Forceps Delivery

Question: Forceps Delivery???????????? I am due in a week and am wondering about a forceps delivery. I have seen them on TV programmes and they look horrible. Are they as bad as they look, especially without an epi dural in place? Thats what I am concerned about, is having to have forceps but perhaps not having had an epi dural so will be in agony.

Answer: When they do forceps they will numb the area and give you an episiotomy and then do the forceps. It does hurt to some extent obviously. There are many ways to avoid having to use the forceps or vaccum during delivery. Usually the vaccum will be used more then forceps (and should be) as sometimes the mother does not need an episiotomy with vaccum 1). Following Optimal Fetal Positioning (OFP) during your last trimester and during delivery- The main position you need to avoid to have your baby in is posterior. You can regularly check your baby to see if she has turned so the earlier you are aware of her bad position the sooner to can work on it to help her turn. The main idea to avoid posterior babies is this....... The baby’s back is the heaviest side of its body. This means that the back will naturally gravitate towards the lowest side of the mother’s abdomen. So if your tummy is lower than your back, e.g. if you are sitting on a chair leaning forward, then the baby’s back will tend to swing towards your tummy. If your back is lower than your tummy, e.g. if you are lying on your back or slouching on a sofa, then the baby’s back may swing towards your back. Avoid positions which encourage your baby to face your tummy. The main culprits are said to be lolling back in armchairs, sitting in car seats where you are leaning back or anything where your knees are higher than your pelvis. The best way to do this is to spend lots of time kneeling upright, or sitting upright, or on hands and knees. When you sit on a chair, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk should be tilted slightly forwards. 2.) Have an active labour, change positions, move around and stay off your back. This will help avoid your baby moving into a posterior position during labour as well as other benefits like, a shorter more efficient labour, less pain, less risk of fetal distress, more powerful and easier pushing, partners get more involved and minimal trauma to baby. 3.) STAY OFF YOUR BACK during the pushing phase. Even if you have an epidural they can still raise the back of your bed to make you upright. Being on your back makes the pelvis opening the smallest possible so obviously this isn't ideal for your baby to come through and will very often get them "stuck" which is when the forceps or vaccum will come in. Being upright is the best for pushing as gravity will be in your favour, less perineal trauma, less chance of fetal distress and shorter pushing phase. Also when you are on your back it will tilt your pelvis so when you push it will be like pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks up a hill, you will get exhausted, pushing will not be as efficient and powerful and will most likely end up needed assistance because there is not enough room for your baby to come through or your babys head will get stuck behind your tailbone. 4.) and last BUT NOT LEAST, unless you've had an epidural it is best to WAIT to feel the urge to push rather than having people telling you to push after they see you are 10cm. Even though your cervix IS 10cm, your body and baby still may not be ready and you may pushing longer than needed due to you not actually being ready. In a hospital managed birth they will be timing the pushing phase and usually after a while they will like to bring in assistance. So if you waited for the urge to push you will not be pushing for an extra hour and therefore not need assistance. It is normal for a labouring woman whose baby is ready to be born to feel a strong urge to bear down and push her baby out, without anyone telling her what to do. Some benefits of waiting for the urge to push are, * Studies have shown a reduced duration of second stage of labour * Bearing down spontaneously is less likely than directed pushing to result in non-reassuring changes in your babys heart rate pattern, which indicate that your baby may be distressed. * A mother who experiences directed pushing is more likely to have an episiotomy or a tear than a mother who waits for the urge to bear down Overall, women who are in active labour may experience a shorter second stage with directed pushing rather than waiting for the natural urge to bear down. However, as there are no clear advantages to speeding second stage of labour, and there are increased risks to both the mother, in perineal damage, and the baby, in increased likelihood of fetal distress, the practice of directed pushing should be discouraged I hope that helped you eliviate some of your fears knowing how to best avoid a forceps or vaccum delivery. If theres anything else you'd like to know of if you need some tips on how to turn a posterior baby during pregnancy or labour feel free to email me. Im more than happy to help =)

Question: Forceps delivery................................. i had forceps delivery with epidural. I have a baby girl (Thanks GOD) but im finding it very hard to recover from all the aches and pains. for eg this constant crampy legs. I still waddle instead of walking like normal. lower abdominal bones hurt and feel heavy when turning around in bed . anyone had this prob;lem. and if yes what u did to relieve it.

