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

[brightredballoon]

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.

I've had experience of both and I can honestly say the CS (2nd birth) was one of the most traumatic experiences I've ever had. Give me the instrumental option any day

katster - they'll prefer instrumental and episiotomies over a CS. A birthing injury, regardless of the consequences to your future health, is regarded as trivial.

If you seriously want to avoid instrumental, you need to be pretty vocal, both in your birth plan and during your labour.

Yup i wish they'd have given me a CS for DS1. They were about to (doors open ready to go) when Doc decides he'll give it a go with Forceps...

I think with a CS DS1 wouldn't have been born not breathing with and AGPAR of 1 (he's fine now) and i wouldn't have had to go for lightbox therapy on my scarring.

I've only had one child. Ventouse delivery. It was total hell. They said they were going to use forceps. I screamed NO WAY. So they suggested Ventouse. This, with a full episiotomy left me very bruised and unable to walk or sit properly for several weeks. It also led to very painful sex and difficulty even considering it 5 months afterward. I'm still traumatized by this and he's just turned 1 year . I'd opt for a cs anyday if instruments were going to be used. The ventouse was incredibly violent and intrusive and painful (even with an epidural that was wearing off).

Any midwives out there have any thoughts about including something in your birth plan to state that an instrumental delivery is not permitted under any circumstances and should not be suggested to the mother at any stage (also stating that the mother is happy to have a CS if there is a need to get the baby out quickly)? I'm not opposed to medical intervetion per se, but from what I've read it really does seem as though there is a significant risk of long-term damage if you have an instrumental delivery. That is not something I'm willing to risk, especially when there's a safe alternative to hand.

I've had both - CS definitely! I have been lucky to recover well and there was no emergency like when the forceps delivery was done.

bump

Having read this thread I will definitely put that I'd rather have a CS over forceps on my birth plan.

I don't mind ventouse, had that before the forceps and it wasn't too bad.

Never want to see a pair of forceps again in my life.

I'm also wondering if they would ignore your request for a c-s.

Going to have an appt with a consultant at roughly 28 weeks though, so I guess I can ask then.

I haven't had a CS, but have had forceps. I would elect for a c-section every single time. The chances of horrible lasting damage from forceps are too great (3rd degree tears, faecal incontinence, big damage to pelvic floor, incontinence in old age, not to mention possible damage to the baby). Recovery from extensive tearing and large episiotomies following forceps was awful and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Not to mention the sensation of ds being ripped out of me .

I do know there are potential complications from CS too and that complications from either aren't guaranteed.

I find the idea of ventouse pretty unpleasant too from the perspective of the poor baby's head.

Just read stat6's post and scrubbed out ventouse too!

Hi everyone

Just saw this post had been brought up recently and thought I would update my situation. I am only 4 months pregnant with DC3 but I have 100% made up my mind that I am having an elective section this time round. I feel pretty certain we will stop at 3 children and I just keep hearing/reading so many awful birth stories involving instrumental deliveries that I really want to avoid it and what with the hospital having time restraints on how long you can push after a previous cs I really feel the likely hood of needing assistance is quite high.

Thanks again for sharing all your experiences.

Good choice! Having had both (the forceps messing me up so badly I had no choice but elective C/S the second time); I beg my friends not to have a forcep birth if they can avoid it.

I also wish I had opted for an episiotomy. I insisted on a natural tear but it was horrendous - having read all the natural birth books I thought I knew it all...

Hi brightredballoon, I previously posted something on here as I am hoping to have an elective cs for my 2nd child (not due until end of may).

I had forceps first time around after a failed ventouse without an epidural and it was hell! I had an extended episiotomy, which luckily healed pretty well but couldn't walk or sit properly for weeks.

I would hate to go through this again, the thought of it makes me feel sick! I did some research on CS last time around, as baby was breech until final appt with midwife so I know there are also risks involved.

I am doubtful about my chances of having an ECS, it seems that the doctors think if you managed last time (even though it was hell) you can do it again! Without any regard for what you would prefer.

Good luck with your decision x

CS all the way!!!!

I had forceps with DD and I would definitely have forceps again over a CS. It wasn't great, and yes there is probably more damage to my pelvic floor than a straightforward birth, but the consultant was great and it actually was far less awful than the long labour which preceeded it!

I haven't had a CS to compare it to, but watching the longer recovery of friends, inability to drive until signed off, lower mobility in early days, etc, I feel very pleased that a section didn't become necessary for me.

I'm a bit shocked by this thread... I thought forceps wasn't being used so much anymore! According to what I've read ventouse is the preferred way of assisted delivery these days. Forceps sounds awful, Thanks for the warnings... I had ventouse with DD and I'm fine down there, can't see or feel epi scar and no major pelvic floor probs. Maybe I was lucky having a great doc.

Anyone else had ventouse and had an ok experience?

Oh, forgot to say DDs head was a bit bruised but not too bad and went away quickly. I was delivered by ventouse myself actually, in 1973, I guess my mum was lucky.

CS definitely.

Had an elective to eliminate any risk of instrumental delivery.

I believe that the choice of a woman choosing to have a CS when instrumental delivery is imminent is illusory. If a doctor said your baby was in distress and the fastest way put was a high forceps, most mothers will agree to a forceps delivery at whatever cost to their pelvic floor.

annamamma - I was told that that do prefer ventouse, but DD was showing signs of distress and the consultant wasn't sure he could get a good enough grip with the ventouse. It was a very last minute decision (he had both instruments there) but in the end didn't want to risk further delay, especially given the fact that ventouse takes time to build up the suction.

As a midwife I have looked after many women who have had both vent and forceps over the years. MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE FORCEPS DELIVERIES HEAL WELL AND HAVE NO LONG TERM DAMAGE. I personally would rather have forceps if that is what the doc recommends than ventouse which may then lead to forceps which is riskier for the baby. I once worked with a doc who rarely did ventouse as she felt she was better at doing forceps, I wouldn't want her to do something that she felt she was less good at to me.

High forceps are rarely used these days and I would suggest not writing on your birth plan that you would rather go straight for a section than have an instumental delivery. By all means document that it is concern for you, and that if there is time you would like a full discussion about it. A section when a woman is fully dilated and the babys head is low is far more risky for both mother and baby. Also if you want more than one child it is safer for your subsequent pregnancy to have achieved a vaginal birth first time around. If you have a vag birth first time and go in to normal labour the next time you have a high chance of a normal non instumental delivery, however if you have a section first time around you have a 75% chance of a successful vbac, so of which will be normal births, some of which instumenal. If you want more than two children the risks increase with every section so definately try and avoid sections. I appreciate that many people who have posted on this thread have had very negative instumental delivery experiences but it isn't like that for everyone who has to have one and I can see why anyone reading this thread would be scared about having one

Had two ventouses, nice straight neat scars which healed well (DS2 was a whopper though and the healing took longer). Home next day both times.

I knew DS2 was big and begged asked for a C/s beforehand as DS1 had got stuck.

I am glad that I had a ventouse in the end. I think from reading this thread that I was very lucky though.

maxbear, as a midwife, how do you know that 'many women' with instrumental births heal well with no long term damage.

If they are still having problems say 3 months after the birth, would they contact you or their GP or some other health professional?

Perhaps long term damage to their bits is not something women like to talk about in RL. It was only on mn that I got the true extent of how wrong a vaginal (or cs) birth can go.

Good point Blueshoes. It took me a full year to get over the physical and pyschological effects of my forceps delivery. The last time I saw a midwife was when DS2 was 10 days old.

Hmmm. DD was an elective CS but still had to be dragged out with forcpes as she was so well engaged.