergency surgery!

Mummyme87 · 10/02/2017 11:28

Yes forceps are regularly needed at a CS if the presenting part is in the pelvis

Trulyamnearanear · 10/02/2017 17:00

My labour was mostly me begging for a cs and being told no. It very much seemed like because they didn't have to do a cs they weren't going to do it. When ds was the wrong way round it was straight into theatre and forceps. I had no choice through the experience but I can accept that statistically they took the path with least risk.

mimiholls · 10/02/2017 20:05

You must consent to forceps, they cannot use them without consent. Though in the moment you will not be in a fit state to give informed consent either way. If you adamantly will not consent to forceps then I would make sure all staff are aware of this as soon as possible so you can discuss options earlier rather than later.

raindripsonruses · 10/02/2017 20:09

I was told they didn't have enough staff on for a cs. 10 years on, still living with consequences of botched repair.

pitterpatterrain · 10/02/2017 20:10

I had on my birth plan forceps declined (mainly high rotational) - discussed with the consultant midwife (was planning a VBAC)

During birth with DD2 they prepped me for CS when she was taking a while to be pushed out, ended up VBAC in theatre but the alternative of EMCS was certainly fine and my refusal of forceps not a problem

FatOldBag · 10/02/2017 20:17

I had to have forceps. They said they couldn't do c-sec as it was too late, she was too far down but stuck. It was no worse than a C-section though, I had to have one for my second baby.

Sandsnake · 10/02/2017 20:41

I really didn't want forceps and the potential for the associated damage. One of the variety of reasons that I chose an ELCS. Totally right choice for me, but not for everyone.

BaskingTrout · 10/02/2017 22:39

Dd was a deep transverse arrest, meaning she was back-to-hip rather than back to back. She got very stuck and she had to be pushed back up to get her out. I had a trial ventouse in theatre, 3 attempts, which failed. Forceps were being mentioned, I said clearly I didn't want them. I had an emcs but I don't know if what I said was listened to and that's why they didn't use them, or if she was in such a bad position that the doctors thought it wouldn't work or a section would be better.

Original poster

Floozie66 · 11/02/2017 09:54

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. Its good to know the basis prior to labour on which decisions are made as once it gets to that point in labour its easy to be coerced into anything !!! Or be completely irrational 😀

OP posts:

LaPharisienne · 11/02/2017 19:49

Coerced. Really?!

EveMoneypenny · 11/02/2017 20:35

I refused Kielland's forceps at fully dilated and had a c-section. I wasn't offered the choice, but I just point blank refused the forceps so they had no other option. I had a very smooth recovery and I am completely sure I made the correct decision for me and my baby.

bringonyourwreckingball · 11/02/2017 20:43

I had a forceps delivery. There were about 25 people in the room as I had to be prepped for emergency cs if it didn't work. That was a little unnerving. My abiding memory however is the doctor bracing her foot on the end of the bed to get more traction and the audible 'pop' when dd1 shot out.
I was thankfully left with no serious problems but poor Dd1's head was so bruised and it ruined our prospects of breastfeeding. Dd2 was a general anaesthetic section and outcomes were much better. I think forceps are a bit barbaric

TabbyTurmoil · 12/02/2017 07:12

I had forceps. It was too late for c section and there was no choice. I consented rationally and without coersion knowing I couldn't do otherwise without serious risk to my baby. I remember it very clearly and I absolutely understood what was going on and why c section and ventouse were not options.

SpookyPotato · 13/02/2017 20:55

Same as sandsnake, one of the many reasons I had ELCS for both mine.

moobeana · 14/02/2017 10:00

My experience of this is a definite yes.

I have a blood clotting disorder which is genetic, so my baby could have had it too. This mean that both myself and my baby had risks during birth. The most major ones were presented by forceps and ventouse. My DH was given a direct number to call, text or have paged should he need to and he was told in no uncertain terms that if anyone tried to use forceps or ventose he was to 'physically stop them and send for the haematology team to back him up.'

If I was in the position to need them my baby would have been pushed back up and I would have had a cs.

Fortunately I had 2 natural birth with no complications so I never needed to follow through.

I don't know if this helps, but it doesn't show there is medical reasoning for offering cs over forceps in some cases.

Sparrowlegs248 · 14/02/2017 14:14

I had ds2 by vbac on Saturday. I didn't want an assisted delivery, but had no choice in the end. Ds was a smidgen off 11lb and back to back, and my blood pressure and heart rate plummeted putting us both at risk. Ventouse was tried first, failed. Baby was turned manually, and delivered with forceps. It was that or an emcs under GA which I'm.glad I avoided.

At the end of the day, the Dr's went with what was best for baby and me.

Hermitmummy · 14/02/2017 14:23

I refused forceps they tried ventouse but baby wouldn't come out so then I had a choice of kielands forceps or they pushed the baby back up and did a EMCS.

I agreed to the kielands forceps and there were no issues baby had a little bruised face for a while and I had an episiotomy but both have healed well.

The consultant was really nice and came to check on us on the postnatal ward to reassure me the baby hadn't been hurt by the forceps they were really accommodating.

MiaowTheCat · 14/02/2017 14:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FartnissEverbeans · 16/02/2017 06:05

I had ventouse. It was fine, in fact I didn't even realize it was happening (I was in so many different layers of pain by that point that I had no idea what was going on). I've had a few follow up issues but I don't know if they're ventouse related or just childbirth related.

Apparently it failed and the dr stuck both his hands in and pulled the baby out.

I only know that from my husband's account of things. I gave birth abroad and wasn't given any debriefing, or really any meaningful information about what was happening to me, so I'm still not sure how they got him out in the end.

3luckystars · 16/02/2017 06:14

I'm not into birth plans but I did have one for this reason, it was about 2 lines long!

'Hi my name is Lucky, I am happy with whatever happens on the day and am perfectly fine with having a c section at any stage, but do not want forceps used under any circumstances. Thank you.'

It was stapled into my file and I had a copy in my labour bag.

Lucky for me my last 2 births were very quick it was never even mentioned.

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