If forceps are needed is there usually time for an epidural first?

[ALS17081982]

I've got a back to back baby and from my reading tonight it sounds like forceps are common with this position. I've not done any research into forceps because it is my absolutely worst childbirth fear. What I want to know is, if the consultant says forceps are going to be needed, will there be time to have an epidural first (if I haven't already!)? Thanks

I am thinking about having another baby and this thread is putting me off. I've had 2 with no real complications but still the worry. I'm sure my fist was back to back and I didn't need forceps infact they didn't make any kind of big deal about it. They also left it so late to give me the epidural that I could feel my son's head coming out before I even had it, I had been asking for one for hours though! Also had it I my birth plan, fist baby and I was making sire I had the option. Didn't have time for one with the second though apparently (actually they just didn't have anyone available to give me one)

Hi OP, my second labour was back to back. I felt all the contractions only in my back and just couldn't bear to stay on the bed. I felt compelled to walk around and felt as if the pain was chasing me. I paced round and round the room like a caged animal. It was very tiring but I just couldn't stop and lie down, so nobody could have come near me with a needle! I walked for several hours. Eventually I got on the bed, propped upright with lots of pillows, and delivered with three good pushes. Baby had rotated while I was pacing...gravity is a wonderful thing! This was in ye olden days, when epidurals were rarely used. Wishing you all the best.

To balance my earlier comments, my labour was unusual and i think most back to back babies turn. The consultant said only one in three thousand back to back babies are actually born 'star gazing' as mine was.

One thing that I think helped me was a tens machine, because the pain is in your back and the tens attaches directly there. Pressing the button gave me a way to answer the pain iyswim.

I agree that the goal is safe delivery for baby and mother. Be prepared for changes to the way you envision it but your hypnotherapy can help you deal with it all.

Best of luck, I hope this thread has helped rather than hindered. I went on to have another baby so that maybe shows it is totally doable.

Babies change position. Mine was in the perfect position when I went into labour and then turned the wrong way and started going back to back. 2 days of labouring in that direction and little progress and stressed baby meant epidural and forceps for me. It really was horrendous and I was grateful not to be able to feel anything below my shoulders.

As others said, no, if forceps are truly needed, it’s an emergency situation. But there’s no reason you need forceps for a back to back baby.

Both of mine were back to back and turned in labour. I did have an extended 2nd stage with my first (4 hours), but there’s nothing bad about that as long as mum and baby are doing well (we were, she just needed time to turn). 2nd stage with my 2nd was 50 minutes. I had two perfectly natural home births and the 2nd was actually pretty quick, despite being back to back. Stay I

Sorry baby posted for me! Stay upright and active and you’ll likely be just fine.

Just had my first 2 weeks ago. She was in the right position for over 3 months and turned back to back in labour.

After 48 hours labouring at home and 3 hours pushing I had to transfer In for episiotomy and ventouse. I had in my birth plan that I wanted neither unless there was a risk to baby, and her heart rate was dropping so I agreed as I just wanted her out at that point.

Hypnobirthing and tens machine helped massively, but it was ridiculously painful! I. Glad I wasn't in hospital to be honest as I really didn't want an epidural and I probably would have done to get rid of the pain!

We did hypnobirthing and had heart set on water birth. Baby decided that was not the plan. Was a big baby, not dropping and turned back to back right at the end.
Ended up with full induction (waters, drip), epidural (at my request because once the induction got to that point i wasnt going to be able to get in the water anyway and I didn't fancy syntocin without pain relief). And then emergency c section at the end because baby still wouldn't come out.

We spent the day in a room with my epidural, eating food, listening to my hypnobirthing playlist, with my pretty lights and projector. It was so unbelievably relaxing. Staff kept coming in to our room and asking if they could hide in there as it was so lovely and chill. it was the epitome of hypnobirthing except I was not in any pain. I felt so relaxed even when we then had to do the EMCS at the end. Looking back i couldn't be happier with my birthing experience and wonder why ideas so fixated on whybit absolutely had to be a water birth (and I was so set on it). Baby came safely, it was all calm and the essence of what I wanted was all the same even without the pool etc. It's not a failure to have an epidural if you've planned a hypnobirthing pool birth :) It's about how you adapt what you have learnt and apply it to plan B, C or D. Because as I have learnt babies don't do sticking to the plan.

Hope you have a wonderful birthing experience x