Forceps delivery - who has had experience of?

[Halster]

Hi there, I am new to Mumsnet tonight. I have been going over and over my birth for well over a year now and would really like to hear what you all think.

I had a forceps delivery with my dd 16 months ago and I am still traumatised by the whole experience. I would be interested to here what other women's experience of forceps deliveries have been (I'm sure non of them good!). After 36 hours of regular contractions I had an epidural - oh what joy! Total pain relief. But when it came to the pushing stage (11 hours later!) the pain flooded back - (is this normal with an epidural?!) - this was a major shock to the system - understatement - no-one at the time had warned me that this would happen. I was on the ceiling with the shock and pain of it. After about 2 hours they decided to get my daughter out by forceps - Is it normal to not have any additional pain relief for a forceps delivery? I went through the roof with pain and was in absolute agony and totally lost control - I must have woken the whole hospital up with my screaming. I felt the episiotomy too. (Re: episiotomy - I remember clearly the doctor saying in reponse to my wailing, 'its just a little cut' in a very annoyed 'pull yourself together' tone). After dd was pulled out I sobbed my eyes out for about an hour (not joy I'm afraid). They found it very difficult to stitch me up as my body was just shaking so much (had to talk them into giving me some pain relief for the stitches). At the time I just felt like a huge wimp that should have been able to handle it. Afterwards, no medical staff offered to talk the birth through with me (I was too traumatised to ask) - so to this day I have no idea what really happened.

Sorry, was supposed to be a quick little post - I guess I needed to offload!

[Slinky]

OMG poor you!

I did have a forceps delivery with No 1 - but I did have pain relief!

As I delivering in my local Midwife-led Unit, epidurals wasn't an option for me. When it became apparent that DD1 needed some help, they called in my GP to perform the delivery. From what I remember (and this is 9 years ago now) I had something called a "pudendal block" - basically an pain-relief injection given directly to my "lower-end" and completes numbs the whole area.

Although I felt the GP pulling and tugging on DD1, and obviously felt the contractions, I had no pain whatsoever down below - didn't feel him inserting the forceps etc.

I must admit I felt pretty "shaken up" afterwards and even for a few months later - DH was completely traumatised by the whole thing and said he'll never forget the force the GP had to use to get DD1 out - thought he'd pull her head off.

Since then, I've had 2 normal births which have been wonderful in comparison.

I'm so sorry you had to go through such an ordeal {{{{hugs}}}}

[leglebegle]

god halster that sounds terrible. I had a forceps with ds1, really long labour, epidural, but wore off with the pushing like yours. it was working in some places but not my back. very very painful. You aren't too late to request your notes you know or talk it through with someone at the hospital. My friend did that after a very traumatic birth. Not sure if it helped though she was very angry at them and had months and months of physiotherapy. I don't know what the answer is, I felt terrible after my first 'birth' and was dreading ds2's (4 months ago). He was text book, 2 and a half hours, only gas and air, no intervention, so don't think it will all go the same way. and don't feel bad about the pain and screaming, my god you should have heard me screaming with ds2 !!!! but 3 pushes and he was out ( I think the midwife was praying that night) ....

[cat82]

Halster, no real advice i'm afraid, but just wanted to say i'm sorry you had such a traumatic birth experiance. It sounds to me like you didn't have a very sympathetic or supportive medical team at all, and also although i didn't have a forceps delivery i did have ventousse and had a local anisthetic for that. I would have though it would have been the same for forceps.
I hope you manage to move on from this. Have you considered taling to someone proffesional about this? maybe start with your doctor and go from there.

Take care and welcome to mumsnet!

[Tommy]

God - sounds awful. I was induced and after about 4 hours of contractions was offered an epidural. Strated pushing about 10 hours later but DS's head was stuck so they upped my epidural to take me in to theatre where he was taken out by forceps. Also had manual delivery of placenta and stitches but didn't feel anything. I'm so sorry you had to go through that much. Like leglebegle, my second was very different - 2 hours start to finish with only TENS.
Halster - hope it's helped to get it off your chest. Welcome to Mumsnet you will find lots of empathy and sympathy here

[pupuce]

Hi Halster

Welcome to mumsnet.
What a sad story, have you ever thought of contacting Birth Crisis ? They are excellent at listening to people with experiences such as yours.
Do you feel you could now talk to a midwife about what happened? Someone could decipher your notes too (did you keep a copy? if not you can obtain one by writing to hospital and requesting it).
Also how do you feel now ? You still sound traumatise. Has anyone mentioned Post traumatic stress disorder... it's unfortuantely too common and seriously under-diagnosed.

