Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

If it came to it, would you rather a CS or Forceps delivery?

104 replies

brightredballoon · 24/09/2009 21:25

I was reading another thread where the OP mentioned something about avoiding an instrumental delivery and maybe going for a CS if that (instrumental delivery) is looking likely. To avoid my taking the OP thread off at a tangent I started this one to ask you just that. Would you rather a CS over an instrumental delivery?

I am early pregnant with DC3. DC1 was a forceps, DC2 was a cs.

With the forceps I had a large episiotomy that felt raw and sore for a couple of weeks but I was a lot more able and in less discomfort etc than after my CS even though with the CS I wasn't in pain just felt vulnerable and restricted and took about 9wks to feel recovered.

Thanks for your opinions/experiences.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mears · 24/09/2009 22:56

brightredballoon - your chances of successful VBAC are high because you have already achieved a vaginal delivery - even though it was asssited with forceps.

With 2 children at home, a spontanseous vaginal delivery would be something to consider over CS.

Hope you manage to decide what is suitable for you.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 25/09/2009 03:01

If I'd been given the choice based on what I know now I would have had a CS rather than the forceps delivery I had with DS1.

I was left in agony after the forceps delivery, DS1 is scarred on the side of his face from them and I have ongoing gynae problems which I think are at least in part to do with the forceps delivery.

I did go on to have DS2 naturally, no intervention required but my vagina is a mess and I have a prolapse for which I am having surgery next month.

I can't say for sure this was caused by the forceps because I had some other health problems which meant I had to have a radical hysterectomy a year after DS2 was born and the prolapse may be linked to that but having read about other womens experience of forceps delivery and subsequent problems I hold the forceps partly responsible.

I hope you make the right decision and all goes well for you.

LoveBeingAMummy · 25/09/2009 06:46

With my DD I ahd ventouse and the forceps were there ready to be used if ventouse didn't work. Hvae to say knowing that he was ready to use forceps made me push that baby out as I can't imaigne anything worse. Would go for a cs every time over forceps. Also my stitches from tearing have been bothering me for over a year so can't even think about what it would ahve been like to be cut as well.

BettyBubble · 25/09/2009 12:00

Doyouthin - I feel for you. My experience of (failed) ventouse followed by forceps left me in a similar position. I was barely mobile for weeks. DS's head is still wonky, and prolapses are no fun at all. I was advised to opt for a cs second time round, and it was relatively okay!

Persephoponce · 25/09/2009 12:10

There is no right or wrong answer.

At the time of my first c-section a friend had a fairly lenghty and traumatic birth with forceps and ventouse and big episiotomy. She recovered far more quickly than me.

Second section, I was recovering on a ward with three ladies who'd had big episiotomies after forceps deliveries for shoulder dystocias. They all seemed to be in much more pain and less mobile than me after a couple of days.

JulesJules · 25/09/2009 12:22

Based on my own experience, I would go for CS over episiotomy every time, far less painful, far less traumatic and recovery much quicker. I was in agony for months, and needed repair surgery, and lots of other treatment following the epi. My elective CS was a total dream in comparison.

But it all depends... Good luck!

onemoretimetoday · 25/09/2009 15:23

CS without a doubt. A friend of my parents had a botched forceps delivery and her son has CP as a result. Whilst I appreciate that this is a very rare and unusual complication it has put me off forceps for life and both my birth plans said that I would refuse forceps and would opt for C/S. I am now pregnant with my 3rd and will have the same on my birth plan.

susie100 · 25/09/2009 15:45

I had no forceps on my birth plan and would have opted for a c section if at any time it looked as though the baby was not going to come out easily.

Ended up having a home birth in the end to avoid the possibility of instrumental completely.

BettyBubble · 25/09/2009 16:38

Ah. My ventouse/forceps/prolapse combo followed my emergency transfer to hospital (it was a planned home birth - I didn't want any intervention at all). If DS hadn't gone and got himself completely wedged, all would have been fine...

Original poster

brightredballoon · 26/09/2009 22:09

Sorry to hear of all those that have suffered long lasting pain and damage. totally agree with the poster sayi-they felt at that stage of labour it would be very difficult to not agree to assistance if they were saying the baby is getting distressed etc.
mears that's interesting I might've a good chance of a vbac , I will wait to discuss this all with he consultant. I am so glad you have all replied its given me a great insight into what can happen and what caused it.

OP posts:

Portofino · 26/09/2009 22:19

I was offered exactly that choice and went for the CS! I was exhausted and just couldn't cope with anymore. As it was, before they got round to giving me an epidural, monitoring detected dd was in distress and I was knocked out quick as anything.

thehairybabysmum · 26/09/2009 22:25

I have had 2 em c/s. "nd was attempted VBAC, got to fully dilated but ds showing distress, midwife burst waters and lots meconium. We did have a brief discussion whilst waiting for consultant. I said that i would rather have anohter c/s than instrument birth if it came to it. I felt that as i had already had 1 successful recovery i was happy to repeat this; known vs unkown i guess. I also felt that i have one scar and didnt want to end up with 2 scars. The horror stories on here probably influenced this feeling.

Consultant did say that if it got to point of forceps would prob then be too late for a c/s. C/s went well, though not as pleasant as 1st as i fellt sick some of the time. DS2 was fine and i recovered well again. Only stayed in 1 night aftger birth which was fab.

