Forceps seem to be used a LOT in One Born Every Minute

[lucysullivan]

I can't get over how often forceps are used on mothers in Channel 4's One Born Every Minute, every week some poor soul seems to be subjected to them and on tonight's programme forceps were used for 2 births. I've read on here the horrendous damage that forceps can do and know that in some hospitals they are not used at all for precisely this reason.

I've specifically requested in my birth plan for this baby that I will not consent to forceps. Worried though at the extensive use of forceps in British hospitals today, the women I've watched in the documentary don't seem to be told about the risks associated with them, to their health or their babys. Whereas I will be screaming for a c section if forceps are mentioned.

Does anyone else worry about the use of forceps? I'm starting to get very worried that despite me saying I will not consent to forceps I will be told it's either that or I'll be putting my baby at risk, so made guilty if I kick up a fuss about not consenting.

I may be remembering it incorrectly but I'm not sure that we know for a fact that she wasn't asked as I think we just saw her whisked off so don't know what conversation was had on the way to OR etc.

LittleSilver - that leaflet is basic. If after all other manoeuvres had been tried for shoulder dystocia then the Zavanelli would be used - even in UK. There is no other option. Just extremely rare.

MMM - where it is uncertain whether forceps is the best way to deliver a baby, the woman usually consents to a 'trial of forceps'. She is given the information and she has the right to opt straight for CS if she wishes. This type of delivery takes place in the operating theatre under epidural or spinal anaesthetic.

In an emergency situation with heart rate concerns, the fastest way possible would be used for delivery and that might be forceps.

Hello Clary

Mears - thank you for responding on the other thread.

There will have been a lot that had to be cut from the show to make it fit into the time slot.
Can you imagine if they showed the full labour? The show would go on for hours!
So, they may very well have discussed the options with thw women but just didnt include it in the program. I doubt they would have done anything without talking to her about it first.

She actually said to the nurse who was looking after the baby that she didn't know if it would be forceps or a csection until afterwards and she seemed to think she'd got off lightly with the forceps, which she may well have done.
As I said in my first post neither options are without complications and implications for the future so fingers crossed the baby's come out the way they are meant to, but that requires support in labour which we didn't see at all in 2 out of 3 births on this weeks episode.
I wasn't even going to mention the girl who was given the Syntocinon injection and told not to worry we've discussed it, it won't hurt ... she didn't want it, so why wasn't she offered alternatives ? The program portrayed birth as something that is done to women and the hospital came across as looking the last place on earth I would have a baby.

MillyMollyMoo - I agree with you that it portrayed birth "as something that is done to women".
I also read somewhere recently that this hospital has been the subject of a lot of complaints from its service users.

no problem gailforce1.

I will need to watch the last 2 programmes - I have them taped but haven't seen them yet. I think editing will make things look worse too.

I was once in an episode filmed for a TV programme following couples having nurseries made for their new babies. Only a snippet was on in relation to what was filmed.

In previous episeodes I really haven't liked quite a bit, especially the lack of skin to skin contact post birth.

I have to agree actually, it does come across as a very intimidating place where you lie down when you arrive and do as you're told.
Really hope thats not the way and the production team have had to just cut loads out to make it fit the time slot!

Each week there's been something thats made my blood run cold and brought back memories of being in labour with DS and feeling totally out of control.

Will have to ask a friend of mine what she thinks of all the episodes together. She gave birth 3x in that hospital. After the second episode she thought that they portrayed it favourably.

It is an odd program in my opinion. Having not actually given birth yet I can't really judge but it seems to be a very old fashioned hospital, not working in line with NICE guidelines at all.

The thing I have noticed is that in apparently low risk straight-forward labours the vast majority of women seem to be put straight onto continuous fetal monitoring, and don't seem to be encouraged to stay mobile and off their backs.

And I have also noticed the distinct lack of immediate skin to skin contact Wonder why C4 chose this hospital - it hardly seems to be leading the way in maternity services.

I did NOT like the woman being held down for the injection. That is assult and worthy of complaint. Mine perhaps!

In practice, it is medically advisable to have the injection after such an interfered with birth as the woman might not now produce the right hormones to release the placenta, but the reality is it is still HER body and UP TO HER.

The MW knew she had a phobia of needles and should have prepared her in advance, perhaps discussing it along with the move to epidural, which from what I saw was also kind of pushed on her.

