Talk to me about actual episiotomies and forceps

[Ididivfama]

A very obvious TW for anyone who might find this difficult!

I’ve found all this terrifying and realised that it’s more fear of the unknown and not knowing how it will feel. So can someone please tell me what they’re like? Do they numb you at all before for either? I had a c section previously due to failure to progress but also I couldn’t bear going through any of this. For me the fear was way worse than c section.

Also what does it actually do to your vagina? Again this is someone no one actually talks about.

I had both. Didn't feel a thing because they were going to do a C-section if the forceps didn't work, so I had a spinal block. I did have infected stitches afterwards which was unpleasant but it healed up with some antibiotics. I also had a post-partum haemorrhage, but that was mostly just bad luck. Again, a few steak dinners later, I was pretty much fine.

My son was in the wrong position so I was taken to theatre for an emergency forcep delivery. I was so out of it and numb from the epidural that I didn’t need anything else. I didn’t feel a single part of it and I suffered a third degree tear. The worst part of it is definitely the recovery. Walking was uncomfortable more than really painful for around 6 weeks. Sitting down was often painful, but with a blow up ring cushion I was able to get comfortable enough. There’s a lot of pinching feelings. Going to the bathroom was terrifying, I ended up on laxatives for a week as I was just to scared to go, when it eventually happened it wasn’t half as bad as I was expecting, but it wasn’t pleasant. I woke up one morning, 6 weeks after having my son and suddenly all the pain was gone. I’d say just try not to work yourself up about something that might not happen. For what it’s worth, I’d rather go through the birth I had than a c-section.

I had to have an emergency forceps delivery. They gave me epidural and I laid back, they strapped my legs up and cut me open and pulled baby out. I pushed twice and he flew out.

I felt absolutely nothing and I'm the biggest worrier ever with the lowest pain tolerance🤣🤣The healing was a bit painful and once the painkillers wore off I was sore while moving and sitting down, and it was itchy AF after a week or two, but it was fine. Being busy after having a baby makes you forget the pain. The post birth contractions were worse than the healing.

I had both. Baba was in an awkward position. His heart rate dipped really low and mine went really high so ended up in theatre

@losingmymind97

No one warns you about the itchiness!!! And how the hell are you meant to relieve it 🙈😂

Similar to others, DD’s heart rate went down so they wanted her out fast and went with forceps. I was taken into surgery and given a spinal block so didn’t feel a thing. Recovery from the episiotomy was fine, not the most comfortable but seemed much better than it was for friends that had experienced tears.

I had episiotomy with my first but managed to deliver without use of forceps. Midwife gave me a local anaesthetic before making the cut. I remember a twanging feeling, but no pain. Healed fine and don't remember any real pain. Second birth I had a second degree tear alongside the original episiotomy cut. I do have scar tissue now that can make sex in certain positions uncomfortable.

I had forceps and an episiotomy with DS, he was in distress. I had already had an epidural and didn’t feel it but lost a lot of blood as I ended up with a third degree tear, but it healed ok, the soreness / itching was helped by tipping a warm jug of weak dettol solution over my bits after weeing, as recommended by my mum! Laxatives were needed to help me go before leaving hospital - the worst bit about them was the wind. I ‘over healed’ at the perineum and had a Fenton’s procedure to remove scar tissue when DS was 3. The only lasting problem was if I need to go i don’t get much warning due to the slight nerve damage in the rectum. This was a large 3rd degree tear mind, and up the back vaginal wall too - DS should have been a c section to be honest. He was in scbu 5 days for hypoxia. Nothing would have been gained by worrying about this in advance however! DS is now a healthy 18 year old.

I had both. They gave me a spinal when they took me into surgery, so I didn't feel anything during the process. But I then had retained placenta and lost nearly 4L blood. Recovery was linear and stitches healed fine, but slow going as a long with 2nd degree tear and episiotomy, no-one realised I also had a broken tail bone for a month. I was struggling to sit for ages and the community nurse finally realised. I would check in with pre-natal appointments and keep up with iron supplements if need be, as the blood loss came as a total surprise - was very anemic for a while. I've not had another child since, but everything is working fine down there! Baby was fine.

@toycat 4 litres!!! I had 2 litres and that was bad enough.

