FORCEPS - A little poll

[JacksFirstChristmasMama]

(This may have been done before, if so I apologize for not searching the archives first.)

I'm just wondering - is there anyone who had a reasonably positive experience with a forceps delivery?

I'm asking because I got into it with a consultant last week - I will be having a repair on my bits in Feb from DS's birth. It was pretty horrible, ended in a forceps delivery which caused a massive tear, hemorrhage etc... hence the necessity for a repair. We were discussing the upcoming surgery, and while I am of course looking forward to being (hopefully) pain-free in the future, I'm not too excited about having to have surgery. So I made a comment about the mismanagement of my labour (there really was complete fuckwittage by my midwife) and how several doctors after said that I ought to have had a section, and that I think forceps are barbaric. The consultant told me that there are many times when the use of forceps is appropriate and that they often (in fact he said in most cases) don't cause too much damage. He was being pretty snotty about it, actually, and the conversation ended up deteriorating to the point where I told him that he really wouldn't know, would he, seeing as he was a male and would never have a set of salad tongs shoved up his fanjo... anyway, he stuck to the point and said I should ask around, and that lots of women have "good" forceps deliveries. I find tha a bit hard to believe but am willing to be surprised.

So --- anyone? If you've had forceps, was it awful or a "good" experience? Have any/most of you had complications after or been ok?

FFS slug - what planet is your midwife from??? I cannot believe she said that!! I am so for you!!!!

just to give another perspective.... i was born by forceps delivery and ì'm 24 and still have marks on my head from the forceps and have suffered from chronic migraines ever since i was a baby which could very well be a direct cause of the damage they did.

Had forceps with DS as he got stuck. I was 31 and he was 6lb 13oz.
Had local anaesthetic and episiotomy performed by the head honcho Consultant.
DS had a graze on his head which disappeared after a few days.
I was quite vocal with the mw's and the consultant that I would absolutely not consider a section unless all other avenues were exhausted.
No probs whatsoever - episiotomy healed fine and conscientiously did pelvic floor exercises up to and after the birth so no incontinence problems.
With DD 4 yrs later, had a normal labour without intervention (not even any gas and air) but she was back to back and 8lb 12, so I ended up with a 3rd degree tear that had to be repaired in theatre by the Registrar. Again, he did a good sewing job. Again I did all the pelvic floor exercises before and after the birth.
Agree that whatever type of intervention or repair that is performed, it is probably the depth of experience of the health professional that determines how good or bad the experience is for the patient...
I have friends who had minor tears that were not repaired but which have led to incontinence problems in the long-term....
HTH and sorry for long post

I had a forceps delivery and it was fine, in the sense that we're both here now and healthy. They tried the ventouse first, after about 30 hours, but that didn't work, so they got the forceps out and that did. It was that or a c-section, which they prepped me for. DD had some bruising on her face ... I had some v. bad brusing on my fanjo, and double incontinence for a while! TMI!

I just wondered, do people who had a bad forceps experience wish they had had a c-section instead, because for a lot of people who did, that can be pretty tough too? Or do you think that somehow the birth could have been managed another way so that neither forceps or c-section was necessary? I ask mainly because for me, although the forceps were unpleasant to say the least, I don't think there was any way I was getting my DD out on my own. So I kind of feel grateful that 'medical science' (if you can call it that!), although quite brutal, could help with that. And I promise that's not meant to undermine anyone who had a horrific experience with forceps, for which my total sympathies.

I had a CS with DS1 and, recovery wise, it was a piece of cake.

I couldn't even walk for 3 weeks after forceps for DS2. I felt butchered. Took me a year to feel myself fanjo wise.

Personally I think CS is made out to be the "big bad wolf" by the medical profession because it costs the NHS too much money.

Depends what you mean by positive. I had a forceps delivery (after a ventouse failure) and got DS. Obviously a good outcome!

He was fine although pretty cranky for the first few weeks (he was very sensitive about his head being touched) and I wonder about the headache theory...

I had a 3rd/4th degree tear, lost a lot of blood, had a long stich up session after his birth so missed out on that first feed, etc. but haven't suffered with any physical problems since.

well i have had an emergancy c-section and a forceps birth, and i would say if i had a choice i would go with the c-section next time.
ihad my daughter 18months ago, and it still hurts downstairs sometimes, took me months to get my fanjo feeling remotely normal. compared to the c-section in which after 2 weeks, i felt perfectly normal, the scar gives me no pain, and other than wearing bikinis i have had no problems.
i would say it was the episiotomy rather than the forceps themselves that have caused me the pain.
DD is fine, so at least i can say it was positive in that respect.
immediatly after the labour i was blissfully happy because recovery in the first 3 days is a MILLION times eaiser than a section. however the stitches take longer to heal, and have caused me long term problems.

expecting my third and have no idea what to do about it.. im thinking an elective, but i would love to be able to push my baby out myself

I had forceps with DT1, not much damage, small episiotomy, pain for a few days but no major after effects - I can't say I enjoyed the experience though adn wouldn't class it as 'good'! DT1 had a slightly lopsided look to her for a while too, but is fine now. Preferable to a CS though I think

I haven't read the whole thread but I had Forceps with DS (5.5 months) and had to have them as I was screaming at the Dr to get it out now. They had tried ventouse, which tore me internally, and he was too far down for a c section.

I did loose a lot of blood and in hindsight wish I had had the blood transfusion I was offered as I was very anaemic afterwards and am still slightly anaemic now.

DS is fine he had a slight mark on his head which was almost gone by the time we went home from hospital and has not suffered at all since.

When I have number 2 (am not pg yet) I will def have them if neccessary

I also havent read this whole thread.

But I had forceps. Also an episiotomy. I didnt tear on top of it and I have a very quick and pain free recovery. Apart from the piles due to the iron tablets because I lost so much blood.

My DD was distressed, it could have gone badly tits up and I am glad that she came out and got sorted.

Bobblebum - You asked "I just wondered, do people who had a bad forceps experience wish they had had a c-section instead?"

I'd say yes, I feel the ventouse didn't work for a reason, my son (and his massive noggin) was too big and his OP position too complicated. If I'd had the section instead, I might be sitting here looking forward to a natural VBAC birth with my daughter-to-be, who although from the same big bonced father might have been, due to her sex,a little smaller IYSWIM?

That's hearsay of course, but I have a buggered downstairs now anyway which means it can only be C/S. I know the recovery can be tough, but it can't compare to the living nightmare that was the first 18months after forceps... Maybe if I'd had the C/S first time, this VB might have been more straightforward.

I had foreceps first time around. Absolutely horrendous experience. lost lot of blood, flat out for 3 weeks, traumatised for 6 months, still in pain 3 years later.

I had elective c-section 2nd time. Up and around pretty fast, much much better than forceps