I am very angry about how that woman was treated. She was assulted!

'but it seems to be a very old fashioned hospital, not working in line with NICE guidelines at all.'

itsallgoingtobefine You are right, but don't assume your hospital won't do the same. There is a great disparity between what you are told on the tour and in prenatal classes and what actually happens. The MW KNOW the theory, but when it comes to it they fall back on their old practices.

I'm not trying to scare you but make sure you realise that seeing a lovely room with a birth pool, being told that birthing upright is best doesn't mean you will 'be allowed' these things on the day, unless you have practised your tantrums in advance etc. Doesn't much matter if you've booked into a MLU either.

So get tantrum-practising!!!

yes DPW but it's hard to have your usual standard of tantrum when you've been in labour for 36 hours and the mw always seems to need to leave the room for something more important.

I guess that's where a Doula comes into their own or a well trained husband but even then my DH just did as he was told even though he knew it wasn't what I wanted or an necessity, most frustrating and the reason I'm staying at home this time. They are in my space, my rules

There is actually three different types ( I believe)

Wrigleys (low forceps) which are used for straightfoward lift out procedures often when the mum is too tired. Ventouse is a comparible alternative

Neville barnes (straight forceps) which are used when the baby is a bit higher up, maybe stuck a bit cause its big, but bascially just a straight pull

Keillands (rotational forceps) which are used when the baby is high up and needs repositioned to be able to come down the birth canal. This needs a lot of skill.

In OBEM they didn't mention (I don't think) which type they were using in each case. There is a world of difference between wrigleys and keillands.

Unfortunately I knew none of this before DD1 was born. Wish I had.

I had trained DH before we went to the hospital. The only thing I really didnt want was an epidural as I wanted to be as mobile as I could be.
I honestly can't remember how many times I was 'asked' if I wanted an epidural and kept saying 'No, I really don't want one. Yes I'm tired and fed up but I want to do this myself as much as I can'
They must have asked a fair few times as I do remember DH saying 'Look, she doesn't want one! She's told you that!' Which isn't like him, he's very much of the 'they're the proffessionals, do as you're told' school of labour.

I was kept on my back, strapped to monitors, told I had to turn around when I'd been quite happy on my knees for 3 hours, made to feel like I was doing wrong by not having the epidural.

they DID mention "rotational" though

From experience...you have to sign a waiver before going into the operating theatre and all the options will be discussed with you before signing. In my case they said they would consider (in order) ventouse, forceps and c-section. I ended up with forceps. To be honest, 30-plus hours after my waters broke, I was so exhausted that I was relieved something was being done. Not so thrilled with the epi and 3rd degree tear though! But no long-lasting effects thankfully (although did take 9-12 months before I started to feel "normal").

It did seem very clinical and a bit forced on OBEM last night but I imagine the discussions were edited out.

A good friend of mine is an anesthetist and she will tell you by the time they get to theatre most women haven't a clue if they've just signed to have both their legs amputated especially the younger girls, totally unprepared and then the least complaining when things do go wrong.
It's a shame.

I had a forceps delivery and was informed what was happening every step of the way (The doctor explained before and after what she was going to/did do and why).

12 weeks later i've had no complications and dd is fine (she just has a tiny mark on the top of her head left).

Although i hated it when the forceps were in use i would do it again tomorrow if it meant my child being ok.

DOOMBar - Had the HCPs asked you DH to leave before you were asked to consent? Would he have been able to intercede so that you knew what you were signing for if he had been there? And what was the reactions of the HCP when you stated that you absolutely did not want forceps?

I was out of my face when I signed the consent form for the forceps.

a Didn't have time to read it
b On heavy duty drugs

It took me a good 6 months to recover but I am fine now. DS2 has always been a happy baby so he clearly had no ill effects.

TBH I am convinced that they performed forceps on me to keep their C-section figures down. Also one of the consultants did it with about 10 students watching (no one asked me) and I think he thought it was a great educational opportunity.

Lucy - if you really want to avoid forceps then I suggest you also avoid an epidural and stay upright and mobile.

Everything I have read seems to point to forceps being much more likely in an epidural and immobile on back situation.

I had a 2nd degree tear with my DD (needed to be born quickly and ended up being born in uncontrolled manner) but no tears with DS born in birth pool - we'd done a course in hypnobirthing, and I was really relaxed. Also recommend you read Ina May Gaskin's Spiritual Midwifery.