What’s assisted delivery actually like?

[Blahblahgingerbreadlady]

Can you feel forceps - do they give you pain relief? This is my biggest fear.

And is it worse than a c section?

A total relief for me to have that help.

You preferred it to a C-section?

Depends on the situation! You might be glad to just have the baby out and all done with. It might be an urgent situation, they'd always use anaesthetic if they can but ultimately if it's about saving the baby's life I guess they might not.

I had an episiotomy which I guess counts as assisted (but not instrumental, that's where they use forceps, ventouse etc) I had local anaesthetic and was off my tits on gas and air. Happy to have baby out. Didn't hurt extra.

I had forceps with only gas and air. They gave me an episiotomy. I was just relieved DS was ok, I don't recall the forceps being inside me - tbh I was absolutely elated after giving birth, felt like I'd conquered Everest! Recovery was rough but that was to do with alot of other complicating factors, not the forceps. Was pleased it happened that way rather than C-section, but obviously would have done what was necessary for a a safe and healthy baby.

Oh I think they gave me a local anaesthetic before the epi, assume so anyway!

That also scares me so much. For my first birth I chose c section over forceps and I’m glad as I’ve had no issues or pain down below. Maybe it’s just the idea that freaks me out.

I had forceps twice (!). Both times I had an epidural in anyway. The first time I remember excruciating pain as they went in, but this quickly turned to relief as baby was out.

The second time I don’t remember feeling any extra pain, as I had a spinal block in case I needed a C-section if the forceps didn’t work.

Took a longer time to feel normal down there after the first time, but recover was easier after the second time.

Im sorry to hijack but I also had two instrumental deliveries albeit ventouse and I find it so hard to find other people who have had more than one. I hope you don't mind but did you go on to have any more kids? We are debating number 3 and I feel like I wouldn't have a clue whether to try for another vaginal birth or not given it didn't work out twice already and the impact on my pelvic floor! But when I spoke to the consultant they couldn't really advise me as they admitted it's pretty unusual to have more than one at all. Especially where there's not really any identifying factor as to why, both times I was just pushing for many many hours and the babies were getting distressed.

My mum had it for all three of us but it was the 90s so who knows if they’d do it differently now

Rotational forceps and episiotomy with dc1. I’d had pethidine earlier and gas and air then a local anaesthetic. It was honestly agony, I had a bad tear too and lost a lot of blood. I was in surgery for more than 2 hours afterwards being stitched up and recovery was long and hard. I had an elective section with dc2. It was a total doddle in comparison, much less painful and faster, easier, recovery.

That’s what I’m thinking. Try for natural them go straight to c section

It's not great! But, it's better than one of you dying so at the time you just trust that they know what they are doing.

Ventouse 1st child 😬 awful we all nearly died!

2nd 1.5 hours no assistance, but didn't really heed to advice given that I needed to be induced (possibly swore a lot and advocated 'it's my body I know what I'm doing') VERY LOUDLY

I was also surprised that the second delivery ended in forceps too and was trying to google afterwards to see how common that was. Number 2 was only born last year so no number 3 yet, although hopefully one day.

My first was a 5 day induction, the delivery ward was really busy so long wait for a bed and I was absolutely exhausted, pushed for maybe 2/3 hours but it felt like my body just couldn’t do it.

With my second, waters broke a month early and baby was a lot smaller so was surprised to need forceps again.

Both times I just found the pushing stage really difficult. Had an epidural both times and heard that can increase chances of needing assistance.

Pelvic floor is not too bad considering, but recovery felt rough for over two months after the first time.

I had forceps and episiotomy, they gave me a spinal beforehand as they weren't sure if they could get her out with forceps so prepped me for an EMCS just in case.

Honestly, it was fine. Didn't feel a thing, was told when to push by the midwife. Recovery was fine - I was expecting to be in agony with the cut but all healed nicely with just discomfort.

I've had two instrumental deliveries, the first one ended up in a C-section and they thought the 2nd one might so I had a spinal block both times before the instruments were used. If I'm honest the pain relief was absolutely wonderful as I'd been in such agony with labour both times so by the time they gave me the spinal blocks it was such an overwhelming relief, nothing else has come close to either the pain before or relief after. I have no idea how the deliveries went and missed both births completely. I found it hard to recover from both, in a way I'm still recovering physically 10 years on, and it was the main reason I had no more children. I would certainly have a planned C-section if I did have any more though. I hope to never experience labour ever again, but by the time I got to the assisted bit I was just relieved it was all going to be over soon so that's not the worst part to me.

Yeah but forceps isn’t always the answer. Obviously good you both survived.

And me. There’s no way of dressing it up, labour is agony - something which gives you a quick, safe end to it was very welcome to me.

Ventouse and epidural with DS1.
No choice really, after 72 hours of labour my contractions just stopped as I was exhausted.
DS1 was quite an unsettled baby which I always think might have been due to ventouse but complete assumption on my part.
Birthed DS2 and DS3 without intervention and much quicker.

Yes, this was my experience, too. Spinal block in case a c section was needed, forceps, and a fine recovery. I was up and about in no time. Wound healed, no lasting damage. Went on to have a nearly 10lb baby after that, no intervention, and no tearing, etc.

@Blahblahgingerbreadlady agreed forceps is not great, but better than the alternative!
My mum just told me I was a forceps baby, I had no idea.

100% of midwives would advocate for natural delivery, but I doesn't always happen that way. Intervention is a means to a happy end end for mother and baby ALWAYS

When I was pregnant with DC2 I was told by my obstetrician that 5% of women who have a first instrumental delivery go on to have a second. This goes up if the baby is induced or you have an epidural. So about 1 in 20, so it’s unlikely but not really unlikely if you see what I mean. I’ve seen a handful of posters who have had second instrumental deliveries. One of them went on to have a third with no assistance. 😊

Don't read this if you don’t want a very honest account. had a spinal because they worried that they might not get DD out vaginally.

Ventouse failed. At that point I would have agreed to be cut in half if it meant getting her out (13 days late, induced despite being in labour, hadn’t slept for 3 days). They were worried about damaging her if they had to pull her back out via the sunroof.

They grabbed her so hard with the forceps they permanently dented her cheekbones. We were lucky to escape brain damage. It impacted massively on her feeding.

My episiotomy was botched (consultant cut down instead of across) and didn’t heal for almost 9 years. The NHS solutions were temporary (took 3 years to get any help at all) and by the time they took any bloody action it was too late for restorative surgery. A freak accident where it re-split and healed was what made it bearable.

I had years of private therapy for the PTSD and DD will forever be an only child.

We’ve both been diagnosed with ADHD in the last couple of months. Apparently being a forceps delivery increases the likelihood (if you have an existing genetic predisposition to it).

Forceps and any assistance for that matter is so much more likely if you have an epidural. I'd avoid the epidural.