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Pregnancy

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Original poster

can i request to have a caeserean instead of forceps/ventouse?

21 replies

sillyily · 08/02/2012 21:47

Hello, im due dc2 in 10 weeks, it'll be a vbac (hopefully!) due to emcs last time Been reading up on assisted birth, and really really desperately don't want ventouse or forceps used. Just been watching obem, and that has certainly not help the case of assisted birth! Can I request another emergency caesarean instead of resorting to these? Are they likely to go along with this/if baby became distressed would there be enough time to for cs compared to assited birth?
Anyone made a preference to this on their birth plan?

TIA :)

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OTTMummA · 08/02/2012 22:16

You can definately put on your birth plan, ' if it becomes evident that an assisted delivery is highly likey, please procced with c section, consent will not be given for forceps or ventouse.'

I would also verbally make sure that your team were aware of this.

I know that on OBEM they did talk about c section for dawn but they didn't seem to ask her which she would prefer, and just went the way they wanted.
I am sure most of the time it would of been ok, ( i know baby was ok in the end, but i am think a section would of been preferable ) but i would never even consider forceps for that sole reason, section all the way for me please!

tiddleypompom · 08/02/2012 22:21

I had a forceps birth as baby's hb dropped - no drama though small episiotomy. Better than major op in my case (g&a only).

Original poster

sillyily · 08/02/2012 22:28

Thanks for the advice, will stress to my midwife! Obviously if its a real real emergency i want the quickest way possible, but dc1 heartrate dropped quite dramatically, i was on g&a, and they managed to remove my ear piercings (had about 15 at the time... ), get the epidural in me and crack on, and he was fine after... was knackered and dont remember too much, but didnt seem to take too long... might be a stupid question... but do you need an epidural for forceps?

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Original poster

sillyily · 08/02/2012 22:29

sorry, I forgot to breathe there...

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Lizzylou · 08/02/2012 22:35

I had two ventouses, first time I was prepped for emcs (had had spinal) but DS1 dropped enough for ventouse, 2nd time no spinal/epidural.

In all honesty I just wanted my baby out in safest way possible and was happy to trust the midwives and consultant.

DS1 was in distress after a long labour and had cord round his neck. DS2 was just huge.

I wouldn't personally make a preference either way, just trust the professionals. No adverse effects here after the ventouses.

grubbalo · 08/02/2012 22:38

My ventouse was fine as well - no (well only minor!) damage to me, no damage to the baby.

OBEM has made me pretty cross tonight. Irresponsible tv in my opinion

Original poster

sillyily · 08/02/2012 22:47

it annoyed me too, purely because i'm getting labour jitters atm and could've done without seeing the blue baby :( I've been thinking about the whole instrumental thing for a while, and tonight topped it off...
My friend was born with forceps and has big scars down both of her cheeks, i know this is shallow and safety obviously comes first, but this has definitely put negative thoughts about forceps in my head! I think that when i'm in labour, if anyone mentions forceps i will start panicking, whereas if they say cs i will probably be ok, since last time went swimmingly (all things considering!) Need to get the negative thoughts out of my head really!

Will see midwife in 2 weeks, see what she says. I think I will just keep saying I would rather cs, but will go with whatever is safest if there's an emergency!

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SubOptiMum · 08/02/2012 23:00

Depends on type of forceps they need to use. If keillands high rotational forceps then absolutely refuse them. (the ones you need to go to theatre for) a CS defo preferable. If the low forceps then can be preferable to a CS where they had to push the baby backup the birth canal. My DD1 was born by forceps/episiostomy and was oxygen starved with suspected brain damage and in NICU although I went on to developPTSD after her horrific birth the one thing am adamant on is forceps NOT CS was absolutely the best thing in my case. Baby was almost out when got in such distress so forceps best thing- getting aCS could have meant her o2 starvation was so so much worse. As it is she is a very normal2year old now. So thinkcarefully before you refuse forceps. Although a horrid way to give birth they can be lifesaving/best option
Ds

MintChocAddict · 08/02/2012 23:13

Agree with a lot of what's been said already. DS2 born with forceps delivery after unsuccessfully pushing for a good few hours. I was horrified when they mentioned forceps and begged for a C Section instead. After it was explained that they would have to pull DS2 back up for a section I agreed to forceps. Spinal was in and DS was out in no time. Episiotomy no prob and no long term damage 2 either of us. In fact episiotomy scar smaller than with DS1 which was a natural delivery. I know of far more people who had problems with infections etc after c section than assisted delivery. I know this probably won't make you feel better, but just wanted to say that I was you pre-delivery and now would agree to forceps in a heartbeat if there was a DC3. HTH

tiddleypompom · 09/02/2012 07:02

My forceps delivery was on the delivery ward (not theatre) and I did not require an epidural. DS was born quickly and had no marks on him. I know there are horror stories and I was v lucky to have a relatively straight forward delivery, but please don't fear methods as a result of such exceptionally awful experiences (such as on OBEM last night). I managed to avoid a major op and my baby was born before his heart rate could drop further. I look back on his birth as 'natural' and wonderful (ok, yes a bit painful too but not terrifyingly).

