Would you consider an assisted birth

[New2020]

Or would you opt for a c section instead?

I don't know enough about assisted births but they don't sound very pleasant!

At the point of needing it. 1 you no longer care you just want the baby out and safe 2 The medical professionals caring for you decide what is best for you and baby.

No one actually plans for an assisted birth (assuming you mean forceps or ventouse) but it sometimes becomes necessary.

Of course it's impossible to predict whether you'll need an assisted birth or not.

Why are you asking, are you considering an ELCS due to fears of probable assisted birth?

No way of getting the baby out seems very pleasant.

This is why I want a planned c section... the uncertainty of vaginal birth freaks me out!

Depends where baby us at the time. If ventouse would be possible C section would be very difficult because baby is a long way down the birth canal and they'd have to fish them back up so much more difficult op.

High forceps a bit more debatable but if baby well down C-section is much tougher!

I had forceps after induction where baby then got stuck. It was too late for a section to be a good option. If I have another child I'm going to ask for a section straight out but mainly as I have a few issues that make vaginal birth difficult for me anyway and I wouldn't want to go through hours of pushing then end up with an assisted birth anyway. I do think my recovery has been better than it might have been with a section, nearly 4 weeks on and I have almost zero pain, had an episiotomy too. I don't think things like forceps are really planned though like a section is so if the doctors think you might have problems wouldn't they suggest a section maybe?

When I had mine - there really wasn't much time for a chat about options. Baby was struggling and needed to be out.

Yes they are not pleasant but take minutes and the baby is out

It’s not generally a choice. If baby needs forceps or ventouse then they have descended too far into the birth canal for a c-section.

I was really adamant i didn't want forcepts delivery but after 22 hours of labour I didn't care anymore, just wanted my baby out and safe. Had a small episiotomy and was successful delivery on the 1st try so I was lucky. Been about 4 weeks now and the majority of any pain is gone and I'm healing well. I'm really glad I didn't have c section now given how good my recovery has been.

@randomsabreuse

Depends where baby us at the time. If ventouse would be possible C section would be very difficult because baby is a long way down the birth canal and they'd have to fish them back up so much more difficult op.

High forceps a bit more debatable but if baby well down C-section is much tougher!

I had a friend whose only comment on her birth plan was "no high section forceps". In terms of maternal damage and risk to the baby they are horrendous. (Though as a PP points out, the problem is the baby may, by that stage, be too far down the birth canal for a C section to be possible.) Ordinary forceps/ventouse carry much lower risks (though you will need an episiotomy with a forceps delivery).

Personally I would prefer a section, but the problem is you go into a vaginal birth hoping for as natural a birth as possible, and it's only when things go wrong - the unexpected - that forceps/ventouse are needed.

(In retrospect, though I'd hoped for a natural birth, I'm quite glad I had to have an elective CS for medical reasons - it was a very positive experience for me).

Lots of countries do not routinely use forceps, I have no idea why they are so commonly used in the UK.

My birth plan I refused to have them used, and my delivery doctor (not in UK then so not midwife driven) didn’t even use them as a matter of course. She goes straight to EMCS.

@MangoFeverDream but what if baby is already very far down the birth canal? Surely a Csection isn’t a great option in that case?

The midwife running my antenatal class said when they use forceps they give it three contractions to work and if they haven't delivered the baby then they go to a C section. Logic would say that c section would also be possible before forceps too, but something to ask medical professional about.

When I failed to progress after a spontaneous labour (I got to 9cm), I was given the option of assisted delivery in theatre or a section. I picked a section. I think I got lucky though because my recovery time was very quick and easy. I was up and about (pain free) in 10 days

I had an assisted birth with DD - episiotomy & forceps. Luckily I had also had an epidural so there was no hanging about in waiting for a local anaesthetic

My recovery time was minimal, was barely aware of the stitches, so much easier to recover from than a c section.

I would gladly have the exact birth again if I do have another over the major surgery and recovery time required for a c section.

That being said, I would also accept the need for a c section too. I ruled nothing out in my birth plan except for diamorphine as it makes me violently sick.

No method of birth is risk free.

C-section has risks - to the baby, to you, to future fertility, to future babies.

Induction, instrumental, epidural, place of birth, all change the risk profile. You have to decide what you are happy with and what best suits your body, your family plans.

My recovery time was minimal, was barely aware of the stitches, so much easier to recover from than a c section

Have you had a c-section, @MsSquiz?

If your baby needs help being delivered trust the medical professionals to decide the best course of action, it depends so much on the exact circumstances. Remember most babies are delivered without assisting

Depends on so much. I'd rule nothing out but if the chances were an intervention heavy birth might well end in a section anyway I think I'd go for the section. My mum had me by crash section and begged not to have to have another section ever again; she had my brother by Kielland's forceps with a full episiotomy and found the recovery equally painful but overall preferred it over a traumatic crash section after a prolonged labour that left both her and me in significant distress.

I was offered a section due to failure to progress with DD. They did say "you can keep going, but we would likely have to bring you to theatre anyway to turn baby with forceps", and I was pretty much taking the pen to sign the consent form before the consultant finished his sentence.

I had a very smooth and speedy recovery from my section, and had less issues than the two ladies I knew who had forceps deliveries the same month I had DD. But then my mum delivered DTwin with forceps and when you ask her about it shrugs her shoulders and says it was fine.

It's a scary thought but I think a tremendous amount of it is down to sheer luck.

@EmilySpinach no, but I was basing my comparison of people I know who have had c sections.

By recovery time, I mean I was up and walking around as soon as the epidural wore off and had no discomfort at all.

I am aware that not everyone is the same

After my c sec (DC2)I was up as soon as my spinal wore off and was comfortably moving around after 4 days.

After my forceps delivery (DC1), I was still experiencing pain 8 months later. I still have some problems associated with it now. If I knew I’d had a choice, I’d have never let them near me with forceps and asked for a c sec.

This is, of course, just my experience though. As pp have said, everyone is different.

I would choose an ELCS over an assisted birth every time. I refused consent for forceps from the off.

Having had forceps, I'm opting for a section this time. My recovery was horrible.