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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Forceps delivery first time - what about second?

26 replies

bun · 10/09/2002 10:39

I wonder if anyone can reassure me about second labours when their first was induced? I had preeclampsia first time round, and had to be induced. The labour was very long and in the end, had to have forceps as the baby was OP and just not going to come out. I'm pregnant again and really hope to have a swifter labour, if I don't get pre eclampsia and it can all kick off naturally. Basically, I want to know if my first one "counts", as it was vaginal but assisted, and will help my second labour be swifter (although I know there are no guarantees!)?Any similar experiences?

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JaneyT · 10/09/2002 11:15

Although my first labour was not particularly long (9 hours) I had gone in to be induced at 42 weeks (briefly when they examined me before inducing me I was 4 cm dilated) - I had a ventouse delivery, as they said the dd1s shoulders were too wide for me to push her out.
My second labour was shorter and unassisted with no rip/tears - not like first !.

I think that you will literally feel the difference when you push, even though your first baby, like mine, was assisted out, as the first baby has stretched the birth canal during its exit, and I think this happens even if the baby is not in the birth canal for very long.

I found with dd1 when I pushed nothing much happened which is why I eventually had the ventouse, whereas with dd2, with each push I could feel her coming out - hope thats not too graphic !

Good luck - whens baby 2 due ?

mears · 10/09/2002 11:53

Agree with JaneyT here. Most women manage to have an unassisted delivery second time round after forceps because baby no.1 has made the way. Your body also knows how to contract properly. Better if you go into labour yourself rather than getting induced. Hopefully you won't have any blood pressure problems this time around. Good luck.

Original poster

bun · 10/09/2002 13:34

Thanks - this is very reassuring. Baby not due until April 2003 (already worrying - can't be good for BP!). I didn't feel the urge to push last time as I had full epidural. However, did have 7 or 8 hours of pre-epidural contractions so I know what they feel like! The midwives & doctors were extremely good about helping me try and have a vaginal birth - i think at a lesser hospital a c-section might have been suggested much earlier. And I'm v grateful to them for letting me at least try.

OP posts:

nicki18 · 10/09/2002 14:14

My first was also OP and they turned him with the ventouse which then came off, so he was delivered with forceps. But with my second one it was so much different, as others have said you can actually feel the difference when you push. My dd was born without any assistance and I had no cuts or tears with her either. Completely different to my ds. I too worried that the second one would be a nightmare delivery as well. But as everyone kept telling me it would be, it was so much easier and quicker for me.
I hope this will be the case for you as well. Good luck with the pregnancy and I hope you manage to avoid pre eclampsia this time.

Jasper · 10/09/2002 19:38

bun, more anecdotes from me.Like you I had preeclampsia first time, an epidural and forceps.
Number two was much easier - gas and air and a small tear requiring minimal stitching.

lisaj · 10/09/2002 19:56

I agree with all the comments here. My first labour was induced and also a forceps delivery, second one was very different as unassisted and much quicker and as has been said already, you do seem to feel the difference when you push.

Ailsa · 10/09/2002 20:13

Agree with everything that's been said, induced, epidural and forceps first time, unassisted with only gas & air, and opted not to have tear stitched.

Ailsa · 10/09/2002 20:14

meant to say unassisted 2nd time.

pupuce · 10/09/2002 23:22

Mears can probably confirm.... but pre-eclampsia is usually a first baby problem. It is rare to happen again.
And as it has been said... there is no obvious reason why you'd have a difficult labour this time around and forceps are not likely to be needed but you never know.
AVOID being induce if you can.... come here for help when the time comes !

mears · 10/09/2002 23:49

Pre-eclampsia is more often a first time baby problem but there is a an increased 'risk' of developing it again if you have had it before. I have looked after many women who have had absolutely no blood pressure problems second time around. Your obstetrician and midwife will keep a close eye on your blood pressure throughout this pregnancy. Even women who have symptoms second time around manage to have unassisted vaginal deliveries because of the fact they have delivered vaginally before. Bun, try not to worry and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.

mamosa · 11/09/2002 23:52

The majority of my friends who have had a hellish first delivery, exhausting labour are blessed by a very quick and problem free delivery of the next baby. I think that this is possibly natures way of keeping the spieces going! If the second one is a doddle, then the third will be a breeze.

susanmt · 12/09/2002 00:05

Yep, my first wasn't induced but was long and difficult with a ventouse delivery - second was out in 10 hours start to finish, and I only pushed about 6 times. Second time definitely easier (although not so much easier that I would want another!!!)