Good luck :)

didireallysaythat · 09/02/2012 07:07

I didn't know I had a forceps delivery until a couple of days later when I read my notes - I'd been prep'pd for a c-section after (induced) labour failed to progress. Honestly, at the time, I had other things on my mind.... I definitely wasn't asked if I wanted forceps so if you are dead set against them, I'd let everyone in the room know in advance as you may not be asked.

Starshaped · 09/02/2012 07:32

I agree that last night's OBEM was brutal- really frightening. I just wanted to add my thoughts to the comments above and reassure you that not all assisted births are that traumatic.

DD was born with ventouse and it was fine, really fine. I'd been pushing for a while and her heartbeat became distressed. MW and doc agreed they needed to get her out quickly, so they did. I'd already had an epidural, so I had a completely painless episiotomy and they managed to get her out ok.

Recovery was fine and definitely quicker than it would have been after a CS.

thing1andthing2 · 09/02/2012 14:16

I already have a prolapse and so am very keen to avoid assisted delivery. In my birth preferences so far I have put:

I really don?t want an assisted vaginal delivery because I have a prolapse from the last delivery and want to avoid making it worse. If assisted delivery becomes the only safe option please discuss with me, but it would be better from my perspective if suspected problems (e.g. malpresentation) were able to be identified and discussed in advance, in time for a caesarean to be performed.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 09/02/2012 14:25

I had a failed ventouse followed by an emergency CS and would have been very happy if the ventouse had worked! At the point they suggested ventouse, there was no way I would have said, no, lets just go straight to the CS.

I am very pro-CS if needed and am considering an elective now I'm pregnant again. However, it IS major abdominal surgery and if you already have one child, you need to consider your recovery will be longer and more difficult.

Original poster

sillyily · 09/02/2012 19:41

Thanks for the advice everyone. :) I still would rather cs but am now a lot more comfortable with instruments. Need to find a way to word it on my birth plan... basically cs preferable, but instruments are fine in a real emergency sorta thing. It's my mindset more than anything... I just have horrible images with forceps, whereas my cs last time was quite relaxing all things considering...

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LovesBeingWearingSkinnyJeans · 09/02/2012 19:49

None of tge mw tgat I spoke to had a problem with me saying no forceps. I had a ventouse with dd but just couldn't get my head around forceps tbh. I am very glad I am done because OBEM would have put me off. The baby reminded me of ds though even though I pushed him out very quickly so he was in shock at that. I cried my eyes out watching it this morning and gave been quite clingy with ds

I put no forceps and dh was instructed to support tgat as I'm not capable towards the end. If it had come to it though I don't know if I would/could have said no

Emsgale · 09/02/2012 19:57

I think we all need to remember the baby from OBEM was ok and so was mum the baby was v big and the shoulders were stuck.domthing they couldnt have known I believe a third timester scan shoud be offered to check babies size etc to help avoid those situations but hey ho!!!
I had forces as my daughter wouldnt come out she wasnt big etc just tired I believe from a long labour! episiotony Recovery was hard.
I think you need to do whats best and safest for the baby.
Ems xx

Kangarobber · 09/02/2012 20:01

Here's a recent thread with loads of info and discussion on the same subject.

thing1andthing2 · 09/02/2012 20:24

I've just watched OBEM and the problem in that birth wasn't the forceps it was a shoulder dystocia... that is the shoulders getting stuck once the head was delivered. It can happen with or without forceps... it wasn't necessarily related to the forceps delivery.

Tanyaaah · 09/02/2012 20:32

My forceps delivery was fine. I suppose I can't actually remember that much but I was ok... Local anaesthetic for episiotomy, so didn't feel or see forceps and baby came out after a few pushes. Had been pushing for more than an hour before this.
Don't worry!

Original poster

sillyily · 10/02/2012 21:21

Thanks everyone, will have a look through that thread now kangarobber :)

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