Forceps questions

[Zibidee]

I'm looking for some answers about forceps deliveries from those that have had one. Its something my consultant thinks I might end up needing and although I know there are positive forceps stories, it scares the living daylights out of me and the more I know the more I hope I will feel prepared.

If you haven't had an epidural first, did the anaesthesia injection to the vagina & perineum hurt? Anymore than the rest of the pain going on at the time?

I keep reading they will empty your bladder with a catheter, is there no option to just go and use the loo?

Did you have to have an episiotomy? And what was the healing time of this? Or did it cause long term continence issues?

If you were pregnant again, would you elect a cesarean simply to avoid forceps or was it not that big a deal in the end?

Did your baby end up with any long term injuries from a forceps delivery?

Thank you in advance for any input to these questions.

I had a forceps delivery. No pain relief up until just before when they mercifully gave me spinal block because it would have gone straight to c section if forceps had failed. My baby was back to back.

I had an episiotomy, internal/external stitches. My baby's face was bruised. I had a prolapse after too. It took about 12 months to heal and feel somewhat normal. Didn't have sex for over a year.

I'd avoid at all costs personally!

If you haven't had an epidural first, did the anaesthesia injection to the vagina & perineum hurt? Anymore than the rest of the pain going on at the time?
Had an epidural so can't comment.

I keep reading they will empty your bladder with a catheter, is there no option to just go and use the loo?
I think I was well beyond using the loo hours beyond that. I kept shouting I NEED A POO but it was my delightfully big and back to back baby.

Did you have to have an episiotomy? And what was the healing time of this? Or did it cause long term continence issues?
Yes. The stitches were uncomfortable for a long time and I remember walking round london three months later CONVINCED I had an infection. I did not.
I have a rectocele and mild cystocele now, probs more from the too-long pushing than the episiotomy.
Healing felt like an insult with a tiny baby to look after. I wish I'd had a bath MUCH earlier as it felt heavenly. I remember crying in John Lewis about 2 weeks later because I just wanted my bed.
I wish I'd spent more time horizontal post-birth.

If you were pregnant again, would you elect a cesarean simply to avoid forceps or was it not that big a deal in the end?
The traumatic delivery is the only reason my son is an only child. I should have advocated MUCH harder and earlier for a c section.

Did your baby end up with any long term injuries from a forceps delivery? No. He doesn't like his head being touched though and I'm convinced he would benefit from a bit of cranial osteopathy to smooth things out but he won't tolerate it.

Other info:
You might be numb but you'll feel the forceps. And you'll see them. I remember them appearing and me being horrified by how basic and medieval they looked. I felt a sort of cracking as they pulled my son out. My mum had to leave the room, prob to be sick in a bucket. She and my wife refuse to talk about my son's birth.

There's a chance of haemorrhage after using forceps and therefore a longer hospital stay (transfusion if iron levels are low).

I blame my prolapse issues wholeheartedly on the forceps birth. I don't particularly like going for a run or wearing tampons but I'd like a choice, you know?

Mine was a very negative experience because it was an induction that I feel shouldn't have been.

Ohhhh @HavewegotADHD I remember going to register him and I sat down on one of the hard chairs and just started crying. I stood for the remainder of the appt.

Forceps should be an emergency option, not part of the plan. Can you speak to the head midwife at your hospital? And maybe someone who understands how to maximise the chances of having an unaided physiological birth... Kemi Johnson independent midwife might be able to help especially to give you the support you need to remain in positive birthing positions and be born physiologically. .. assuming there are no complications.

My first born was a forceps delivery . He was sitting quite high and after two hours of pushing that was the route my midwife suggested . I hope this helps you .

