1st Birth Statistics

[Rochwen]

I've just been reading the forceps vs ventouse thread and have thus been wondering just how often intervention is needed during first births.

So, let's start a poll.

In my NHS ante-natal class there were 9 women (including myself).

3 c/s
2 forceps assisted births
3 ventouse assisted births
1 non-instrumental birth

In my NCT ante-natal class there were 6 women.
2 c/s
1 forceps assisted births
3 ventouse assisted births

I'm no expert but it seems just from this small sample that the odds of having a totally non-assisted birth for your first child are very small. We can't all have been just unlucky.

The hosptial concerned is in Scotland and about average in Scotland in c/s etc.

I'll be interested what the stats were in your ante-natal groups and/or just your own experience for your first birth.

statistically more than 90% of birth plans do not go to plan...speculatively maybe unrealistic expectations or high unachievable goals set eg no pain relief, no interventions etc

having worked maternity i was under no such illusions...

in my postnatal group i think only 1 straight forward push push no intervention birth in total 11 women

imo, there is certain competitiveness/pressure to have au naturel birth with absolutely no interventions be it analgesia or whatever...mode of arrival does not necessarily matter its post birth that really counts eg being a mummy

My first birth was unassisted, and labour was around 8 hours, but there was meconium in the waters when they broke around the time of transition, so a resus machine was used immediately after dd1's birth.

In my NCT antenatal class there were 8 women

4 unassisted
2 forceps/ventouse
1 c/s

and 1 I can't remember. It was nearly 13 years ago. The babies were born at 3 different hospitals (none at home).

One of the unassisted births resulted in a child who didn't breathe straigt away and the crash team had to run in and stick tubes in him. He was in SCBU for 10 days but there was no long term damage.

first birth - unassisted natural delivery, only g&a as was told I was only in very early labour and it could take hours!

Based in England. I had a c section, following failed induction at 41(+10).

SIL, also in England, had a c section, elective as baby was breech and not for moving.

Out of 8 in my NCT group:
5 emergency C-sections
1 induced birth with gas and air(me)
1 unassisted homebirth
1 unassisted hospital birth (well, with episitomy and 3rd degree tear-what does that count as)

My group of friends and me 6

4 C/S
1 ventouse
1 unassisted

Thought I would revive this thread by giving the fairly positive stats for my NCT class of 7:
6 - unassisted (including 2 inductions)
1 - ventouse

All in (the same) hospital. Though there were a couple of additional compications like surgery for retained placenta. We weren't particularly anti-intervention but it seems that most of us arrived at hospital at a very late stage (so only one epidural).

viginal birth with no assistance in NHS hospital in Northampton

Really interesting stuff.

Of my friends who had their first babies last year:

1 elective c/s under general anaesthetic
1 elective (couldn't be induced after previous c/s)
2 x emergency c/s (1 x undiagnosed breech (me!), 1 x failed everything else inc. forceps)
5 x natural

All but one of the natural births assisted by epidural though.

When you compare the rates we are getting here with Ina May Gaskin's rates, over 30 years, I do have to wonder what on earth the medical profession are doing?

Ina May's CS rate is less than 2% and her intrumental delivery rate is less than 1% (I got that figure from her book Guide To Childbirth. A MUST read). She does not refuse women on basis of risk either....

Personally, I had an emCS due to shocking lack of knowledge

and VBAC with forceps and episiotemy due to protocols

this was in Tayside

Next time I plan to stay at home

I wonder how that stats would alter if they prohibited inductions before 42 weeks? Seems most inductions end up with the shit hitting the fan.

My induction at 38 weeks for preeclampsia was fine, 6 hours established labour, no pain, no drugs, no intervention but 2nd degree tear.

This is a fab thread. Very interesting

Out of my friends who have had babies
2 c/s -breech/ baby distressed
1 forcep
2 g+a
1 ventouse (me)

I thought that the interventions were due to higher birth weights -just my theory. What is the average birth weight now?
I had 9lb 1oz and I'm 5"2

From my NCT (6 babies that I know about):

2 c-section (1 failed induction/1 brow presentation)
1 Ventouse assisted
3 Non intervention (2 of which resulted in stitches)

There were 5 women in my class (including me).

1 elective CS (breech)
3 forceps deliveries (1 high forceps, 1 after failed ventouse)
1 non-assisted vaginal birth.

My first child was

Induced
Epidural
No other assistance

My DD was:

induced
epidural
gas and air
episiotomy and ventouse!

My first was a spontaneous labour, I had gas and air, TENS machine and pethidine for pain relief and a non instrumental birth with no stitches.

First birth (posterior presentation)

syntocinon drip,
gas and air,
'lucky' (?) to get away with forceps and third degree tear and avoid c/s in the end.

Second, home birth no assistance at all (no tear either

Think I was very lucky. Didn't go to classes, and had delivered before (at 21 weeks - little one lost to anencephaly) - however; 2nd stage labour was going on quite a while. Baby was quite happy, but mw said they'd have to get me ready for forceps. OK'd this, but then our consultant (lovely man) came in, rolled his sleeves up. Said "You're 9 cm dilated. We can wait, or I can try to stretch you a little". Me "i DON'T KNOW" - so he went ahead and did it. Took away the gas and air (I called him some names at this point) - shifted my legs about, and I delivered at 10lb 11oz girl (head circ 36.9) with a 2nd stage of 1hr 50 mins. Had 4 stitches, great recovery, and am so so grateful to the consultant. MW was great, don't get me wrong, but maybe more cautious than cons.

I didn't go to any classes, but with my first my waters went at 39+4 so I ended up having syntocinon drip suppose to have epidural (docters advised)but because was busy didn't get one! not to put people of lol but was hell labour I begged for cs, and came very close to having one (they thought baby was in distress) but DS came out after 5 and half hours of labour gas and air and pethadin also with only 8 minutes pushin, no other intervention and a tear on the inside that didn't need stitches.

Second, 12 hour labour just gas and air

I can add to this now!

Induced- 2 pessaries and then drip
Gas and air then epidural
They cut me so I didn't tear- 10 stitches
Baby 6lb 7

Was only induced because waters broke and then nothing happened.

Didnt attend nct class.
1st birth was unassisted, although wasnt allowed off my back due to hbp.

ds1 waterbirth at hospital - 9lb9.5
ds2 waterbirth at hospital - 10lb12.5

Dh and i went to the birth and hospital tour thing but couldnt get onto the nct course.

didnt attend anything like it with ds2.

my friend had her first baby 3 months ago and had:

entonox
pethidine
epidural
sleeping tablets
episiotomy
ventuose

baby was 6lb8 and they attended the same course at the hospital as we did.