Answer: How long ago did you have the baby? My first delivery was by forceps and it took a good month before I started feeling better. Some of what you are going through is normal after having a baby, things have to shift back to normal. If it has been much over 6 weeks talk to your doctor.

Question: Do you have the right to refuse an episiotomy or forceps/vacuum delivery? I would like to know the patients' rights as a pregnant woman in labor. This is my first pregnancy. I do not want an episiotomy (I have been cut down there in the past for a different reason and it only had 4 stitches and it still hurt 1 year later). I also absolutely do not want forceps or a vacuum used on my child's head to ease delivery. I want to refuse all these treatments. I really want a cesaerean section. (I also have an iguinal hernia that I am worried about). I know it is more risky but I'd rather face those risks than these treatments. I want to know what would happen it I refused any of these treatments during labor and they were used anyway (against my will) for the sake of the baby. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

Answer: While you absolutely have the right to refuse any treatment UNLESS a court order is obtained to override your will some doctors cut first ask second. ANY medical treatment without consent is assault under the laws of most countries but it is very hard to prosecute. Your BEST bet is to be sure to find a really good doctor on the same page as you. However I honestly think that a choice c-section is not a good choice and I would caution you that you really need to understand the risks to you and the baby. One risk a doctor likely will not mention is that babies born via c-section have three times the risk of dying during the first month for reasons doctors do not really understand: http://www.prematureoptimism.com/blog/?p…

Question: terrified at the thought of a forceps delivery - Did you have a forceps delivery? was the baby hurt? this is my first baby and im completly ok with the thought of labour (for now!) but the idea of forceps absoulty scares the crap out of me..can you refuse them? can the midwife override your decision? i have a midwife appt in two weeks so i can ask her then...but im really getting worked up at the thought of it.

Answer: you can't "refuse" them. You can say you only want them as a last resort. You can write up a birth plan and make sure everyone knows when you want to happen at the delivery. But ultimately, the dr or midwife or whoever is going to do what they need to in order to make sure you and your baby stay alive.

Question: Can forceps delivery cause brain injuries in babies? What have you heard about the possibility that forceps can cause subtle head injuries in babies? Singles? Twins? etc.

Answer: Oh, yes it does happen!!! I do not have the percentages, but it does happen. click on the link below to see more

Question: Does a forceps delivery contribute to frontal lobe injury and what are the symptoms?

Answer: Hello dear, I do understand your worry, but please, don't panic. Forceps delivery is not recommended just because it could affect the baby and her/his further health. In some countries even the forceps delivery was projected to be forbidden.Yet it is practiced from so many obstetrician all over the world. The baby's head is so soft and every unskilful or at random "touch" could possibly affect ,hence it could contribute to frontal lobe injury. The best thing you can do is to reassure yourself by taking the baby to qualified pediatrician. Again, please, do not panic and be calm. Wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart!

Question: I had a forceps delivery & now i cant control my flow of urine? I had my baby 4 days ago, im still very sore down there. Dr used forceps & i had a catheter bag in for a few days. They took it out and now i cant really tell when i need to go and when i do go i cant stop the flow of urine mid stream. It just pours out. Is this normal and will it heal on its own? or is something wrong?

Answer: This is common and should resolve itself as time goes on, but you can also try kegel exercises if possible. They're like a tightening and releasing of the muscles down there and will help strengthen them. Btw... congratulations!

Question: episiotomy,forceps delivery and sex question? i gave birth 7 weeks ago.ummm,i tried resuming sex but i felt the stiches will open again.i felt more than a little pain.so i stopped.Ladies who had episitomy with forceps delivery,can you pls tell me when did you resume sex and how was the experience.I dont knw if i have the phobia of sex now LOL.

Answer: Hey girl, I was exact same as you. Episiotomy with forceps. At my six week post partum visit, doc gave me the all clear, and the stitches were dissolved and I was good to go. But, we did not attempt sex until I was about 9 weeks post partum, and even then it was uncomfortable. I never had to use KY Jelly before, but I went out and bought some after that first time, and that helped tremendously. After a few times, didn't even need it anymore and everything was back to normal. Don't worry, the stitches will not open, they are already gone and you are healed. Just relax and take it slow if you have to, and definitely get some KY. A friend told me that some docs will actually put in an extra stitch when you have an episiotomy, to make you tighter when your healed, becasue stretching occurs even without being cut. Not sure if that is true, but something to think about.

