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Original poster

Can you refuse an assisted delivery? Anyone know what our rights are?

47 replies

ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 12:47

I absolutely do not want an assisted delivery under any circumstances - I would even prefer an emergency c-section, and I have considered it a great deal.

Anyone know anything about this?

OP posts:
FioFio · 11/12/2008 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheProvincialLady · 11/12/2008 12:52

Yes you can refuse any medical procedure, but there are occasions where doing so would be a huge risk to your baby and yourself.

Lulumama · 11/12/2008 12:54

i think you can request a c.s rather than assisted delivery, but in some cases, the forcps/ ventouse are really just the extra thing the baby needs to be delivered, and it is less traumatic than a c.section. also, if the baby is really low down and just needs helping out, surely that is preferable.

if there is a large chance that the assisted delivery would not work, then you can press for c.s without trying, but if it is really likely to be succesful, it is worth a go?

what are your feelings behind this?

also, you need to bear in mind that you might h ave to wait in labour longer for a c.section unless it is a crash section, than to get the baby out with assistance

storkycake · 11/12/2008 12:58

I had written on my notes that forceps were not to be used under any circumstances with my 1st.
They tried ventouse and it failed, the doctor was turning round to reach for the forceps and my husband told me, I managed with 2 more big pushes to get her out.

You might want to consider writing in that you would like an active labour, changing positions etc. Put more of a positive statement about what you do want, as well as clearly stating what you do not. That way there can be no avoidance.

Or give birth at home, no forceps/ventouse in sight!!

storkycake · 11/12/2008 12:59

to luladoula

LynetteScavo · 11/12/2008 12:59

You can refuse - but if you get to the point where the baby needs to be delivered by with help it probably means the baby needs to be delivered NOW for the good of the baby. I think this is something you need to discuss with you midwife and consultant before you can go into labour, and make sure everyone who is dealing with your labour is awareof your wished. This may sound obvious now, but it's not always the case when the time comes.

What are your main objections/ biggest fears about an assisted delivery?

Personally I would never want a forceps delivery.

nailpolish · 11/12/2008 13:00

surely the health of your baby is the most important thing

if baby is someway down the birth canal you cannot have a cs

i had forceps with dd1 and i know for a fact if i hadnt she would be dead

jsut a thought

sunnygirl1412 · 11/12/2008 13:00

Don't forget that a c-section is major abdominal surgery, and recovery from it takes a while!

In all honesty, the best thing is to be well informed about all the options, know how you'd like the birth to go, and be open to advice if things don't go as you want them to.

Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 13:04

Well yes, I plan on having the baby at home. I'm just thinking about what could happen if I have to go into hospital for some reason. So hopefully I will be able to avoid it but just worried about what happens if the baby gets stuck. My first delivery was nasty, highly medicated affair, left me with botched episiotomy stitches which, today, 7 years later have still not completely healed. My second labour was different - planned for a HB but had to go in to hospital because blood pressure went up. However, the HB midwife stayed with me, so no intervention was used. Dd2 was born quite easily...I will approach this one the same way I guess.

OP posts:
reluctantincubator · 11/12/2008 13:04

are you planning a home birth? That will reduce your liklihood of intervention being suggested or thought necessary.

Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 13:07

The open to advice thing is all very well but I know from experience that at times, what they are thinking about is getting you onto the post natal ward asap, especially if they are busy (which at our hospital is always). I do have reason to believe this, it is not speculation but based on my first labour experience.

OP posts:
Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 13:09

Thanks for replies. I don't want a c-section - really hoping that doesn't happen but on balance would prefer it to assisted.