• no epidural
• I had a catheter put in (and out) several times throughout labour because the baby was blocking my bladder . You can’t feel a thing when they put in and out .
• right before they used the forceps, I was given a spinal . This was incase I needed an emergency C-section.
• when the spinal was working they did an episiotomy to prevent tearing.
• baby got stuck coming out with forceps. It’s called shoulder dystocia and it can be serious but midwives are well trained for it .
• baby was fine , no serious complications after the delivery . He did need oxygen due to getting stuck
• episiotomy was stitched up and I was still under the spinal and couldn’t feel anything
• Episiotomy healed perfectly . It’s quite painful and itchy as it heals though.
• second pregnancy was consultant led as there were worries about shoulder dystocia happening again , especially as my second baby was measuring large .
• They were happy to let me try a vagina birth but it was suggested I give birth in the labour ward instead of the midwife led unit ( which was my first choice ). I got the impression that if I asked for a C-section I could have had one .
• they had a team of midwives in the room when baby was delivered incase we had another case of shoulder dystocia
• baby delivered perfectly . No forceps and no shoulder dystocia.

Emergency forceps delivery here... I got "two chances" of pushing otherwise it would have been a c-section. Our son turned last minute and his heart rate was dipping so I got a spinal and episiotomy including a catheter which meant I was in overnight - got home around 6pm the following day. I ended up losing 1.5 litres of blood and required 3 lots of drugs to help my uterus contract... son had a red bloody mark on his cheek for several months before it completely went, he also had pretty bad jaundice but that soon shifted from "sunbathing" in the living room window.

Due in 2 weeks and really praying that I can avoid a forceps delivery!! If you do require one, I swear by Bottoms Up Soothing Bottom Spray from the Natural Birthing Company! To be fair I'll use that regardless of having one 😂

Can I ask, what did they do to deal with the shoulder getting stuck? Presumably the forceps won't sort that out.

I had an epidural as was likely to end up in c section. I was catheterised and had an episiotomy too- as far as I can tell no long term effects ( baby 6months) and it healed well. My baby had very bad bruising and damage to her eye. Her neck muscle was was trapped of oxygen where the forceps was clamped on which then caused a huge lump to come up on her neck and meant she could not turn her head that direction at all. This resulted in her having a flat head on opposite side and we needed to attend extensive physio. She now has full range of neck movement (6months old) but lump is there on neck still, hopefully will go down as she grows. I think in future I'd go c section just for baby's welfare.

@Zibidee

If you haven't had an epidural first, did the anaesthesia injection to the vagina & perineum hurt? Anymore than the rest of the pain going on at the time?
Cannot answer this one as I had an epidural.

I keep reading they will empty your bladder with a catheter, is there no option to just go and use the loo?*
I had a catheter and they will took it out just as I hit 10cm. I absolutely shudder at the thought of catheters (and still do) but needs must. To be fair I hardly noticed it.*

Did you have to have an episiotomy? And what was the healing time of this? Or did it cause long term continence issues?*
Yes. It took a couple of weeks to recover from this. Feels like sitting on a rolled up newspaper after and is quite tender when you sit down (for obvious reasons!) Keep it clean and as dry and possible. Don't use soap. Take stool softeners so you don't strain when you poop.*

If you were pregnant again, would you elect a cesarean simply to avoid forceps or was it not that big a deal in the end?*
For me personally it was fine. Not ideal, but fine. I just wanted my baby out safe and sound.*

Did your baby end up with any long term injuries from a forceps delivery?*
No injury just a teeny bruise. You must be aware that* this is not always the case though.

I had forceps with my first but not my second. I had an epidural so felt nothing, a second degree tear and healed fine. The obstetrician had clearly done it a thousand times before and the process itself was OK, not great but OK.

Knowing more the second time around, I stayed at home much longer - the minute you get into hospital you don't sleep, you out out of your home environment, you are on a clock. So for my second I laboured at home until I was well and truly in labour and it ended up being a faster birth (though that may have been the case anyway). I was so tired with my first because I counted contractions for days, didn't sleep etc. So the forceps were for maternal exhaustion as well as my baby having a big head.