Original poster

bun · 17/09/2002 10:04

All this is very reassuring and encouraging. Pupuce, where is it you work? And how can I avoid being induced if I get pre-eclampsia again? I did have a very high bp last time, and lots of stuff in my urine. However, I'm hoping the 10% chance of getting it again means I might avoid it. And I'll spend a lot of time draped over my birthing ball to make sure this one's not OP.

OP posts:

pupuce · 17/09/2002 11:23

Hi Bun

Well I work in West Kent - East Sussex area.
You SHOULD think positive.... you WILL NOT have pre-eclampsia again ! But if you did I guess (Measr/Leese please confirm) you will have to have the baby sooner rather than later.
If you did have another OP baby.... this is very unlikely to be as bad this time as your uterus has already done this once.... It is far more likely that

it won't be OP again
if it is baby will probably turn during labour
uterus being more efficient it will be faster

(I had an OP labour the first time around...I didn't the 2nd)

Make sure you don't slouch in the sofa and if baby looks like he will be OP again...post here and I'll give you more tips nearer the date. How many weeks are you ?
Remember one key point : NO 2 LABOURS ARE IDENTICAL..... It is far more likely to be faster and easier this time

pupuce · 17/09/2002 11:26

Oops just saw - baby due in April.... Worry (if at all) about OP from March....no need to panick about this now !

Original poster

bun · 17/09/2002 15:26

Am trying to think positive. I had very hit or miss ante natal care last time (lost notes, lost blood tests etc) and feel determined I won't slip through the system this time, although my GP practice is increasinly rubbish. I live in South London so no chance of making it to Sussex for the birth, unfortunately!

OP posts:

pupuce · 18/09/2002 19:46

Have you heard of the Albany practice in South London ? Is that near you ??? If so... go there !!! It's a MW practice (all in NHS = so "free" and the quality of care is amazing. You have 6 chances out of 10 to have your MW (the one who followed you through pregnancy) at the birth or 9 chances of the 10 to have her back up who you will have met. They are a leading practice in the UK and they are sometimes featured in the papers !
I know a few mums who have been there and I have never heard so much overwhelming praise !

Original poster

bun · 19/09/2002 17:19

I'm on the waiting list for the Albany Practice. They take referrals from a different GP practice to mine, so I can only hope that a space comes up in a few months. I might stoop to begging them if my ante natal care doesn't improve. They were very understanding when I went to see them first time.

OP posts:

Bugsy · 29/10/2002 13:49

bun, replying very late to this as I've been off the Mumsnet site for a while, but I was in labour over 20 hours first time round had ventouse and forceps, epidural, spinal etc. etc. Second time round, 1 hours & 52 mins and 1 push!!!! Tore very badly but the discomfort was nothing compared to the episiotomy necessary with forceps. Wishing you the same luck

tigermoth · 29/10/2002 16:55

Bugsy, welcome back!

(sorry to hijack this thread)

Marina · 29/10/2002 19:41

Hear heare Tigermoth, welcome back Bugsy. You've been mentioned a couple of times on the Missing Persons thread!

Enid · 30/10/2002 09:19

DD1 was transverse op, forceps, ventouse, post partum bleeding, horrible horrible horrible. I spent all of my next pregnancy swimming (it felt like!) to try and get the baby to 'sit' in a good position.

It worked, dd2 born after a 2 hour labour, 3 pushes, easy as pie...

Bugsy · 31/10/2002 10:55

Cheers Marina & Tigermoth - I'd forgotten how much I love Mumsnet!

TigerFeet · 16/11/2002 14:58

Quick question - what's OP?

musica · 16/11/2002 15:18

I think it means 'posterior' - i.e. the baby's back lies along your back, so it is facing forward. It is easier if they are 'anterior' - i.e. looking backwards with their back along your tummy. So a baby could be LOP - left posterior etc.

Mears - do correct me if I'm wrong here!

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