Why do forceps hurt so bad?

[Beryl98909]

I've heard a lot of women talk about how badly forceps hurt and I'm trying to understand why. The forceps are much smaller than the baby's head yet women describe the pain of them being inserted as excruciating. It can't be as bad a pain as the "ring of fire" when the entire head is crowning, right? So I'm wondering if the pain is in the perineum or in the pelvic bones? It seems to me like maybe the forceps bump or at least slide between the baby's head and the pelvic bones and that the pain is actually from the pelvic bones being hit?

skunkrat I was very fortunate to have no lasting damage from my high forceps delivery, but wanted to just say one (the first!) of my (two) forceps deliveries was not in theatre. It was in the obstetric unit as it was a failed induction.

I had failed forceps (but no episiotomy required) and then an emcs. Post surgery when all the drugs wore off, I was more bruised/discomforted down there than I was anywhere else. In fact my back with it's many failed epidural attempts was probably the second most painful bit of my body then my arms where they'd taken my blood pressure every few minutes for hours and then the great big wound across my abdomen.

When I had forceps it was in theatre with a spinal so I didn’t feel anything. It was brutal though, I had people holding me on the table so I wouldn’t move as they pulled. DH was rather traumatised watching it. I recovered fine and don’t remember a lot of it to be honest.

Are you a forceps troll?

Well that's a new low.

I'm not going to describe my birth experience to an OP who sounds like they are just getting off on pp's stories - no discussion, no comparing our experiences with your own etc.

I did love the BFG's salad tongs description though

I had an emergency mid-cavity forceps delivery without pain relief nearly 21 years ago. My baby had a nasty set of bruises over the front of his face and I had to be stitched all the way up to my bum afterwards.

I've had forceps three times but when I gave birth to my last son 3.5 wks ago I didn't need them, almost needed them but then managed to do it on my own, thank goodness!!! The recovery without seems much quicker, with my previous forcep deliveries I needed cutting, n this time I got away with a few grazes, was so pleased with myself!

I've always had big babies though, my biggest being 9.5oz n my smallest 7.13oz, I was convinced I would probably need them again this time as had them with my previous three but then surprised myself!!

This is a very odd question OP.

I've never had children but just looking at a pair of forceps makes me feel faint.

Firstly consider they aren't usually used until they're needed, which generally means you've got an uncooperative baby in the wrong position. Then consider someone is shoving them IN at a time when your body is working to actively push something else out. Then they're pushed and turned about side you, wreaking havoc in your insides and potentially leaving you with continence issues and horrific tears. What is it you're not understanding?

skunkrat my friend also had forceps delivery that wasn't in theatre and no pain relief. Not even time for a local injection for an episiotomy!
I however had a spinal in theatre so I didn't feel anything thankfully. I was being pulled down the bed with each try and the midwives pulled me back up each time. I thought I was literally going to be pulled into the floor. I was in agony for a few weeks after and to be honest think I went into shock for a bit. I had always said to my friend before the birth, i would rather have a c section than forceps.

elquinto yes I agree the thread seems a bit odd. Feel a bit uneasy about having talked about my births now.

There are different types of forceps. I don't think these hysterical threads are helpful. Lots of babies are eased out using Wrigley's forceps which are small, like castanets. They are a very good alternative to a c-section when baby is quite far down but a bit stuck.

The larger ones are called Keillands and are rarely used.

Oh. Just realised the OP is a first time poster. When's your baby due Beryl?

Thought not.

I had forceps with a worn off epidural. I was so out of it with pain and pushing and tiredness, I didn't notice any additional pain at the time that I remember, but definitely very very sore after with a third degree tear. Ds had terrible bruising to his head and face as well.

Oh lol at forceps troll. I figure it's likely to be someone writing a dissertation but all for the common good.

Keillands forceps/high forceps are hugely controversial and not used in some parts of the world. I'm usually fairly laid back about birth choices etc but I'm angry at the lack of detailed education about use of forceps in birth. I was about a minute away from forceps when DD popped out. A friend who had them suffers severe incontinence and had tearing.

Forceps for around the OUTSIDE of the babies head, so they are bigger, not smaller!

My forceps delivery was extreme agony and left me permanently damaged. Unfortunately it was also the only way to deliver my child alive at that point.

This op is weird.

Either a troll or someone writing a piece of some kind, as already suggested.

sabine
You have a group of women who have been through this factually relaying their experiences.

Who is hysterical?

I had forceps but I can't say I felt them go in I was drugged up not to care and after a long hard labour just relived to have my baby etc

Even afterwards I was medicated on pain killers and antibiotics to reduce the risk of any infection so for me it didn't hurt my piles hurt more 😞

I don't think these hysterical threads are helpful

Can you point out the hysteria? I see women talking about their own lived experiences. You may see small forceps easing out babies but I had fucking enormous ones yanking out a stuck baby without pain relief, essentially. It's not hysterical to say so, its the truth.

I had forceps with first DC, but by the stage the epidural had failed and they had administered a spinal block as it could have ended in a c-section.

I felt no pain at the time, but felt very, very sore afterwards. I felt bruised from the inside out. However, it was not unbearable and I was glad that I hadn't had a c-section.

I only learned a while ago that there are people into medical fetishes such as this topic. Just saying.

There are 5 different types of forceps. I had three types when my son was born, can only remember Kielland and Phillips. My son was very badly bruised and jaundiced. I lost a lot of blood. I think I should have had a C section as I did with my previous delivery. Thankfully the doctor doing the forceps delivery was quite senior so knew what she was doing.

My forceps was in normal delivery suite. I was removed to theatre for stitching up and given spinal.

Are forceps worse or the same as a ventouse? I had a ventouse and got to watch the woman pulling with her whole body to try and get the baby out. Luckily didn’t feel it as had an epidural but it looked brutal.

What makes them decide between forceps and a ventouse?

Ventouse is milder and first step. It just sucks top of head so doesn't get round the sides. They tried ventouse with me, when it doesn't work, next step is forceps.