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 DD1 after induction. Of course at the time I couldn't feel anything, however the recovery I found very tough and long and I later went on to develop PTSD. I also had nerve damage which resulted in an inability to initiate and empty my bladder.

DD2 was delivered by C section, and hands down it was a far better experience and the recovery was much faster than the forceps delivery with no lasting effects.

@spydie did you have to push for a section?

Everyone just tells me that it's a longer recovery and harder work with a toddler etc! I'm just literally terrified of having forceps again!! Like scares the shit out of me!!!

Everyone just tells me that it's a longer recovery and harder work with a toddler etc!

Very simplistic view - on average maybe, but loads of women have a far harder time recovering from VB than from CS. It just depends.

I had forceps delivery as baby was in distress. Recovery was fine, no lasting damage to either of us

@spydiedid you have to push for a section?

I did initially and they were very happy to just keep avoiding the issue and making a decision. I managed to get them to agree to no induction and was booked for an elcs at 41 weeks. However I also had low Papp-a second time round and so was having growth scans from 28 weeks that showed she had growth restriction. At 36 weeks the umbilical blood flow wasn't looking great and so they started talking about getting me to 37 weeks with 2 more doppler scans in between and delivering. At 36+4 she stopped moving and my scan showed the blood flow was starting to stall so I had steroids and she was delivered by emergency c section although in reality it was an elective as I wasn't in labour. Even then they initially said about trying induction....

Anyway, I walked out of hospital 2 days later (hottest day of the year, July 2018) versus shuffling/wheelchair the time before. Spent a couple of days relaxing in bed with baby and Netflix and walked round Bluewater at 7 days old with toddler as I needed some summery breast feeding tops. Seem to recall going round Ikea at 9 days old too Drove at 2 weeks and was itching to get back on my horse after 4 weeks but for Husbands sanity I left it until 8 weeks.

I did have some pulling pain on my scar the first few days, however when my midwife took off the dressing she discovered that the adhesive part had been applied directly over the scar/stitches so once that was off it was fine!!!!!

The difference being however, it's not major surgery like c section is. Except with Caesarian you can't drive or do much of anything for 6 weeks, often you can't even hold the baby (I think that's rare but possible) and by the sounds of it, wouldn't even be able to Bath your baby etc. Forceps these days are unlikely to harm the baby and the stitches heal pretty quick.

I was walking 3 miles a day pushing a pram by week 2 following my second emcs. I went out for lunch and to messy church when she was 2 days old. As soon as my legs worked, I was perfectly capable of looking after my baby entirely by myself including getting them in and out of their bassinet. Hell, I was in the bath myself by day 5 following both of my emergency sections.

Recoveries vary from person to person but most of my friends who had 2nd/3rd or 4th degree tears had harder recoveries than I did. Saying c-section recoveries are always harder is an oversimplification.

I haven't read the full thread so I don't know how the conversation has evolved.

I had forceps and while unpleasant, it wasn't something that traumatised me.

My baby was stuck in a funny position and was getting stressed unable to be pushed out. Forceps helped her out quickly and ensured she was born safely.

My other birth was more straight forward and I wouldn't say the forceps made my recovery significantly worse.

For me a birth plan is more for things like where you want to give birth, preferred pain relief, whether you want a water birth, skin to skin preferences, how you want the placenta delivering... things that are generally in your control unless things take a funny turn.

They don't use forceps for fun they are usually for emergencies or for trying to avoid major surgery. I would talk to your midwife about why you feel like this and try to get some reassurance.

I wrote as my birth plan "I do not consent to forceps, I suffered damaged during birth and do not want the same happening to my child".
The hospital did take note, labour was really really long, drip unto max, was at 7 cm after a week of contractions, baby was beginning to be distressed. DH said enough get a doctor she's having a c section and thats what happened. Head and rest of baby was too big to exit.
Not sure whether its was the birth plan or very forceful DH but the c section was the best option .

@greeentopmilk

I would talk to your midwife about why you feel like this and try to get some reassurance

Any such reassurance will be hollow. Recent research has shown 49% of women who have forceps suffer irreparable damage when their pelvic floor is torn from their pubic bone. I’m pleased you had a good recovery from your forceps but they cause long lasting misery for plenty of women - there’s no getting away from that, so I’m not sure what reassurance could possibly be given.

