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

They use forceps when the head is below a certain point. A section at that point would involve pushing the baby back up into the pelvis which can result in, amongst other things, brain damage and stillbirth if the baby has started to breathe like mine did. The reason why other countries don’t use Forceps as much is because they often use Ventouse instead but that can cause lasting damage to the baby

I was told "dont be silly" forceps are ok and there's no need for a C section.
That's shocking. You have to consent to any procedure including forceps and trying to make you feel stupid for expressing your preference shouldnt happen. Awful behaviour from the midwife or consultant who dismissed your choices.

@rhymingrabbit3

Yes, it was awful. I think I was in shock at the time though and just too exhausted to argue by then (had been in active labour for 24 hours by that point).

I refused consent to forceps when my son was stuck, he was brow presentation and not past the cervix. The consultant was very pushy about this but theres been a lot of bad outcomes for babies and mothers especially with high forceps.
2 babies with lasting effect in my extended family, one is now 34 with physical problems the other is 7 with his problems related to head injury from forceps.

I dont think they should be used so much, other European countries rarely use them and they're banned in some.

You absolutely can refuse consent.

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?

Both of my forceps deliveries were during EMCS. In one I was under a GA so only found afterwards. In the other I believe the baby was too high up. She died neonatally but it was nothing to do with the delivery and getting her out ASAP meant that at least we had some time with her whilst she was alive.

Yep; forceps, episiotomy, 2 2nd degree tears. Lots of meds and rest; the 4 or 5 weeks after my son was born were horrific, tbh. I lost a lot of blood (PPH 2 litres) and my kidneys failed. I was in labour for 50 hours; 20 hour second stage and 2.5 hours of pushing. Almost killed me. Rough time.

I'll be begging for a water birth next time!!!

Also have bowel prolapse and struggle walking long distances. Most forms of exercise except walking and swimming are out for me now too. I'd had an induction which is why I had such a dreadful birth.

Induction is also something I will not be automatically consenting to....

My labour wasn't progressing so at about half way (day two) a consultant explained-

What is likely to happen is we will get you to ten Cm then give you two hours pushing
Maximum. Baby will then either be far enough down for forceps or still too high (baby's head never fully engaged at any stage of my labour) and then we EMCS. He said they can't do EMCS if baby is well within birth canal as too dangerous to pull back up through stomach.

After two hours pushing (completely numb from
Epidural) they say forceps. I say no I don't want them. They say ok EMCS. I will never trust how 'easy' it was to persuade them that could section was better than forceps. Surely my baby was never engaged enough to be birthed vaginally if they 'gave up' so easily!

I’m not sure how true this is but when I asked after the birth why they used forceps I was told. Ventouse is usually used when you cant or are not able to push successfully and the baby needs assistance to be delivered. Forceps are used when the baby is in the wrong position and needs turning and can be used to help deliver if required. So they serve two different purposes.

I had forceps and a spinal block. No Incontinence issues but scaring is tight and sometimes painful.

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) (emergency Caesarean) was not an option?

Yes, that was the case for me. DS was far down the birth canal and other means of getting him out failed, including the ventouse. Both he and I were in a very bad way. His heartbeat had slowed right down and mine was sky-high. He had to be pulled out as a matter of urgency.

Nobody "chooses" forceps. For me, it was a choice between forceps or DS possibly not making it. There was no time for an EMCS. Stick "no forceps" in your birth plan if you like, but if you end up in a situation like I did, your choices won't seem so straightforward. Especially when, if it does come to an emergency, you may well be in no position to advocate for yourself. I was barely conscious when the forceps came out. I'm just grateful DS and I are both now happy and healthy.

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

I had this, fortunately I didn't find out until years ago that they were so dangerous! I didn't have a bad time - obviously very lucky. I did lose some blood but not enough to need a blood transfusion and I don't think I am any less continent than most other women (I do go to the loo a lot, especially if I have drunk coffee!). I had a very neat cut and scar although I remember it being really itchy like a pp said.

I had had every intervention going before it got to that point. Although they said in my notes that I was in labour for 10 hours (!) my son was born on the Wednesday and I started having contractions on the Saturday so they can bugger off with the 10 hours thing. My waters went and so they insisted on augmentation which is effectively like induction. But then they had to slow everything down again as baby's heart rate indicated he wasn't responding well.

I think I was lucky that I gave birth in an excellent hospital with excellent staff at a time when they were under less pressure than now (ds is 17). Maybe the outcome would not have been as happy for either of us now. I did quit while I was ahead though and didn't have any more.

I had forceps with my first. I think it is quite common, unfortunately. The initial recovery was quite unpleasant but I've had no long term issues (fingers crossed) and my second baby was born at home with no intervention. Dc1 ( traumatic forceps delivery) was also a much calmer baby than dc2 who had a lovely natural birth!

I had forceps and an episiotomy. Good recover with no issues and DS had no issues either.

My 2nd was delivered by forceps after a long initial labour and swift latter stage (went 4cm to 10cm in 30 minutes). I pushed on my own for as long as I could but DD kept bobbing back up the birth canal - exactly what happened with my first though she'd been back to back and I'd had an epidural.

This time, I'd not had any pain relief other than G&A so the consultant said she couldn't give me an episiotomy. The result was a 3rd degree tear and 2l blood loss. It took over 2 hours to stitch me up and I had to have a blood transfusion the following day. My initial post natal recovery was horrific; bowel and bladder incontinence, severe bruising and I struggled to walk. It was far worse than my recovery for the EMCS I'd had with my 1st!

