Did you have a forceps birth?

[RhymingRabbit3]

I'm just looking for more info from mums who had a birth assisted by forceps. I was under the impression it wasn't that common and forceps were only used when it was really necessary. However, I know a surprising number of people who had forceps used. Of these many seem to have had later pelvic floor and continence issues, had to have c sections for subsequent births and/or had very difficult recoveries. I have also heard of a few babies with damage from the forceps (beyond mild scratches etc that you might expect). For this reason I am seriously considering having on my birth plan that I do not consent to the use of forceps.
Did anyone have forceps and then a simple recovery? Any stories good or bad which could inform my decision? Many thanks

I had forceps with my son, it took a while to heal and was itchy. But I can't say there's been any complications or anything.. although I cannot bounce on a trampoline without pissing myself

And my second child was much easier, I didn't need any assistance with her, she pretty much just flew out

I had a forceps birth after a very long and difficult delivery, with DC1. Recovery was rough but no long term issues. I was running again by about 8 weeks, and seriously racing again by six months PP.

Three years later, I had a quick, natural, water birth with DC2.
No continence issues either, and I regularly run marathons for fun

I had a forceps birth with a difficult recovery and some continence issues. It wouldn’t have been my choice but it was the best/only option at the time. My daughter’s head was in a difficult position: I ended up having up an 8 hour second stage: I started out in water, then when it became apparent things weren’t progressing, had an epidural and tried a bit longer as she wasn’t in distress. Went to theatre, was told would consider ventouse or forceps, but on examination was apparent ventouse wouldn’t have worked. Was prepped for emergency c section but forceps worked.

Good luck with your birth. The reason I shared the above is that it wasn’t really a choice for any of the team, but the best option at the time x

I had forceps with my first and had none of the issues you mentioned - in fact the women I know that have had forceps haven't either. I was obviously sore and bruised for a while but there was no lasting damage and I only had a really small tear. The babies head was stuck in my cervix and no amount of pushing would've resolved it. In my experience they try hard not to use them unless absolutely necessary

I did, 11 years ago, resulting in a 3rd degree tear. I was "allowed" a certain amount of time pushing and then rushed to theatre for an episiotomy and forceps. No obvious risk to baby. Hopefully things are better for mums in labour now.

Recovery was fine. I suffer from a certain amount of stress incontinence (urinary only) (not sure it's any worse than many other mums, though, based on chats with friends. I won't be going on a trampoline any time soon!). Second baby was born at home, 2nd degree tear, healed fine.

Yes twice and both were during emergency c sections. Sometimes the well being of your baby is the most important thing over how they come out.

My daughter's 30 and I had a forceps birth. If I hadn't, I'd still be pushing, so be careful what you ask for!

The doctors really don't use forceps unless they have to.

I had forceps with my first. I didn’t want them beforehand but when it came to emergency C section or try forceps first I agreed.
No issues with babies and recovery was ok, a few days and issues with feeding but that was more because of the spinal block and epidural and drip
I had a vaginal HomeBirth for my second, nobody mentioned you need a c section for subsequent births

Yes I had episiotomy and forceps. It is the biggest mistake of my life - I’m still in pain from nerve damage which is likely to be permanent and my pelvic floor was torn from my public bone so I can’t strengthen my pelvic floor muscles properly. Standing or walking for any time or distance is uncomfortable and I certainly can’t run or do any proper exercise. I also have prolapsed bowel and bladder which I find incredibly distressing.

My son is fine though!

Lots of women have forceps and are ok though! Some have a better recovery than those who have no interventions.

My own view, which is of course tainted by my own experiences, is that forceps are barbaric. They are better than a brain damaged or dead baby so I’m not saying there is no place for them, but the risks to the mother are appalling. lots of women recover well. However nearly half have levator avulsion (the muscle coming away) and are more likely to end up with incontinence and prolapse in the short and long term. Pelvic floor damage is trivialised by the NHS but it is ruining my life.

I also had no forceps on my birth plan. it was the only thing on there along with don’t give me an epidural because it will increase my chance of forceps! Unfortunately (and I’m not a doctor so may stand corrected) I think the only way to guarantee no forceps will be inserted into your vagina is to have a planned caesarean (like I am for my next child for exactly this reason). I had no real choice but to agree to them because the baby was in severe distress and at risk of brain injury.

Equally if they use them because you’ve been pushing ages and the baby wont come out, i don’t think it’s very easy to move to a caesarean at that point, though you could request ventouse first.

Good luck whatever you decide

Yes - same issues with trampolines as other posters, but otherwise I'm fine. DS would probably have been born dead or brain injured without a forceps-assisted delivery so I'm very grateful for them.

I had a difficult forceps delivery and my problem after delivery was piles made worse by terrible constipation (sorry tmi) I don't think that was anything to do with the forceps just pressure delivering a 10lb baby. No more babies but the previous one was a c section and I was desperate to not have another, they were on the verge on taking me into theatre and dr said one last push with forceps and we'll see what we can do and there he was.