Keep hydrated, sleep and preserve your energy as much as you can. The pushing is very taxing and you'll need your reserves.

Secondly, be aware that if you're in a public hospital a forceps birth can turn into a spectacle. A number of students trooped in to watch and that was the most traumatising part for me. So I would advise putting on your notes, no more than one student doctor in the room please (if at all.)

I banned all medical students from my second birth and don't regret it for a second. I'd done my bit.

Good luck!

Can I ask, what did they do to deal with the shoulder getting stuck? Presumably the forceps won't sort that out.

Different manoeuvres, so putting your knees back by your ears initially to increase pelvic outlet, suprapubic pressure to try and dislodge the shoulder. If that doesn’t work then internal manoeuvres to try and release the posterior arm or rotate the baby.

(Sorry I tried to make all my answers in bold but it doesn't seem to have worked oops) x

Forcep delivery- no pain relief other than gas and air up to that point. I didn’t have a catheter- I think I had been for a wee shortly before they decided to use them (I was annoyed they made me go as I was in agnostic walking to the loo!)

I didn’t feel the injection or the episiotomy. Thankfully baby didn’t need much pulling and there was no damage to baby. I felt very sore and swollen and my episiotomy stitches took a while to heal but no lasting damage. Sex felt ‘normal’ after a couple of months.

@Zibidee

They did a series of manoeuvres. As soon as they realised it was shoulder dystocia they hit an emergency alarm button and a rush of midwives came running on . It was scary but I had learned about shoulder dystocia in my nhs birthing classes and I knew what to expect ( sorta because in real life you have no time to think, it’s so quick and it’s scary ) .They had a team of people manoeuvre my legs up and down . It’s so bizarre actually . I couldn’t feel a thing because of the spinal but after the spinal wore off I felt like my legs had run a marathon ( I’m a marathon runner so I know what that feels like 😆)

How old are you and how high is your BMI?

I wouldn't be happy with their plan. They're setting you up for a cascade of interventions if they're already suggesting early induction and epidural.

Spinning Babies website is great for exercises and stretches that get the baby into the best possible position pre labour and also suggestions for during labour.

I had pregnancy physio work on me to release and balance muscles and ligaments for an easier birth. I also did pregnancy Pilates, which I found very helpful.

I have some concerns about Hypnobirthing - too much focus on a 'perfect' birth, but they do have great information that can help you feel more empowered. If you have an undisturbed birth and a foetal ejection reflex then there is no deliberate pushing needed.

I had an episiotomy but not forceps. I was catheterised with an in out catheter as they gave me a bed pan but I couldn’t go and I needed to.
I Needed the episiotomy as I could push hard but the skin wouldn’t give. I just wish they’d done it 15 minutes earlier.
It took the same time to heal as my cs scar from my first.
I really didn’t want forceps.

Thanks for this, that sounds much like what i've read. I find it bizarre that their last option is to have you on hands and knees and do the suprapubic pressure that way, surely that should be a first option before getting your feet up by your ears (I'm not sure mine can do that!) let alone internal manouvres!

Glad your little one was ok after all that, and you too!

It’s because the McRoberts manoeuvre is quicker and more effective l works in about 75% of cases. Time is important as baby is getting deprived of oxygen while trying to resolve the situation.

I wish I'd known you could decline forceps. I ended up with an emergency forceps birth and it was not good. It was a while ago so I can't remember the answers to your questions but I would opt for a section all the way. 16 years on I still have complications relating to that birth (which was considered "fine and normal" by the midwives, not a big disaster in their eyes at all)- and it was a tiny baby. As you say in your latest comment recovery is not necessarily easier than a csection which is a much more controlled procedure.

I do think recovery with episiotomy/forceps can be closer to c section than ‘normal’ vaginal birth. We went to a wedding 3 weeks post partum and I definitely couldn’t sit down on both bum cheeks at the same time still because my wound hadn’t healed enough to bear direct weight. Pews in the church were not the one.