I had both. As others have said, the actual experience was painless as I was in theatre prepped for a section if the forceps didn’t work (they did). They gave me a spinal and the pain of 10+ hours labour was relieved instantly - I fell asleep on the table and remember them waking me up to push!
Agree that the recovery is worse than the actual thing - struggled to get comfy in sitting position for several weeks. But all fine after about 6 weeks and fine now.

I had an episiotomy and forceps delivery with just a pudendal block. I don't remember the pain, so much as the fear. My biggest fear for childbirth was that I'd need forceps, and I was gutted when I realised that was going to happen. I was on tonnes of gas and air, really quite hysterical by this point, so I don't remember the episiotomy causing me any more distress than I was already in. Same for forceps, although it was unpleasant feeling the tugging and movements.
It was painful to sit down for a week or two afterwards, and I also had the weird tugging sensations as the scar healed. I looked at my scar with a hand mirror two days post partum, expecting to see a mangled wreck, but the scar was small and neat. Amazing what we can go through and still be ok on the other side.

I didn't have an epidural, because the fear of a needle in my spine was too much and I got by with gas and air and pethedine. (This was 36 years ago, I hope techniques have improved since then!) I needed an episiotomy and forceps and was given a local for that - very effective, even now I recall asking the doc if the snipping sounds were him trimming my public hair before incision.

I was stitched up beautifully (though it's a bigger wound than "a wee cut in your perineum" ) and have no long-lasting effects.

I had both and only on gas and air as no time for anything else (baby in distress). I remember the stitching up being worse! Went back on the gas and air for that 😲

I had both with no pain relief going back 27 years now. I felt as if I was being torn apart with a red hot poker and still feel traumatised when I think back, barbaric.

I had a 3rd degree tear, episiotomy and vontouse (pethidine and gas an air) with my first,c section with my second (spinal block).

My first had his arm over the top of his head and got stuck, his heart rate dropped and i was exhausted and falling asleep. The stitches were awful and broke, I ended up with an infection. It was horrific and I felt like a piece of meat in a butchers.

With the section I had a shorter recovery time and better care (different hospital) less pain and a better 'experience'. I was up and about sooner with more mobility.

I had both, didn't feel a thing as had a spinal block, recovery from the episiotomy was absolutely fine for me.
If I was lucky enough to have a second, I wouldn't be worried at all if it went that way again, obviously wouldn't be ideal, but hopefully you know what I mean x

This has actually made me feel better, thanks

The procedure itself is fine if you're as full of drugs as I was. I remember signing the consent form which was a scrawl across the paper while feeling as drunk as humanly possible, then suddenly I was in theatre and it was all done. The next thing I remember is waking up with baby in the little clear plastic bed thing and then having a cuddle with him followed by some tea and toast. I can't say the next few weeks weren't painful, they were, but the midwife (or was it health visitor) popped in often to check my stitches and gave me advice on how to reduce the pain. But, with all these things, I barely remember it, and haven't even thought about it til you brought it up OP! As for after affects, I think my lady regions are fine. A bit lumpy and bumpy but we can't all be perfect 😁Please try not to worry, these procedures are widely done and have been for years, so you will be looked after

No experience of forceps but I had an episiotomy. I didn't feel a thing because they numbed me. Tbh at that point it was the least of my concerns as I was exhausted and just wanted baby out

To add a bit of detail to your vagina question, the lumps and bumps I ended up with are more around perineum area rather than vagina. Nothing on the inside or around the vulva changed at all. Hope that helps! 😉

Get a peri bottle off Amazon to keep the stitches clean and comfortable after. It's a squeezy bottle with an angled nozzle.

I have found that a forceps delivery and bad tear ruined swimming for me. I get pool water up there and also can no longer wear a tampon on my period because the string irritates my scar tissue. Wish I'd had a c section and kept my vjj intact!

My daughter was small (7lbs at 42 wks) but brow presentation so got stuck.

I ended up with episiotomy and forceps after a long labour (13 years ago now). I had a spinal block in case I had needed a CS if the forceps failed.

Yes, it was ouchy afterwards, and DD had a red mark on her forehead from the forceps which lasted about a week, but after that we were both fine. I wouldn't have chosen that route but it turned out fine. I was very achy and sore in that area for about a week and then ok.