28 years later I don't have incontinence, hopefully I'm in the clear.

They had to use forceps to get my son out during a c section.
You can put whatever you like in your birth plan but the doctors and midwives will do whatever they have to when the time comes to ensure you and baby are safe and healthy.

I had forceps during a vaginal birth following a c section with my first. No problems (although it bloody hurt as no epidural ... but that’s another story). Please DO NOT rule anything out. The medical staff will only do what is necessary to get your baby out safely. I had attempted a home birth with my first and ended up with an EMCS. I had always said that I would follow the midwife advice and when they advised me to transfer to hospital I did. The next day I met a woman in the post labour ward who had insisted on home birthing even after a 48 hour labour, failure to progress and meconium in the waters: her baby was brain damaged, essentially because she had absolutely refused to countenance the idea of giving birth in hospital. You simply never know what will happen and to a certain extent you have no choice but to listen to medical advice.

They tried forceps with dc1 who was stuck mid pelvis. They didn't work and he was delivered by emcs. The bruising from said forceps was more painful than the section wound and that's without any cuts/tears. I felt like someone had repeatedly kicked me between the legs until everything was bruised and swollen. No long lastening issues though. 3 people in my ante-natal class had forcep deliveries. 2 had no issues, the 3rd ended up tearing really badly and lost a lot of blood.

C-sections done at full dilation also come with risks including pph and NICU stays for the baby so it's a balance I think. As far as a I can tell, baby position is a big factor. I wouldn't consent to Kiellands (the rotational ones) because everyone I know who has ever talked about their delivery had a terrible time with blood loss/incontinence etc but the others, I don't think it's so simple.

I had an undetected surprise breech baby and had forceps. 4 normal deliveries after that. My daughter had forceps with her first baby also. Neither of us have had any issues since, although very tender afterwards. My baby was badly bruised and so was I, but it was a breech delivery 6 weeks early so probably to be expected! They don’t use forceps for fun.

I had forceps with my first. I suffered a third degree tear and was left with an enterocele and a rectocele that needed corrective surgery a few years later.

I don’t think there was any other option at the time though. DD was too low down for a c section by the time they took action. Although I had a three day labour so I do feel that they ought to have made a call to do a c section a lot earlier.

I still get really pissed off if I think about it all to be honest.

I did, however I had an undiagnosed breech baby, a very quick labour.... I was being prepped for GA and C section but he was out in 12 mins of arriving in theatre. He was in distress and not breathing and there was no time to think.

I'm still recovering and hopeful my pelvic floor will just get stronger. It's only been 12 weeks. I wouldn't change it as he may not have made it.

You can put what you want on your plan, but no one looked at mine. I was blue lighted to the hospital and straight to theatre. A c-section was the big no for me, but I just wanted baby out and safe, my body reacted and he was too far out before they could prep me.

I had forceps, a third degree tear and episiotomy.

I do have some incontinence issues but these are getting better.

Baby has a scar under his eye.

Got him here safely and still better than a c section. Let the pros decide.

still better than a c section

Matter of opinion!

Just to add he was a cranky baby, much more so than my other 3. My sister had the same experience one easy baby and a very cranky forceps baby. Also both our forceps babies wanted to suck all the time. Not sure if that is common. HV said something like they might be experiencing pain/headache due to the force used and sucking can help with the pressure. Don't know if she was humouring me or that is a thing.

I had forceps with DS1. Didn't have an episiotomy though. It was just a case of maternal exhaustion after a very long back to back labour and a need for minor assistance to lift him out. No problems with recovery, no continence issues.

Second one popped out easy peasy.

They don't just use forceps for the fun of it! Sometimes it's the fastest way to get the baby out when there's a complication e.g. baby's heart in distress after a long labour.

I had forceps and I do think that internally there was some damage that took time to heal, it's hard to tell how much was from the forceps and how much was from tearing and episiotomy. My son was delivered safely though and he had no issues afterwards, he briefly had a couple of red marks on his head from the forceps but these disappeared within hours after birth.

My second birth was a water birth at home and I had no episiotomy or interventions and zero tearing.

I did. I specifically said I didnt want them either and in the middle of labour I was told "not to be silly" and that they wouldnt do a c section and I had forceps. So much for a birth plan eh? I refused to do a birth plan for my second and the midwife was like "why???" when I told her that my first birth plan was completely ignored she couldn't say much to that and shut up.

I had forceps and episiotomy. No pelvic floor issues at all, in fact I was the only one of my nct group who didn't have issues with incontinence which I put down to being obsessive with a kegel app during pregnancy, doing it 3-4 times a day at the highest setting. did the same in second pregnancy and I can still jump on a trampoline without any wetness which I'd say is a result!

Baby had a slight red mark which faded after a few days and no other side effects