Question: forceps delivery now unable to urinate please help!!? i had a very long and painful labor 19 hours officially and three days of painful contractions. when it came to show time the baby seemed to have moved her face the wrong way and this resulted in a forceps and vacuum delivery, alongside a pretty massive third degree tear, its been a week since delivery and i havent been able to urinate. ive had catheter after catheter put in and taken out and nothing... i thought since i was severly constipated that when i emptied my bowels and the painful catheter was taken out for a while i would go but no. now ive had the thing in 2days in a row and am supposed to keep it in till sunday. do you think il even go then?? if not what happens next im a to be catheterised forever??

Answer: I had a similar situation. I had a c-section and somehow my "insides" were swollen and pressing against my bladder or some other part and I couldn't pee either. I was in the hospital for 6 days with a catheter because I couldn't pee. I felt the same way...will I ever pee again, will I have this cath in forever? All I can say is slowly I healed and 7 months later I am peeing just fine. I know it feels awful now but you'll heal - I PROMISE!

Question: forceps delivery and erbs palsy? i saw my doctor today and discussed the fact that i do not want forceps used in my delivery. when my sister was born forceps where used when she become stuck in my mothers pelvis as a result of the foceps the doctors caused a condition known as erbs palsy in her left are.. wha this means is all the nerves in her arm were torn beyond repair.. she has never been able to use her arm properly.. So of course a forcep deivery is something that fringhtens me very much.. i asked today that it be written in my notes that they are not to be used. My doctor however thinks that if forceps need to be used then they should be and will be and he wrote that on my notes.. I am not comfortable with this do i have the right to refuse them beging used. And is there a scan that can be done to find out if my pelvis is big enough to delivery a baby naturally before i go into labor. As i asked about this and was told i would have to wait till i was in labor and then they would check. i just want to know if anyone has an information on this.. i will be looking further into this with my doctor. i am just interested to know if anyone knows anything about this.. im only 25 weeks along but i just want to be compleatly prepared.. thanks anyone know from personal experiance???? its just i know all the risk have read extensivly about it... anyone with any personal advice

Answer: What happened to your sister isn´t normal at all.We have never had problems using forceps if done by a good professional. It should be noted that the use of analgesia, especially epidurals, leads to increased likelihood of a forceps birth. The anaesthetic numbs the pelvic floor muscles making it difficult for them to guide the baby's head into a favourable position for birth. Having to lie down for the birth also removes the effect of gravity and makes if difficult to push up hill, especially when the urge to push is severely diminished or absent and a forceps lift-out' is the likely outcome.So,try to avoid analgesia if you think you can take the pain.I did with my second baby and wasn´t that bad! Effects on the mother Advantages: 1. When the mother is exhausted or unable to push it allows the baby to be born without her physical effort. 2. When pushing is contra-indicated, for example with severe pre-eclampsia, the baby can be born. Disadvantages: 1. Because the birth is assisted, the mother misses the experience of pushing the baby out herself. 2. The local or epidural anaesthetic numbs the perineal area so that the mother doesn't feel the baby emerging. 3. An episiotomy is usually routine. 4. The need for analgesia, often a pudendal block, or an epidural. 5. Bruising of internal tissues, and additional strain on pelvic floor muscles. Effects on the baby Advantages: 1. Where fetal distress is present, a forceps delivery may be life-saving, or prevent the baby from becoming very hypoxic (oxygen-starved) which, if severe, can lead to brain damage or death. 2. May be necessary to protect the baby's head, for example a premature birth or breech presentation. 3. May be the only way that birth can be achieved, if the baby is malpositioned. Disadvantages: 1. In the hands of an experienced doctor there should be little trauma to the baby. There may be some bruising or temporary markings on the baby's face. 2. The baby may suffer from the effects of the increased need for analgesia. 3. There is always some degree of force used in a forceps delivery and it is difficult to know what effect this force has on the baby's head and spine. If your baby has been born with the aid of forceps and is very irritable, it might be worthwhile having its neck checked for misalignment of the vertebrae in its spine.