How do obstetricians decide on using ventouse or forceps during delivery?

[lovingpickles]

What is the difference? Seems to me that the recovery tends to be quicker with ventouse than forceps, which can lead to long-term postpartum problems -- so why don't obs always use ventouse?

i think it depends on how high up the baby is in the birth canal

also depends on which way babe is facing.

OK, so do they use forceps to turn the baby at the same time as pulling it out? And rubyslippers - are forceps used if baby is higher up in the canal?

this is a good article

If I'm not mistaken generally, yes, forceps are used when the baby is higher up the birth canal. Also used if the baby is larger or smaller than normal. I.e. if the baby is premature or a really big baby. I think the forceps give the obstetrician some more physical control although they then have to do most of the work themselves. Forceps I believe is the more invasive method (for the mother) as it requires space to be made for it (episiotomy), while that is not always the case with ventouse. Not sure which is more invasive, if either, for the baby. I think some babies have some discomfort after being delivered with forceps in terms of neck and shoulder pains, however, I have no firm stats for this. However, most babies and mothers are delivered healthy with little issues!

I think it depends on the baby's position, and on the urgency. I think forceps are quicker?

I had forceps because I had been pushing for three hours and the consultant was all for getting me into theatre for trial of forceps and cs if needed. I was getting very very tired.

However the midwife persuaded her to let me have another 30 minutes and there was a neonatal emergency which also bought us a bit of time.

But we were under pressure to get DD out before the consultant came back so we went for forceps - which were great, incidentally. Two little pulls and it was wonderful to feel that bit of help in getting her out.

Having been terrified of forceps I was surprised at how much I loved them! DD didn't seem to have ill-effects - came out and cried straight away and turned pink immediately. Then came straight on my boob and started feeding! Then didn't cry after that, just looked round quizzically! I think she was very glad to be out.

Bumpsadaisie - what a refreshingly positive post. I have read so many second-hand horror stories (not on this thread, but on others on the same subject). Thank you.

Yep Lillian - what people feel about forceps in the cold light of an NCT class may well turn out to be quite different after a 30 hour labour and three hours of pushing like a maniac!

I had an episiotomy too and had absolutely no issues with it at all save for the usual discomfort sitting down for a few days after the birth. Mind you I did have a lovely Kiwi Registrar doing it - had a nice chat with her sitting between my legs!

I think so much depends on how the rest of the birth has gone - I had a brilliant midwife who sat with me all night and then overran her shift for four hours in the morning to see DD born. Everyone was so lovely I was chilled at the prospect of a cs even. In fact they could probably have said they were going to cut my leg off in order to get DD out, and I would have said "Oh, well, fair enough"

If you feel comfortable generally then interventions are not necessarily terrifying!

those articles are great!!!!