I have not had a forceps delivery myself but as a doula I do know women who have had one. Reading your story I think you didn't seem to have a top up for your epidural (if not then your body has stopped making endorphins, your natural pain killing hormones and the pain can be a lot worse). The doctor's conduct sound inexcusable... and the sticthes are very painful and we all beg for pain relief at that point - you're not a wimp !

I think it's good you posted your story, talking about it may help you heal.... lots of hugs to you.....

[julen]

Hi Halster, sorry that you had such an awful experience - sounds very rough! I had a forceps delivery as well with my first one - they tried ventouse first, didn't work, then tried forceps. (Didn't work either - docotor came in to get her out with his hands, in the end..). It was a pretty traumatic experience, for dh as much as for me (to be honest I was so dazed by exhaustion by that time I don't remember that much of it - dh on the other hand remembers too much :-). When number too was on the way I wanted to find out what exactly happened, so I wrote to the hospital to get a copy of my notes. Procedures vary per hospital, I think, but you have a right ot see them. I asked a midwife-friend to go through them with me, which helped no end: made things a lot clearer. Another possibility is making an appointment with your gynacologist to ask her/him to tell you what happened?
Not sure if that helps, but thought I'd let you know.. Hugs!!

[aloha]

If you are interested, Michel Odent, the obstetrician and natural birth pioneer who was in favour of active birth and waterbirths long before they were standard (when drs and midwives still thought lying down was the only option and babies would all drown in birthing pools!) etc, says that in his opinion forceps 'belong in museums' and that if the birth is complex or difficult enough to require forceps, then a caesarian is the preferable option. I suspect he's right. I think they are utterly barbaric, personally. I agree that maybe you should talk to someone about this, go through your notes perhaps, or better, speak to Birth Crisis Network where they specialise in people traumatised by bad birth experiences. It's run by Sheila Kitzinger and you can read about other people's experiences. I don't know the website but it has been posted on Mumsnet before so a search should unearth it, otherwise I am sure someone will post it soon. I feel so sorry you had to endure such an awful birth. It sounds absolutely traumatic, and I'd like to see that bloody doctor have his penis cut without anaesthetic and see how blase he is about it then

[aloha]

Ah, I see someone got there before me!
Good luck to you.

[pupuce]

you know me Aloha

[Slinky]

I think you've got a point there Aloha.

When I went back to GP for 6-week check, he said that had I been in the hospital (Consultant-led) 30 minutes up the road, then I would have had a C-Section.

As it was, I was in a Midwife-Led unit, with no epidurals, no C-sections, no Consultants - crikey we don't even have a A&E - only a Minor Injuries Unit which is open from 9am -5pm. At that point, my GP had no option but to perform forceps as I couldn't be transferred at that point.

[pupuce]

Slinky - why did you need the forceps? And why could you not be transfered ? I was transfered in 2nd stage.

[ponygirl]

Hi there, Halster. I too had a forceps delivery after a long labour with my ds1, but, like others, had a spinal block after the epidural had started to get patchy. Also, they thought they might have to do an emergency c/s so wanted to be prepared. Although I couldn't feel any pain at that point, I could certainly feel the pulling sensation, and clearly a lot of force needed to be used. This meant that the spinal was still in place when I was stitched up, but I also had my epidural topped up after I had dd, which was without intervention.

I'm sorry you had such a traumatic experience, I think it's outrageous that the medical team were so unsympathetic to your pain and distress. It shouldn't have been that way. I would recommend trying to talk to someone at the hospital about your treatment - it might help you make sense of your experience. I hope you start to feel better about this some time soon.

[Btw Tommy, I had manual removal of the placenta with ds2 and while there was no pain as I had a spinal, by god I felt it. It's nearly two years ago, and I can still feel it!]

[Slinky]

On my notes, it had Maternal Distress (was showing signs of Ketosis) and DD1 had turned herself into an awkward position.

I'm not sure why they didn't transfer me - funnily enough have become good friends with the midwife who was with me. I might ask her when we meet up

[PicadillyCircus]

I had a forceps delivery with DS exactly a year ago.

Labour had been fairly quick - I went from established labour to fully dilated in about 4 hours but then pushed for 2 hours and DS wasn't coming out.