OP posts:
StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 11/12/2008 13:20

Electra I put no assisted delivery in my notes but what I actually meant was:

'If you want to do an assisted delivery, there better be a very good reason and you'll have to make a good case to convince me'.

mrsmontano · 11/12/2008 13:21

to be honest I think by the time they would decide that forceps were needed, the baby would be so far down that it would be the only option, if you see what I mean. If the baby is just on the brink of being born but wont come the last little bit, I cant imagine them rushing you down for a c-sec when there is a much quicker option. because even an absolute crash emergency section takes a few minutes to prep for, and your baby could be seriously affected by the extra time taken.

you can refuse to have any sort of instrumental delivery, its absolutely your decision at the end of the day, but if they say that the baby needs to come out straight away or it may not survive, you'd kind of be forced to change your mind wouldnt you.

the only way to be absolutely certain it wouldnt be required would be to have a planned cesarean i think.

Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 13:35

Yes, I agree MrsMontano - I am hoping to have an active labour. I will try to stay upright as much as I can to help the baby get out as easily as possible. I think at home that is easier to achieve.

OP posts:
StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 11/12/2008 13:41

MrsMontano I think the problem lies when an assisted delivery takes place to speed things up when there is no medical reason to.

Original poster
ElectraInExcelsis · 11/12/2008 14:13

Yes, Starlight - I do think that happens sometimes hence my concern really.

In the hospital near me, my experience has been that they will break your waters after a few hours routinely, to 'speed things up'

This led me to believe that waters still intact means your labour is not progressing, so when I was having dd2 I was concerned to be 6cm dilated and waters still intact. The midwife told me not to worry, that sometimes they do not go until right before the baby is born, that it does not mean labour isn't progressing and is actually much nicer for the baby. And she was right

OP posts:
MissChief · 11/12/2008 14:15

well,it depends on circs.I had a forceps delivery, hardly by choice but it saved ds's life. They all apologised afterwards as it was completely against the natural birth down on my plan, but you really can[t plan for every eventuality and we, in our particular circumstances, had no choice.

MissChief · 11/12/2008 14:19

christ, actually, who the hell would choose an assisted delivery, esp by forceps??
My undercarriage still hasn't recovered years on .. Otoh, ds is alive...

I know there are cases where induction happens unnecessarily etc and I understand where the OP's coming from (probably nervous, anxious to avoid intervention etc) but really, you never know what's going to happen and some of us had to be assisted

27 · 11/12/2008 14:25

You can refuse an assisted delivery, but it will only be recommended if people think that is the best was of getting the baby out.
The alternative would be to manually push the baby back up the birth canal to allow a section, which is riskier for the baby.
Hopefully a home birth will give you the best chance of avoiding any intervention.

StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 11/12/2008 14:29

'only be recommended if people think that is the best was of getting the baby out.'

Depends on your interpretation of 'best'.

27 · 11/12/2008 14:41

Yes I suppose so, I do know some people who are very happy with thier forceps deliveries but they are definitely in the minority.

What I mean is that while a CS isnt too bad for the baby in a general sense by the time the baby has moved down far enough for forceps to be an option, the risks of a CS have increased because of the need to then push the baby back up the way.

nailpolish · 11/12/2008 14:43

the best way is surely the safest way
getting a baby out immediately with forceps v waiting and being prepped for theatre and having baby pushed up birth canal and the more time baby is distressed while waiting and waiting...

no contest IMO

StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 11/12/2008 15:12

Nailpolish I think MY point is that often the choice forceps/csection can become forceps/no forceps. In that a very common reason for assisted delivery is that the women appears to be having trouble delivering the baby. Sometimes it is because the baby is stuck, but very often it is simply that the woman is taking too long (which is a thread in itself).

Well I suspect in this instance the OP would rather have a rest and a cup of tea and resume pushing after a break (provided there is no apparent risk to her or the baby).

Lulumama · 11/12/2008 15:21

if for example, you labour at home, you push for a while with little to no descent, and you have to transfer in, it might be that a c.section would be appropriate . if the baby was far down enough the birth canal to be reached by instruments, then surely it is safer for the baby to be delivered by instruments?

michel odent and janet balaskas have written about the foetal ejection reflex, where labour is slow and at the suggestion of instrumental delivery, the mother's body has pretty much hurled the baby out at top speed. tis interesting

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