Can you refuse forceps?

[Hermya321]

Hi,

I'm starting to think of my Birthplan and due to SPD issues I really don't want Forceps and would much rather have a c-section than have potential damage to my pelvis.

So really my question is this, can I refuse them? Or is there a point that you reach where there is no other choice but to use them?

Thank you.

One of the things they gave us at NCT classes was to "remember to use your BRAINS" whenever an intervention is suggested in labour - there are very VERY few true obstetric emergencies when there isn't time to run through the following:

What are the Benefits?
What are the Risks?
What are the Alternatives?
What does your Intuition say?
What happens if you do Nothing for now?
Smile!

These phrases by Mary Cronk are also great to have in your backpocket - mainly antenatally but also during labour if necessary. I found I didn't really use them (apart from once, to tell the MW to get her arm off my back during the 2nd stage), but knowing that I could helped me feel in control of the situation.

You sound like you're doing everything you can to put yourself in a strong position - fingers crossed all your hard work pays off

I was told that if I put something in my birth plan, ie 'I do not want an epidural', I couldn't change my mind later and was advised to say 'I would prefer to avoid an epidural if at all possible'.
I don't know if this is a nationwide or local thing, or if the midwife was just talking bollocks! Agree with having a word with your midwife but maybe you could say you want to avoid them in your birth plan so you're covered if they do become necessary. Maybe your midwife will tell you that you can change your mind later on.
(PS I had forceps, no damage to me or dd, apart from episiotomy of course!)

Pretty sure that a birth plan is a plan of how you would like things to go and you should be able to change your mind at any point. Some people might say for example that they do not want an epidural, but change their mind after hours of back-to-back labour and that's fine. They can't hold you to something you wrote down! Having it written in yor birth plan also won't mean that they won't offer something.

If the issue is SPD, then ventouse or forceps won't make much of a difference. I would try and get some info on how much damage it can actually do to you though. I'm hypermobile anyway so I think my SPD is a bit different to normal so I'm not much help on that issue - I can't actually damage myself so much (my ligaments are extra stretchy naturally and I'm accustomed to dealing with dislocated hips), although it also means I have problems earlier!

Some people I've seen mention having SPD problems after birth have actually had hip problems instead, which should've been sorted to not be a long-term issue anyway (there's no need to go through life with a subluxated hip, believe me!). I'm not sure how many people actually have ongoing SPD issues (rather than PGP) from stretching the front pelvic ligaments and them not recovering. Even in that case, I would've thought physio could help.

If to gets to a ventouse/forceps issue, you can ask for an epidural so that you don't have to deal with the pain of the SP joint being pulled apart. You can say you'd prefer an EMCS too, but in either case it may be that it's not really an option. The "remember to use your BRAINS" thing is brilliant!

I had failed forceps and failed ventouse and ended up having an emergency C-section. The forceps were definitely tried before the ventouse.

Son was born with damage to his head which turned out to be permanent. He's now 17 and has a sizeable indentation on the front of head on one side, just above the forehead. It's covered by hair now of course, but it's still there.

hermya- i had terrible spd in first pregnancy, had to finish work at 27 weeks etc, awful.

i was at the point during labour where altho they mention to u that u have the choice ,really there was no choice the cord was round her neck more than once and it was more dangerous to attempt anything else.

so i ended up with rotational forceps- i have been told they will not give u elcs for spd as it effects so many women etc.

i felt the same as u last time, i agree with the other posters that putting it in ur birth plan is great idea and say many times, that given the choice u would prefer other options.so then mayb they could use something earlier if nessary (sorry spelling!)

virgo that's absolute tosh. Consent is an ongoing process. Did a real HCP actually say that?

cant you opt for ventouse, I had it and had no damage (othewr than a very sore chuff for 3 weeks)

I get it BUT your priority is to get baby out safely at the end of the day