His heart beat plummeted to around 50 and the midwives started getting worried. I had had diamorphine and so was a bit out of things, but think I had to sign something to consent to the forceps, and then do remember being told that the baby would quite possibly have to be taken away by a pediatrician after he was born.

I think I was given local anesthetic for the episiotomy - whatever happened I didn't really feel it, although the thought of it was horrible.

I remember thinking there would be no way I could get DS out, even with the forceps, but he came out and was completely fine. The one who wasn't was me, as I bled a lot (lost 3 pints of blood) and had to be sewn up in theatre for 2 hours afterwards.

I've never really thought about why this happened - I also had pre-eclampsia which I think can lead to more bleeding after birth being likely, or whether it was anything to do with the forceps. I did have an internal second degree tear which at least wasn't horrendously painful after the birth.

By the way, when they were trying to find out why I wouldn't stop bleeding, I was in so much pain. I think that was the worst part - you definitely weren't a wimp at all.

[Halster]

Thanks everyone for your support - I already feel a bit better. I am starting now to realise how much this experience has effected me (it certainly made bonding with my daughter difficult initially - all good now though). I will definately phone up my doctor tomorrow and ask if they can go through my notes with me - a good place to start I think! Thanks very much again - I think a glass of wine is now in order ...

[MistressMary]

"Arriving at 6.00, I was checked over and I was 4 cm dilated, good I thought.
Most of the am, I was sat on the loo, with my Gas and Air getting high.
The midwife examined me at Ten and I was fully dilated.
But then she found a small part of my cervix lip which was in the way of the babys head.
So put on my left side contracting every three in ten minutes the urge to push was unbearable.
She checked be again at twelve still the cervix was in the way just a fraction.
Then she said she could see a head full of hair, but I couldn't push as I wasn't ready for second stage, the contractions were awful and I was screaming the place out.
1.30 two other midwives came to examine me a decision was made for a transfer to Bath hospital.
She said if I had the baby in the ambulance on the way I could turn around and come back to Trowbridge.
So in the ambulance with the midwife I got, gas and air useless now.
Wheeled into a delivery suite, I was examined again and put on a monitor the contractions had slowed right down and so had DS
heartbeat.
We were both tired.
A drip was put into my arm to speed the contractions up,no pain relief was offered, I asked them believe me, but it was too late,according to them.
Wow they came in powerful and close straight away, told to push as I was fully dilated.
The baby was face up though, back to back,which hindered things.
So a Doctor was called with two other midwives and the stirrups were put in plac.
Out came the ventouse,which they tried unsuccesfully for three times! I was swearing at them, what the feck do think your doing?
It was the most awful pain ever!
I was pushing like mad and no result.
So then they got those Forceps out, I was crying and I just wanted it over and they were telling me that it had to be now.
The midwife also performed a cut on my perenium.
After a few good pushes and lots and lots of support DS arrived at 4.25 face up and cord wrapped around neck once."

This was my first and only experience of labour and I have not dealt with it.
I have asked my HV for my notes and she is going to talk throught the ordeal with me and a midwife.


I also found this website too -www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/

[fleurie]

Halster, big hug sounds like you had a unessarily horrible time. I had a forceps delivery, had hoped for a home birth and got to 10cm but second stage took 12 hours and after two failed ventouse i had forceps, about 3 hours into second stage i went into hospital and eventually got an epidural that worked re the pain, i just felt a tugging dragging sensation. After the birth i kept going over and over it feeling that somehow i should have been able to push my baby out.
What helped me come to terms with it was the kindness of my midwives and that i was listened to and respected throughout
What happened to you should not have happened, you should have been given proper pain relief you have the right to feel outraged and to be given an apology - welcome to mumsnet and well done for talking about it

[dogwalker]

Here's another one who had hff delivery with ds1. After being in labour for several hours (11 years ago now but still feel slightly disappointed by the whole thing), and after having had gas & air (made me sick) pethidine (made me sleepy) I eventually had an epidural, couldn't wee so had to have a tube up (sorry can't remember what thats called for some reason), when epidural was wearing off I tried to push but was exhausted, so was taken to operating theatre to try to have baby delivered by forceps, otherwise it would have been a cs. Epidual topped up, felt lots of tugging etc but no real pain . DH said it was like a butchers shop, blood everywhere, but ds came out of it OK and that's the main thing I guess. It is horrible though and I've followed that delivery with a perfectly normal one thank God.

