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

It's a sad state of affairs that modern medicine still leaves childbirth such a dangerous process. While risk of death etc has dropped of course, so many women left with life long issues should be a higher priority. Nobody should be expected to be happy with urinary incontinence at "7 out of 10"
Thanks for your stories so far. I didn't need forceps for my first birth and am hoping to have a home birth for my second but obviously need a birth plan for if I do end up being transferred. Based on stories from here and friends, I would prefer a c section over forceps if possible.

I had a forceps and an episiotomy. I read that in countries like Holland forceps delivery only account for around 4% of deliveries and here it is a hell of a lot higher.

Next time (hopefully there's a next time) I will ask for a c-section if I need any intervention and will ensure this is in my birth plan.

I'd done well labouring to 9cm on just entonox but it all went wrong and really they should've sectioned me then. DS was fine thankfully apart from a black eye.

I sometimes leak a little when I go to the trampoline park with DS but apart from that it's fine. When I have my period, on the heavy day, I feel a bit achey / bruised down there.

I had an emergency section with my first (4 years ago) and an episiotomy/forceps with my second (2 years ago). I recovered from both fairly easily, though life went back to normal quicker after the episiotomy. I wee when I cough hard, etc though I don't think that's unusual after two babies? I never remember to do kegels. Anyway, both babies are fine, and I don't plan to have anymore children.

@nespressowoo interesting to look at the statistics. In the UK it seems to be about 12% of births are forceps/ventouse. If it's only 4% in other countries, I wonder what accounts for the huge difference.

It’s also quite sad to see pelvic floor damage accepted as 'the usual

I could not agree more.

I also don’t think the nhs really considers the long term consequences of forceps as the sad reality is that evidence shows women who have had forceps may have sustained damage they are unaware of which becomes apparent at menopause when the muscles are weakened due to hormonal changes. I was shocked when I was told this. I respect any woman’s right to make choices about her body and the risks acceptable to her, but I do not feel that we are warned about the true risks of forceps.

I had a forceps with dc1 21 years ago. Without it he would have died. He was well and truly stuck with the cord wrapped three times around his neck.

I had forceps- DD was OP and stuck.

The worst issue was an infection afterwards - i think some hospitals now give prophylactic antibiotics to address this risk. Might be worth asking about this if you end up with forceps or henhouse.

They used forceps to deliver my first DC who was 9lbs.

I suffered prolapse and have stress incontinence ever since. I don't know if it was the forceps that did it, or if the damage was caused by me trying to push out a big baby.

I saw a specialist urogynecologist and pelvic floor physiotherapist, but to be honest they didn't help much. I find pelvic floor exercise really challenging and never saw any progress.

I don't recall them seeking my consent to use forceps in labour and I had a lot of blood loss which wasn't great, but it got the baby out safely so I'm glad they did it notwithstanding the negative consequences for my pelvis

I had no forceps on my birth plan, mainly because I was worried about damage to my baby.

Nobody looked at my birth plan and when I was told they needed to get my baby out fast using forceps as his heart rate was dropping I couldn't have cared less as long as he came out alive.

I have lasting damage from them, DS does not, I don't regret it for an instant though.

You may need them for a safe delivery and often their is no alternative, they are more common in induced births, but the only way to guarantee you won't need them is to have a cesarian.

They used forceps with my DS1 after a very long labour but unfortunately still couldn’t get him out so ended up with emergency section. It was then discovered hours later that the forceps had made a tear between his skull and scalp. He ended up in neonatal and then through to biggest hospital in country later that night so he could see neurologist. He was in hospital 10 days or so but fully recovered. Don’t want to scaremonger though - mines was an extreme example and I know others who’ve had forceps used with absolutely no issues.

My sympathies to ask the mums who are still suffering after the births. Some of the attitudes to long term continence issues after birth are appalling and I hope you get the treatment you need.

OP, a bit sideways to the topic but I know where your coming from. I elected to have a c-section partly because I was concerned about the use of forceps and was fortunate that it all went swimmingly. I don't feel any differently to before having my baby and healed up nicely and quickly. Risks with everything, I suppose, and you pays your money you takes your choice!

I didn't have forceps and have suffered with pelvic floor and continence issues. Partly because ds2 was just huge I think (nearly 10lb🤣).

@TriangleBingoBongo sorry missed your earlier response!
The reason I ask was that I was offered forceps. I said I don't want them. And quick as a flash they said 'oh ok we will do c section'
I will always be cynical that they'd have cut me, tried with forceps in order to tick a box before performing a big surgery such as c section!
I personally haven't known anyone with c section conplkcations but lots with forceps issues long term.
Thanks for explaining your story

I had a 'high' forceps delivery with DC1 26 years ago, with a level of panic in the room and without the benefit of anaesthetic. Followed by stitches but no other physical damage to either of us; mentally I felt both violated and as if I'd been in some terrible accident. Other than the stitches I wasn't in pain after the delivery.

