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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How common is it use forceps now?

61 replies

ErikaMaye · 16/10/2009 19:42

I spoke to my midwife yesterday when she came round for a normal check up, and told her I'm really worried about having to have them used. She said they tend to use a KIWI instead, which makes me feel a little better, but didn't actually tell me the stats.

Does anyone know?

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Disenchanted3 · 16/10/2009 19:43

What on earth do they do with a Kiwi??

Wouldn't a banana be better suited??

GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 19:45

Kiwi?

Original poster
ErikaMaye · 16/10/2009 19:47

LOL Its put on the babys head to draw the baby out via suction. I just sit and listen, I don't name the things!!

OP posts:
GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 19:48

Ventouse.

flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 19:48

A kiwi eh? Well I'm not sure a kiwi would have done the job the forceps did for me with DS.

And if it's any consolation, by the time it gets to the stage where they're saying you need forceps, you won't care less whether it's a kiwi, a banana or forceps as long as they get that baby OUT. IME anyway...

Original poster
ErikaMaye · 16/10/2009 19:50

Yes I think its the smaller one that's called a Kiwi, maybe? (Sorry pregnant brain is like a sieve)

Flowery - did you take long to heal after them?

OP posts:
Disenchanted3 · 16/10/2009 19:51

Ah I see.

I think the kiwi just suctions and so can help pull the baby out.

But in circumstances in which the position of the baby isn't good don't forceps sometimes help to sort of twist the baby or move its position?

Have you had a previous forceps delivery Erika? Is that why you are concerned?

EldonAve · 16/10/2009 19:53

You can look up your hospital on www.drfosterhealth.co.uk and see what their stats are like

GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 19:53

I had the old twisty forceps after failed ventouse.

Hoping for a c section next time if I'm honest.

Original poster
ErikaMaye · 16/10/2009 19:54

No, this is my first. So am panicking about everything! Am concerned because I have ME/CFS, and although they have said I shouldn't need a CS because of this, there is a higher rate of needing an assisted delivery, and that really frightens me.

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 19:58

Not particularly long to heal really no, iirc. I'm having a c-section in a couple of weeks and I'm expecting healing from that to be longer and more problematic.

GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 19:59

Flowery, sorry to be nosy, how come you#re having a c section this tiem?

Disenchanted3 · 16/10/2009 20:00

Awww, Its really a cliche piece of advice but try not to worry,

you cannot control whats going to happen but the more worried and tense you are the more ridgid your body will be and that in itself can make labour more difficult.

Haave you considered a water birth? I found giving birth in the water (the baby actually coming out) a much smoother experience than on dry land.

MrsHappy · 16/10/2009 20:01

I think that what they use depends entirely on which instrument is more suitable.
I had forceps because my baby needed to be rotated. If it had been as simple as helping me push out the baby then some variety of suction cup could have done the trick.

WartoScreamo · 16/10/2009 20:01

I was offered forceps or a cs after a long labour. I went for the section! Was very knackered and justed wanted it "done" though. I really wouldn't panic about these things in advance though. My labour wasn't exactly "natural" and relaxed. But really it was fine, I coped. I think DH was more stressed than me!

flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 20:02

S'alright

No medical reason. I had a very long and problematic delivery with DS, combined with very poor care, bad medical decisions and complications afterwards.

As a result, I am going to a different hospital to avoid the same medical staff and have requested a c-section this time to minimise the chances of similar things happening again as far as possible and to minimise my own stress about it as well.

missmapp · 16/10/2009 20:03

i had forceps after a failed ventouse with ds1 ( he is now 4) it was uncomfortable but not too horrendous ,although dh's comment of 'god,they're big' just before hand didnt really help!

flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 20:05

Have just realised this is your first Erika. Hope I haven't scared you with my tale of woe - I'm sure none of the horrors that happened to me will happen to you, and honestly the forceps were no problem should it come to that.

GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 20:06

Wow flowery, that is exactly what I want but scared no one is going to say yes to me. Do you mund if I ask did you go private? How easy was it to get what you want? I really, really don't want another VB of any kind, and I keep reading on here that's it's unlikely I'll be allowed a section.

EdgarAllenPoo · 16/10/2009 20:07

water birth could be a good means of staying active & mobile whilst alleviating Spd? what does mw think?

don't worry hun*, even bfore my HB i thought 'well, if this ends up with babs being filleted out of me that's still ok...so long as there's a baby at the end of this'

  • wah, must be old, using patronising informal address.
GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 20:10

Baby being filleted out of you? How is that supportive to a firsttimer

Or was it a joke?

flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 20:15

I'm not going private, no. I would have done if necessary though.

Because of my medical history I have consultant-led care, so at my first consultant appointment I told him everything that went wrong last time (a very long and shockingly serious list I realised when I typed it up in preparation). I explained that because of all the things that had gone wrong previously and the shocking care I'd had, I wanted a c-section this time. He explained there was no medical need, which I understood, and went through the risks, but said that given what had happened to me before he completely understood and didn't blame me.

He was very good, wanted me to meet with various people during my pregnancy to explore the issues further and see if there was any reassurance they could give me. I promised to keep an open mind as long as he promised that if I still wanted one at my 32 week appt it would be booked in.

I still did, and it was, with no problems whatsoever.

Like you I was concerned about struggling to get it agreed, spending my pregnancy stressing about it and having to argue with people. DH and I agreed that if at any point that happened, we'd look into going private instead. Happily I've been very pleased with my care so far this time, including everyone being fully supportive of my decision.

GhoulsAreLoud · 16/10/2009 20:18

Flowery, thanks so much for this.

(and sorry for the hijack OP!)

I'm wondering if your experience was down to the hospital, or would be universal. The only reason I can possibly see them maybe considering one for me is due to birth weight (first baby, female, 9 pounds 11 ozs). I guess we could borrow the money to go private if it came to it.

Good luck for the birth btw xx

flowerybeanbag · 16/10/2009 20:29

No problem

Judging by the posts you see on here, I'd say experiences of people who want a section for no medical reason vary hugely depending probably on the hospital and also the individual consultants they see as well as the reason for wanting one.

Thanks for good luck wishes, hope you get what you want as well.

EdgarAllenPoo · 16/10/2009 20:34

it was a newspaper clipping GHouls, that put me in mind ofthat - a woman Mrs Kipper, woke up after her c-section, and asked 'who filleted me?'. It was the surgeon, Mr Cod.

do we always have to be serious? b4 my 1st birth, i reffered to mw as 'whelper helper' and birthing as 'splashdown'....i actually think taking a lighterhearted view helps make it less scary.