[Angeliz]

Haven't read all posts but Halster, they tried forceps with me.
I was only in hospital for a few hours (went in at 5.30-dd born at 9), somewhere near the actual birth they mentioned needing help and forceps. I beleive i got an injection and dp almost fainted at the scissors, (I'd just had gas and air) but when they put them in my dad heard me screaming from the waiting room. It was probably the most painful moment. It felt like a knife just going straight in and out of my back!. I told the Doctor and she said "It does hurt!", i said "NO it REALLY hurtstake them out" and they did and where about to try ventouse when i had dd on my own.
I loved my birth with dd though and they listened when i told them to stop!(I think their attitude means alot too)
Hope some of the advice on here helps and that you feel better about it soon+++++++++++++++++

[monalisa]

Poor You! I too had forceps with number 1 son 8yrs ago- even tho I was doped up to the eyeballs'cos of pre-eclampsia, including epidural I remember the weird sensations - and the exrutiating pain of recovering from the internal bruising and the episiotomy - it took weeks and the scar was sensitive for ages afterwards. I too felt disappointed that birth (well the entire 9 mnths) didn't go as I'd hoped. Number 2 was a natural birth but hurried at the end. I tore along my scar. When that was stitched I had a local 2x as I could feel everything - then I had gas and air too. (after much pleading) The doctor was horrid and I was yelling - and the most embarrassing but delightful memory was I couldn't help it but I passed wind as he was doing his needlework! Third baby was fine - I refused any needlework at all - recovery was much better. You're not alone. Don't think we forget these things, just come to terms with them - sometimes with a little extra help, understanding and a bit of time...

[wordsmith]

Crikey Halster it sounds horrendous. Poor you. I had ventouse and forceps with DS1 but tbh my drugs were so effective I was away with the fairies most of the time, thanks God. It was awful for DH. He was dreading going through it again with DS2 especially when it transpired that, once more, I was to be induced. However No 2 was a totally different experience so please don't let the horrible time you had put you off doing it again (if you want to of course!)

I agree that it would be easier to accept what happened and be able to have some form of closure if you could talk through with a doctor, midwife or HV what happened and why the medical team would have taken the action they did. For example, with No 1 I was given an enema - yuk!- but didn't really know why until I was in labour with No 2 and casually asked the midwife why I didn't need one this time. It sounds as though you had a particularly unsympathetic team working on you but most of what they do is because they are trying to save the baby from distress, not because they want to torture you! I just wish they could have some sort of translator in there with them who could say "The reason this is happening is XYZ" instead of leaving you in the dark!

IME with your second you have more confidence and you aren't afraid of asking questions. But don't be ashamed of your birth experience - it sounds like a mammoth task to me and I would have wimped out and demanded a caesarian long before it got to the pushing stage!!!

[motherinferior]

Nothing to add except MASSIVE sympathies.

[Slinky]

"and the most embarrassing but delightful memory was I couldn't help it but I passed wind as he was doing his needlework"

Sorry Monalisa but this did make me giggle

My most embarrassing memory of my forceps delivery was afterwards when my GP was about start stitching. I was lying on the coach, legs in stirrups, he asked me to move down towards to end of the bed. As I did, my stomach must have contracted because blood spurted out and as he was at "eye level" with my "nether regions" he got squirted!

Now this would be bad enough on its own BUT his granddaughters go to my kids school and I am friends with his daughter.

I now have to face our occasional morning "chit-chats" in the playground (like this morning)

[monalisa]

slinky, I know it's evil but it makes me laugh when I think about it too. (grin) It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. He was just at that level too...He had already had a duck fit accusing us of leaving our eldest alone (at 3yrs!!!) and wandering around the hospital during another visit - my husband had taken him to his mother's while the dr was busy being obnoxious to some other poor soul. Guess some of the uncontrollable aspects of chldbirth have their uses. By-the-way, I woulnd't normally dream of doing such a thing!

[enid]

halster, I too had a forceps delivery (high forceps - very unpleasant). I had no pain relief at all (actually I think this made it a bit better as I had built up a massive amount of endorphins by the end!!). I was quite traumatised by it as I felt very out of control. My hospital started to run a service where you could discuss your birth with a midwife to resolve any underlying trauma - I talked it through with them when dd1 was 2 years old and I was pg with dd2. If its any consolation, dd2's birth was amazing, quick, easy and absolutely no pain relief required. My advice is talk, talk, talk...