Have you had more than one instrumental delivery?

[Coffeeandbourbons]

If so can I please ask what happened each time? This has happened to me, I was told it is very rare so just curious really. Also contemplating DC3 and worried it will happen again (both forceps) although my recoveries have been okay.

Bump…

It can’t only be me can it?!

I'm still impatiently waiting for the arrival of Baby2 hoping to avoid assisted delivery but had ventouse and episiotomy with my first. I had a really long labour, including a 'prolonged second stage' pushing, when my waters broke at 10cm dilation it was thick with meconium so medical advice after actively pushing for upwards of 2hrs was to get baby out asap. So episiotomy and ventouse it was. Baby ended up in NICU from meconium asphyxiation and partially collapsed lung but recovered quickly, we were in hospital for a week.

@Coffeeandbourbons What happened to warrant assisted deliveries twice for you? I'm hoping to avoid a second assisted delivery!

Following with interest, I had rotational forceps with first and really want to avoid that again. Trying to figure out ELCS vs vaginal delivery.

First was long slowly progressing back to back labour, induction and fetal distress.

My obstetrician said that chances of second assisted delivery are ~5%.

Not decided the ELCS but have decided to not consent to induction so definitely if I don't go naturally, ELCS it is. Obstetrician supportive of this.

Looks like it is just me! So you probably both have a very good chance of not having instruments a second time.

I’m not 100% sure why I needed them a second time. Both my labours followed a similar pattern - induced a couple of weeks early, pessary contractions all night with active labour starting in the morning, followed by rapid dilation from 4 to 10cm (a few hours) and a late epidural because the pain got absolutely wild.

First time I didn’t get any urge to push, I tried myself but it was very slow and after a few hours and me becoming increasingly exhausted from having not slept they took me to theatre for forceps.

Second time I did get the urge and it was a bit more efficient - his head was visible and the midwife even got me to stroke his hair to ‘motivate’ me 😆 but after a couple of hours he still wasn’t born, I was exhausted and I asked for help because I know I had no energy left. They did suggest I carry on pushing as we were both okay but I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do it. He had a swelling on his head so ventouse wasn’t an option, so forceps again, but we stayed in the same room this time, not theatre.

So who knows! Probably a combination of early induction, epidural and exhaustion both times. Second baby also had his arm up by his head.

Induction and ventouse with both of mine
episiotomy both times as well

@Coffeeandbourbons ahh I didn't have induction or epidural, just sweeps (that did nothing) with baby1. Have said no to sweeps so far this time and really hoping baby2 makes an appearance before induction, currently tabled for early next week...so baby has until the end of the weekend to get a wriggle on before enforced eviction! I'll try to remember to report back...! 🤞

I had a similar 1st birth. Rotational forceps back to back but 2nd was easy and I felt like wonder woman afterwards. I wanted ELCS but it was years ago and that option was not available. I think I managed labour better because I was expecting the worst to happen again. It didn't. All was good.

Sorry OP not forgotten you. I would say each birth is different. My first was gruesome and very traumatic. Second was easy and totally amazing. Third was kind of in the middle. Midwife broke my waters so it was very, very painful once contractions got going but I managed to persuade them to give me an epidural and after that nature did it stuff. I didn't need to push much because by number three I think my body knew what to do.
After forceps twice I totally get why you are worried. Hope everything goes well for you if you decide to have number 3💐

I was told that if you had an instrumental delivery with your first, you were more likely to with your second so it must be more common than it seems from your replies

Not instrumental deliveries but I have had three episiotomies due to a rather hurried delivery first time and then not stretching very well for the next two so cut to avoid tear.

I think some of your issue probably arises from the induction. Prolonged labours are most often due to baby's positioning as I understand it. It sounds like your two haven't quite hit the sweet spot to take the express elevator out. So if it's going to be another induction I would have a v low threshold for wanting a c section instead tbh. If you're going in to spontaneous labour then hopefully much less likely to need an assisted delivery. No science for that a5 all, just want I think having heard many birth stories over the years. My oldest episiotomy scar was 25 yesterday 😀 along with the baby of course

Hi OP, yes I have!
Both my 2 DC were similar labours ending in the same type of births. Both labours started naturally, fully dilated quickly with both, but both babies were in an awkward position, so episiotomies and forceps with both. I have to say, I really wanted a different birth with DC2, had done the hypnobirthing course etc and felt so positive, but there is nothing I could have done to change what happened.
We are planning TTC DC3 this summer and I have already decided I am going to ask for a maternal request section if I am lucky enough to conceive. I just can’t go through the same type of delivery again 😔

Ventouse and forceps

Both for foetal distress right at the start of the second stage. Both dragged out with the cord round their neck and resuscitated. Second one I think was lucky to survive it

First was an induction, epistomy and forceps needed. Very traumatic and sheer luck had it I went into Labour second time myself. Another epistomy as midwife said scar would not hold. No instruments though. I was told had I been induced I was more likely to need an instrumental again. Pregnant again and seriously considering section over the chance of instrumental and another epistomy because they seem to like giving them over and over if you get the bloody thing once!!! I don’t know anyone who had two instrumentals as any friends that had one said section please the next time!

My first birth was forceps delivery had quite a bad tear. Impending baby number 2 in the next few months. Hoping to avoid another assisted delivery.

I'm glad you recovered well from yours. And I hope all goes well if you do decide on another dc x

I had ventouse with my first and forceps with my second. Recovered well from both (had a second degree tear with the first and an episiotomy with the second).