Original poster

brightredballoon · 28/09/2009 22:23

Wanted to reply to the lady who CAT me, sorry I haven't replied my email crashed and I have had to re-install it so I have lost all my emails.

OP posts:

electra · 28/09/2009 22:24

Neither ideal but deffo a CS.

norksinmywaistband · 28/09/2009 22:27

CS would be my choice, I have had both and although the section took longer to recover from at the time, DS wasn't damaged by the section, DD will have lifelong implications from her forceps delivery

Original poster

brightredballoon · 29/09/2009 20:59

NIMW , sorry that your DD suffered as a result of the forceps. I have been reading up a fair bit on them and the ventouse, they really are such old fashioned bits of equipment, surely in this day and age something else could be developed to minimise damage to both the mother and baby.

OP posts:

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 02/10/2009 02:27

That's awful norks

Bloody forceps! I honestly have no idea why they still insist on using them. Like you say brightredballoon they are an archaic piece of equipment and seem capable of so much damage.

The state of DS1's face when he was born was quite shocking. The sides of his face were so swollen it was only later we realised the forceps had actually cut his skin and caused a scar. It makes me really sad now to think he must have been in some pain and we didn't know.

None of the medical team commented on his face at all. Only time was when the health visitor at his 6 month check asked if he'd had an accident

Apologies for the mid night shift rant

Oumasrusks · 02/10/2009 08:16

I've not had a CS but I had a failed ventouse/forceps delivery and it was utter hell. I ended up with a 3rd degree tear and all the nasty long-term damage that goes with it. My dd had a lot of brusing and a cut on her nose, but fortunately nothing lasting. I'd never have allowed the forceps if I'd known about the damage they can do. I was told I was having a trial by forceps in theatre and if that didn't work a CS, but I didn't know at the time I could refuse that and just request a CS. I wasn't offered a choice!

Original poster

brightredballoon · 02/10/2009 14:54

DYTTS and OMR, you both had awful experiences as well, again it's made me realise DD and I had pretty lucky experience with minimal marking to DD's face which faded in a couple of days.
DYTTS - my DS was cut twice during his crash section, noone mentioned those either, I would have thought the Docs/MWs would have said about them when they did the checks etc. They are a lot smaller now as his face has grown since he was a baby (he's coming up for 2).

Again though, I am now without doubt that if I do go for a VBAC, I do not want an instrumental delivery and my birth plan will clearly state that and DH will be very well briefed too

OP posts:

orangehead · 02/10/2009 14:56

I have had both and from my experience, but think my forceps was a bad experience, I would go for a section

WowOoo · 02/10/2009 15:53

C-sec first time. Forceps second. If I had to choose one, I'd def have forceps again.

I really wanted a VBAC and if that meant getting help or having to have a c sec I wanted help!

Original poster

brightredballoon · 02/10/2009 22:26

WowOoo my forceps delivery was with my first child, when I pregnant with DS I didn't give a normal birth a second thought as although the recovery from the large episiotomy was fairly slow and sore I hadn't felt the experience was totally awful (but then I didn't have anything to compare it to). However from reading all the experiences here I realise we were really lucky to have forceps but not have lasting effects from them, I had no idea of the damage they could do - all I knew about them before my birth was that they were to assist delivery if the baby was stuck or needed to be delivered quickly.

OP posts:

SmallerClanger · 02/10/2009 23:02

DD1 was forceps after good labour. Used TEnS but suddenly midwife said baby was distressed & needed to come out. Don't really remember much about it but don't think we were offered a choice. had a local anasthaetic & episiotomy & forceps. Quick & OK as far as it goes! DD did get a slight scar on forehead & cried quite a bit for 1st night. Refused epidural & stitched with just gas & air in delivery room. Quite sore for a few weeks after- & still wonder if I should have gone to theatre for stiches instead. but still prefered that to the thought of C-section & epidural. DD2 was easy home birth (with no tearing.)

Looks like we were relatively lucky though.

katster37 · 03/10/2009 09:35

Am really interested by this thread - am 33 weeks with DC1 and after all the ante natal classes I am terrified by the thought of forceps and episiotomy. Can I ask - if it gets to the stage of instrumental being necessary, can you say you would rather have a CS and do they listen? I know you can refuse forceps but do they necessarily have to let you have a CS? I am so scared!!

Crazycatlady · 03/10/2009 19:30

DD was forceps after a very long labour and protracted second stage. I had an episiotomy and also a third degree tear. Healing wasn't too awful and am ok now, although a little damage internally nothing that will preclude another vaginal delivery.

For my next baby I have decided (along with the consultant) that I will go for another vaginal delivery but if it looks at all likely that we're heading for another forceps (i.e. bad positioning, big shoulders etc) then we will call it a day and go for a CS.

I do not want another forceps delivery under any circumstances, partly because I don't know if a second forceps delivery would just be too much for my already weakened pelvic floor, but also DD was VERY shocked and ill from the sudden, painful forceps delivery. She had an Apgar score of 1 and didn't breathe independently for 3 minutes. Her head was so sore for the first two days of her life that she couldn't breastfeed and ended up with very bad jaundice treated with light therapy for over a week.

It was awful and terrifying and I never want to go through that again!

Flip

1 2 3 4 5