@RhymingRabbit3 I had an induction. My DD was the quickest and easiest birth in my NCT group and I was the eldest mother.

Unfortunately, no-one knows how easy or difficult their labour will be.

OP make sure your birth partner understands clearly they are your advocate and they must make it very clear to the medical professionals what you do and don't agree with. Show them in graphic detail if necessary why you have made that choice. If they are the type to flake in an emergency get yourself a second birth partner who won't.

@RhymingRabbit3 I had forceps and have learnt a lot of facts about them afterwards am now pregnant again and am terrified of having to have forceps, not only did my baby boy have quite bad bruising to his face I have since read that an injury like this during birth and also firceos babies are more likely to developed jaundice which my little boy did which meant a week in hospital also they have a higher risk of infections from forceps delivery which again requires stays in hospital so I would in all honesty try your hardest to avoid at alo costs xx

Really glad I found this thread today! Just came out of my debrief from 1st birth after mid cavity forceps ( whoever said it's not major surgery you have no idea, I wasn't allowed to drive for 6 weeks had just under 50 stitches internal and external) depending on the level of the forceps means it is classed as major surgery just FYI I had a horrific 15 week recovery couldn't walk couldn't sit could t lie down without being in pain and I mean way worse then labour pain, damage to spinal nerves, pelvis, piles, slight incontinence but I got on my pelvic floor exercises as soon as I could and was lucky the surgeon stitching up was so good, baby needed resuscitation breathes which apperantly is common after forceps (straight from the consultants mouth) also haemorrhaged (again apparently common after forceps) baby also had very bad bruising to head as in jet black bruises all over him and swollen nose AFF eating his breathing so now am paranoid about that, also having a childbirth by vaginal delivery for the 2nd after a forceps I created your risk of a prolapse later in life ( told this by consultant today) I'm going for elective c section for 2nd I'm not putting myself or baby through anything like that again!! But I feel like something need sot be said to hospitals about lack of care after forceps births as still major surgery but you hardly get any support unlike c section births?

I didn’t have forceps but pushed for over two hours Resulting in 3rd degree tear anyway - had no epidural because like you I had read that it let to increased likelihood of forceps which leads to increase in pelvic floor damage. I also have prolapse .
My point is you can still get these things without forceps. Only way to guarantee no perineal tearing is to go c section: I wish I had a crystal ball back then I would have gone c section! Anyway - there’s a great podcast you should listen to re Avulsions and forceps -‘ the pelvic health podcast ‘ specifically the episode with prof peter dietz - there are two parts to it. He’s an expert and has done loads of research

9 years on from (only) DD’s forceps delivery and still having problems with episiotomy (up to my 5th gynae now). They had to grab DD’s so hard they dented her cheekbones. . After a 4 day labour I was exhausted and desperate for them to get her out safely. She was too low for a c-section to be safe. Ventouse failed. It wasn’t until afterwards that I thought about how risky it was and how they could have hurt her.

Resultant PTSD which has cost a fortune in counselling and still rears it’s head occasionally.

I had forceps after an extremely long labour and baby's head was stuck. I had to have stitches. They healed super quick, I had very little pain after day two (managed on normal painkillers after discharge) and was pretty much back to normal by one week.

I had a forceps delivery, and honestly that was not an issue. I had a lot go wrong and nearly died but the forceps part was straightforward and my baby was born safely. DD had swelling to her head where the forceps were, and suffered jaundice when the bruising broke down but otherwise has been totally fine. I also didn't want forceps, prior to the birth, I didn't want the epidural I had either, I'd written that much down (it was amazing though). But due to the circumstances it was extremely lucky I had the epidural because the fact that I had it meant when it did all go wrong there was no faffing around trying to get me under anaesthetic which saved time and therefore assisted with saving my life. None of what happened, happened because of the forceps or the epidural, either, it just happened to be a lot less painful than it would have been without the epidural! I'm only 3 weeks post partum but have no continence issues, my physical recovery has been really smooth considering everything (2 night stay on HDU and a 5 night stay on the maternity ward). That said, although we are now no longer planning to have any more children due to my PTSD, if we were ever to have more I would opt for a section even though the recovery would likely be longer just to avoid having to go through what I did again.