I'd asked for an elective CS for my 2nd in order to prevent a repeat of my first birth. Their "compromise" was that I'd try for a VBAC and they'd operate if and when I said so. I eventually begged for a CS and they agreed, but every time they started to prep me, an emergency took precedence and what I didn't realise is that there was only one theatre. Had there been more theatres, then I've no doubt I'd have had my CS.

At my post natal follow up to check my recovery following the forceps, I had a terrible experience. The (male) gynae completely trivialised my feelings over the incontinence and fear of sex. It really upset me and I called him out on his complete lack of sensitivity. But that's another story....

Ultimately though, I'm still scared at the prospect of what could have happened if I hadn't agreed to the forceps. For whatever reason, my body can't/won't deliver vaginally, I didn't want to risk starving oxygen to my baby and there simply wasn't a theatre to go to for a CS.

And almost 3 years later I do suffer with slight stress incontinence when I have coughing or sneezing fits but if I worked on my pelvic floor more I think that could be made better.

It's an interesting thread so thought it worth sharing my story. I do think we place a lot of trust in HCP and rightly so for the majority of the time. Though they are experienced and qualified in their field, it would seem they sometimes forget we're frightened humans at the end of the day.

I didn’t have forceps, but was absolutely terrified of the prospect. I put in my birth plan that I did not want forceps if at all possible, and would rather proceed straight to an emergency c section if appropriate.

The staff were amazing, and it got to the point where forceps were suggested. The doctor discussed my options, and checked that I would still prefer to move straight to a section. Had an emergency section and recovery was pretty smooth, and within short weeks I was completely back to normal. No long term issues.

I had a forceps delivery with DD1, 2 years ago. It was the most painful and horrific experience of my life. I had been left fully dilated and with a stuck baby for 10 hours before she was born, they only gave me an epidural right at the end which failed completely so I had no pain relief. They tried ventouse first which failed then episiotomy and forceps.

I had a 1200ml PPH and they later wanted me to have a transfusion which I declined & although anaemic as a result managed to get my iron levels up with tablets alone. DD was born with marks on her head but these faded within a few days. Recovery for me was very slow and painful, I couldn’t stand, could barely sit up unassisted for days and felt like I’d been in a terrible accident for weeks.

I had no incontinence issues at all thankfully but sex is still painful 2 years on, I think I have issues with scar tissue but after the birth trauma I couldn’t bring myself to see anyone about this or have this issue addressed yet.

My second baby is due in 3 weeks and I’m although I’m terrified of having forceps again, I’m still going to attempt a vaginal birth but tell them that EMCS would be preferable to forceps if it comes to it.

I think forceps are more likely for first baby as you tend to go overdue, then need to be induced and therefore more likely to need forceps to hurry things along? Hardly hear of them for 2nd babies etc so % of births overall it would be lower I think.

I had a forceps delivery 4 months ago. I was in labour for 4 days and was 9 days overdue when baby finally arrived, she was in no hurry! She was struggling to breathe and heart rate dropping so they needed to do something fast and they decided forceps would be quicker and better for us both vs c section. My wee one wasn't breathing once delivered and there is nothing worse than watching them hit that emergency button and a sea of Dr's and nurses rushing in to attend to your baby. I was so focused on that I didn't even realise I was being stitched up.

My stitches are still healing but nearly there. Attending physio soon which was automatically scheduled for me due to forceps delivery, but tbh continence hasn't been too terrible. Just need to do your exercises religiously

That’s great you were automatically referred to physio @christmadtree, no one could have cared less about my issues even after I sought help!

I had to pay privately after being robbed off by three different GPs.

Thing is, you can put whatever you want in your birth plan but it might not happen.

During my pregnancy I told the dr and midwife I would never consent to forceps, ever. They agreed and said that was fine... "Well unless it was an emergency, then we would still use them."

Well of course they wouldn't use them unless it was an emergency! I didn't want them even then. But basically they said it wouldn't be my choice.

I was automatically referred for physio too.

@SproutMuncher I've actually been really lucky as I live in one NHS district but gave birth in the neighbouring district. The one I live in spends loads on breastfeeding support and specially trained midwives doing home visits etc alongside HV. District I gave birth in are really on the ball with physio during pregnancy and following up with any complicated births etc.

It's just a shame that the NHS as a whole can't do both for everyone! Sorry you've not had the support you needed and should have got x

@GrumpyHoonMain god I can’t believe you were automatically referred to physio even without any issues yet - that’s something I’ve not heard of as the norm for most women. That’s amazing you’ve got it though! Take full advantage of it!

I had forceps for DS1 and every NHS professional has brushed off my continence issues since the birth and I have been patronisingly told to just do pelvic floor exercises - not helpful when you can’t feel them so no idea if anything is actually happening!

It’s only since seeing a private physio who has written to my consultant (now I’m expecting DS2) to outline the situation and that a c section is needed that I’m finally being listened to

I had forceps , it saved DD’s life. Bruising afterwards, stitches from episiotomy but no other issues .

I had forceps with dc2. I'm pretty sure 1 set to turn him (He was back to back) and 1 set to help him out he was huge, and thanks to the excellent consultant using the forceps, I avoided an emcs under GA. The baby was in distress, with both his and my heart rate dropping significantly.

I didn't want forceps. But I did want what was best for the baby and for me, and that turned out to be forceps, and an episiotomy. (Something else I really didn't want. )
Recovery was absolutely fine. I have a mild prolapse, and no continence issues.