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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

if you had an epidural, did you need forceps/ventouse?

91 replies

mogwai · 31/03/2005 16:43

I'm a total baby when it comes to pain. I really want to have an epidural for my forthcoming birth. I am a little concerned that there is a higher than average rate of instrumental delivery (forceps/ventouse) with epidural. I'd be interested to find out how many of you have had epidural and delivered without assistance and vice versa. Asked my midwife today, she says less than half need help, but that's just anecdotal, can't find any firm figures to help me decide.

OP posts:

Miaou · 03/04/2005 20:53

dd1 - had epidural and ventouse. However I was in labour 16 hours including overnight and I was too tired to push. Plus the epi meant I didn't get the urge to push.

dd2 - had epidural b/c I had been up all the previous night with d and v and was exhausted before I started! Disappointed b/c I wanted to do it without epi. But managed to push her out on my own without assistance.

This db is hopefully going to be waterbirth/gas and air only (no epidural on offer at this hospital)

Pinotmum · 03/04/2005 21:14

I had a epidural with dd which resulted in a ventouse delivery and was severely cut and stitched.

NannyJo · 03/04/2005 21:19

i had an epidural with DS (imo it saved my life and i couldn't have done it without it) when the puching part came i pushed 7 or 8 times and he was out.

teabelly · 04/04/2005 12:26

No - had epidural, and less than two hours later he came out with 3 pushes all by himself...just hope I have time for an epi this time round!!

ambrosia · 04/04/2005 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sallie · 04/04/2005 13:25

Had epidural with ds (no 1) and no, didn't need any assistance in pushing him out, even though I couldn't feel anything! I had a fabulous midwife who helped me push him out and ensured that I didn't tear. With dd (no 2) - no time for an epidural sadly! But again the birth was fine, just had some gas and air - was v painful because she was posterior but was over in 3 hours.
Best of luck.

Noggermum · 04/04/2005 14:02

I think the statistics are confused because they are not seperated out into interventions "caused" by epidural, and the need for epidural because some form of intervention would be needed anyway. I am not sure how anyone can prove that the sole reason for forceps/ventouse delivery was the insertion of an epridural anyway, i suspect that in most cases the intervention would have been needed regardless. So don't believe the figures.

I had epidural with DD because the pain of induction was too much to bear! She came out on her own, a large 9lbs 4 and - here is one of the beauties of the epidural that people seldom tell you - no stistches required as I did not feel any of the crowning and was therefore able to stop pushing and allow plenty of time to stretch.

If concerned, does your hospital offer mobile epidurals. You can at least then stand up and get assistance from gravity

Gem13 · 04/04/2005 14:11

kana - DS came out with his hand behind his head.

Ventouse and forceps - no epidural.

Gem13 · 04/04/2005 14:12

Sorry, kaMa!

Original poster

mogwai · 04/04/2005 22:56

Wow!

Thanks for sharing your experiences, really helpful. I think from what you have all said, the best thing to do would be to "see how it goes" on the day. Maybe I can deal with the pain.

I am intrigued by this idea of letting the epidural wear off so that you can feel to push. The unit I'm attending doesn't do mobile epidurals. I know it's best not to be on your back, but surely you don't get enough strength back in your legs to get into any other position after the epi wears off, I mean, not in time for the birth? Therefore you would end up on your back anyway. I can see the point about being able to feel to push, but some women sharing their experiences say they could push effectively even though they couldn't feel.

It's all a bit confusing with your first baby, you just don't know what to expect, eh?

OP posts:

lucy5 · 04/04/2005 23:00

I had an epidural, not mobile but they did let it wear off or lower, dont know the technical term. I felt dd being born and didnt need forceps etc. Having the epidural was the best decision I made, I didnt want one when I went in but when it got too much it was great. i was very tired and it really gave me breathing space to concentrate my efforts.

colditzmum · 04/04/2005 23:50

I had an epidural, and when the time came to push, I pushed for 45 minutes and out he came. I tore bery slightly, he was 8lb7oz

sahara · 05/04/2005 00:03

I had an epidural with Ds2 and I would reccommend it in a heartbeat. With Ds1 I had nothing and when he came out I was not interested in holding him, I was tired. I always feel this destroyed that initial bond that is supposed to be there.
With Ds2 the midwifes pretty much forced it on me as I'm a screamer and it was annoying them. (induced baby, 42 weeks and 9lb 11oz)
I loved it, I enjoyed the birth, held him, adored him.
But funny story to share, when it was time to go up to the ward, I felt fine, they offered a chair but I insisted I could walk, Got up and my legs collapsed under me. I couldn't feel them at all. Just thought I'd share my funnies

Willow2 · 05/04/2005 00:13

Had epidural, ventouse and forceps.

Re birthing pools - did sweet fa for me; stopped dilating from pool onwards. Of my friends who have used one, at least half have had the same thing happen. Also, because you can't use tens machine in it (for obvious reasons) pain during contractions was worse - although was more relaxing in between them.

alison222 · 05/04/2005 16:54

had an epidural with both of mine. DS was induced and needed ventouse as although he was moving when I was pushing because his head hadn't been properly engaged there was further to push and they thought it was taking too long.
With DD I was able to push fine - no problem except a tear which I think I would have had anyway as she was so big.
As I was very tired with DD I think that the epidural was a very good idea. Babies shouldn't decide to start coming at 1.0am its just not on in my opinion

MaryP0p1 · 05/04/2005 17:05

I had an very long slow labour with my first, even before I had an epidual and she was eventually delivered with a ventouse. However I think it probably made it easier and she was posteria presented with the cord around her neck.

My second was very very quick, didn't get to labour ward in time to have an epidual, so that time only gas and air and a lot of shouted. No stitches that time though.

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