Forceps delivery that was difficult or distressing? We’d like to hear from you

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi there,

As part of the national review of maternity care, we’ve been asked to help bring together a small group of women to share their experiences directly with policymakers.

We'd like to hear from Mumsnet users who had a traumatic or distressing forceps-assisted birth, within the past three years.

If you:

• had a forceps-assisted birth
• found the experience traumatic or distressing
• gave birth in the past three years
• and would be willing to speak at a roundtable discussion with policymakers

please reply below or email [email protected] with a short outline of your experience.

EDITED TO ADD: The roundtable will take place in London on Thursday 26th March, 9.30 - 11am.

We know this can be a very difficult experience to revisit and we're mindful of that. But hearing directly from women who’ve been through it would help ensure those experiences are properly understood and taken into account.

Please do get in touch if you'd be willing to take part.

Thanks,
MNHQ

This is the sort of issue that the BBC4's Woman's Hour programme deals with very well. And their interest & involvement often kicks off a much bigger, often national, wave of interest.

Maybe this is where this thread needs to be pursued & amplified?

My own experience was in 1981. Long time ago. I have not forgotten a single shred of it. Was basically down to bungling. And bungling on top of bungling. With a dash of not-really-caring. I'm still dealing with the concomitants.

Forceps and rotation 1990, very large baby; still dealing with physical and emotional effects

Mine was 2012 but still feel every bit of it as I did the day it happened. Have had chronic pain since and can vividly remember the entire delivery. It was awful and the reason I only have one child

Same, and same. 2019 and I am physically and mentally not the same even now.

I wonder why they want experiences within the last three years, when clearly this has been a massive problem for much, much longer?

Mine was many years ago but buggered my insides up so much I had to have a caesarean for my next one and a hysterectomy. No comeback at all I reckon they were determined to show the students that were in watching (!) how it was done. In my case how NOT to do it. Butchers.

I know I don’t meet the criteria as mine was in 2010. But

• it left me with “heaviness” down below for a few years
• it bruised the shit out of my DD’s face
• she needed cranial osteophathy as she was in pain
• she was given zero pain medication
• it fucked up my womb contracting post-birth
• the episiotimy scar is like a big rigid worm
• but it saved my DD’life

Forceps delivery in 2001 in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital still traumatised , several cockups. Those involved looked at me like I was a troublemaker rather than a seriously wronged mum . I note things have changed since and would love the opportunity to share my experience finally . 07883329235

Hi - reading this thread is quite upsetting! I too (like @S83M ) suffered a broken coccyx (badly dislocated) with a forceps & rotation in 1990. Also treated as a hysterical nuisance (having calmly arrived at hospital already 8cm dilated) - my DS1 was 9lbs 5oz and completely stuck by shoulders. Forceps used were Keillands - I suspect the ones now banned as mentioned by a previous poster? Pain was indescribable, also large episiotomy, too late for eventual epidural to work, baby very badly bruised with one red eye (as a previous poster also mentioned) and huge forceps mark, me similarly injured. Offered ultrasound for bruising and discharged with zero information on recovery! DS2 (1993) was 10lbs 4oz 😬 and delivered by Caesarian - which was nothing by comparison. @RhiannonEMumsnet - I’m now 62, can recall every scary moment and still dealing with consequences now in my post-menopause - I think the study providers could be advised of just how extensive and traumatic this issue is, regardless of whether very recent? No one spoke to me afterwards and I unexpectedly broke down in tears 30 years later when seeing a female physiotherapist post-hysterectomy and experiencing pelvic floor issues which I learned were almost inevitable under the circumstances. I really think women deserve better, and I would be very happy to contribute if criteria are extended. Love and strength to all the girls out there who have experienced this 💐

2021 but happy to participate should guidelines widen. Traumatic birth experience but the forceps weren’t the worst of it. I think it was rotational forceps.

2008 for me. I’m still in pain. I had no idea what the hell was going on. No aftercare. Utterly horrific. And it could all have been avoided if the male midwife had cared about ME rather than his standing in front of his peers. And if the local midwife’s werent so brainwashed into thinking that a birthing centre no where near a hospital was a good idea. The midwife is something very important in midwifery now. I’ll never forget his name. But the birth centre closed because of dreadful outcomes.

I gave birth in 2015 and had a forceps delivery. The whole labour was traumatic tbh. My baby was back to back. I had a massive episiotomy, loads of stitches and a prolapse afterwards. I had horrible undiagnosed PND afterwards too 😞

anyway happen to share more

Forceps and episiotomy 2025 and would be happy to contribute.

I did in 2022, can not make London but happy to talk

Forceps birth with no pain relief for me along with a consultant whose attitude stunk. Took me a long time to not relive it on an hourly basis. Traumatised me so much it took a long time to have second child and even then I panicked and opted for an elective c section. Barbaric is the only word I can use for this experience.

Hi there @sparklyblueberry2 @SurvivalInstinctsOfABakedPotato @IAmTooOldFor @stripey1 @FFOXGLOVE - just to flag I've DMed you all if you wouldn't mind taking a look. Thank you!

Thanks again to everyone who has replied and shared their experiences - we really appreciate it. As mentioned, we’re collating these posts to feed into the inquiry, so please do continue to share here, or if you’d prefer to send something more privately, you can email [email protected].

Hi, I’m having difficulty accessing my messages through here. I’m unfortunately outside the date range as mine was 2019 and also am working on the date required. I would still really love to help in some way, all these stories are horrific and even though many babies are born with no lasting problems, the mothers experiences are completely dismissed because ‘they should be grateful’.

for the record, i think my forceps birth was completely avoidable, i was ignored in labour and by the time they realised it was all panic stations. I didn’t even sign a consent form nor taken to theatres. A birth debrief was not helpful either as nothing could make me forget the pain of it.

helping with this subject would probably be helpful for me, if it helps just one woman, then good with have come from my own situation. Obviously I am eternally grateful for my child making it earthside.

My forceps birth was also 2019 but was so distressing for me and my child that it’s causing issues later on. I would dearly like to be part of a national maternity review and as a health commissioner I would have useful insight

Same, mine was horrific and I believe I suffer the after effects to this day

Hi there,

Thanks once again to everyone who took the time to share their experience on this thread - we've passed all of your contributions on.

Separately, we've been asked to share an invitation for Mumsnet users that may be of interest to some of you, to an event on Innovation in Assisted Childbirth, in Westminster, London on 5th May.

From the organisers: An expert panel will be hosted by broadcast journalist Ali Vowles and will feature the independent voices of obstetricians, midwives, and mothers who recently gave birth with the assistance of a new, innovative and gentle alternative for assisted childbirth in the UK. Admission is complimentary.

If you’re interested in going, please get in touch via [email protected] by 17th April and we'll share the details.

Thanks,
MNHQ