DC2 two years later was a normal birth (more stitches) and I felt back in control of my body again afterwards.

Yep I had forceps and it was the only thing I asked not to have but when it came down to it it was a choice between forceps or an emergency caesarean so I consented to forceps.

My baby came out quite bruised in the face from it

I had forceps and an episiotomy with my first. My dd had a tiny cut on her cheek which scarred slightly until she was about 6/7 but has disappeared now age 8. You could barely see it though.

My second was was very quick labour with a very quick birth. A tiny tiny tear that didn't even need stitching.

I healed faster with my first birth.

I personally haven't known anyone with c section conplkcations but lots with forceps issues long term

Likewise save I know one woman whose c-section scar is numb 2 years on.

Really surprised by PP who said their second birth solved their prolapse! I had basically decided on a section for this baby but now that’s got me thinking...

The reason I ask was that I was offered forceps. I said I don't want them. And quick as a flash they said 'OH(other half)ok we will do c section'
I will always be cynical that they'd have cut me, tried with forceps in order to tick a box before performing a big surgery such as c section!
I personally haven't known anyone with c section conplkcations but lots with forceps issues long term.

This is my thinking too. Many people I know "had to have forceps" but I wonder if any of them asked what the alternative was, and whether they would have chosen differently had they been fully informed. I know in the heat of the moment when a doctor says "you need forceps" many just agree to it, understandably so. However I also know a number of women and children who had complications after forceps but none with complications from a section.

I will always be cynical that they'd have cut me, tried with forceps in order to tick a box before performing a big surgery such as c section!

I had a trial of forceps without an episiotomy. Dh who was watching said they were very gentle in the circumstances. Ds didn't budge but I think I'd have always wondered if they hadn't tried. My first c-section bothered me a lot for reasons I've never quite understood. Yes, it was traumatic (hallunications, lost consciousness, had a psychotic break etc) but the feelings of failure etc I had took me totally by surprise.

They told dh afterwards they were worried if they operated I'd lose a lot of blood because of my heart rate, the length of my labour and thought it would be best for me if he came out with forceps. Obviously he didn't and despite the above, I barely lost any blood.

Interesting thread. When people say they 'had no choice' is it that the baby was too far down the birth canal, and switching straight to EMCS was not an option?
Or did the HCPs think it was the quickest and safest (for baby) way to get a baby out who was struggling?

When people say they 'had no choice' is it that the baby was too far down the birth canal, and switching straight to EMCS (emergency Caesarean) was not an option?

For me, it was all a blur. I remember screaming saying I dont want forceps, and begging for a C section. I was told "dont be silly" forceps are ok and there's no need for a C section. I have no idea if they said no because they thought forceps were safer or what, but I do remember being traumatised for ages afterwards. Noone ever explained anything to me or told me why that happened.

I said no to rotational forceps in my birth plan because it’s those that cause the majority of the damage. Rotational forceps are also often used instead of an emergency c-section by the same person who would do both so you can often ask for the section instead when the consultant sees you.

I did have a forceps delivery because baby had to be born fast - but my pushes were strong as I had a fairly fit pelvic floor and so rotational ones weren’t needed just standard ones. I also had a major PPH which now means my next birth, if I have one, will need to be a section.

6 weeks on I am no worse than I was during pregnancy and have already received a referral to the women’s physio as she booked that for me while I was recovering on the ward. The GP just needs to check how well it is healing and whether I need a gaenocology referral.

@RhymingRabbit3 the main thing you can do to avoid forceps is minimise the other interventions - especially induction and epidural. Both of these increase the risk of an assisted birth, and given the huge rate of inductions (over 40% at our hospital) it’s no surprise forceps are used relatively frequently. Statistically however, having your second baby and planning a home birth makes you significantly less likely to have interventions.

@coffeeforone I have no idea why they didn’t give me a section - the baby was high in the birth canal (had mid cavity forceps) and had been in distress since before I was fully dilated. I assume therefore a section would have been possible when they realised in distress.

The thing is I was in such pain and not really able to understand what was going on. I didn’t ask about a section and they didn’t mention it (DH who was present and not out of it has confirmed this!) so I assume they decided for me that forceps were preferable. I might ask to speak to someone about it.

I had a forceps delivery with DC1. I'd had an epidural, couldn't feel to push, then DC was starting to get a bit distressed but was low down in the birth canal. I assumed they'd do a c-section (which I didn't want) but the obstetric staff told me there was no need and they did an episiotomy and a low forceps delivery instead.

I can honestly say I had no problems whatsoever with healing, and DC was fine too. I had a normal, easy delivery with DC2 sixteen months later.