Should forceps be avoided?

feelinggood_2

Bubby wrote: »

I agree there are alot of risks attatched to a c section (more in the case of an emergency than an elective) but despite all of the evidence I gathered after my first traumatic birth which ended in an emergency c section I have never come across anything linked to breastfeeding? (and I breast fed for 6 months;))

There isn't a direct link, but a lot of women feel that breastfeeding didn't work for them because of a traumatic c-section. Immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin is really beneficial to the breastfeeding relationship, and is less likely to happen with a c-section. It isn't a give obviously, many women who have a c-section breastfeed successfully, but many women feel it was the reason they didn't breastfeed. There is also the risk of a lethargic baby, and the milk may 'come in' later than normal, which can worry women and make them give up.

got-it-spend-it

Feelie- I think sadly there is a belief that having a cs makes BFing harder butthat certainly wasn't our experience. Yes, it does hurt your scar and skin to skin doesn't always happen(didn't in our case) but I do think it is just as possible as with a vaginal birth.

feelinggood_2

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

Feelie- I think sadly there is a belief that having a cs makes BFing harder butthat certainly wasn't our experience. Yes, it does hurt your scar and skin to skin doesn't always happen(didn't in our case) but I do think it is just as possible as with a vaginal birth.

C-sections shouldn't be a barrier to breastfeeding, but it does help to be informed and prepared. A lot of women feel their c-section contributed to not being able to breastfeed.

jillie1974

feelinggood wrote: »

I thought that if labour was advanced enough for forceps, a c-section wouldn't be an option.

There are a lot of risks to c-sections too, and it shouldn't be treated lightly. There are also risks to future pregnancies and deliveries. C-sections often affect breastfeeding too.

i had failed forceps, ventouse and then had to have c-section. K's head hadnt turned correctly, they advised what they were going to do but wanted to give me the chance to have a vaginal delivery first.

feelinggood wrote: »

C-sections shouldn't be a barrier to breastfeeding, but it does help to be informed and prepared. A lot of women feel their c-section contributed to not being able to breastfeed.

i dont think its the c-section, i think its the epidural and all the stress your bosy gors through, K didnt feed for alnost 24 hours but i think this is due to him being tired from my failed v-delivery and the epidural.

my cousins girlfriend had the same also had c-section, after a problematic labour and she too struggled with b/feed

aliasojo

feelinggood wrote: »

I thought that if labour was advanced enough for forceps, a c-section wouldn't be an option.

Evansangel wrote: »

Eep! Might state ventouse only on my birth plan now

I refused forceps during the birth of my youngest. I didn't know enough then about ventouse otherwise I would have refused that too!

Ventouse was tried but baby was stuck fast and emergency section was needed. Baby screamed and was very unsettled for months afterwards, doctors dismissed my concerns and said she was just taking time to settle after the birth. Eventually one of the more enlightened Health Visitors told me to go see an osteopath who found that the bones in my daughter's head were badly misaligned due to the ventouse used at her birth and were the cause of her distress.

Within minutes of the osteopath doing his thing, she settled and looked the calmest we'd ever seen her.

I'm so glad I'm past the stage/age of having babies, it's so hard knowing what to do for the best sometimes, especially when medical advice can be a little different depending on who you talk to.

xmaslolly76

Thankfully i have never had to have either the forceps or the ventuse. I suppose in the situation it would be what ever is best for baby sod me although it would worry me if the doctor wasnt trained properly. My bubs got stuck on the way out but it was his shoulder as he was coming out so a change of position and the midwifes hand were all that was needed thank god.

jammy26

I was a forceps baby and I still (31 years later) have a massive scar on my face as a result. I would not allow this for one of my children if it could possibly be avoided.

bonty44

This has frightened me senseless too and I will be talking to my GP and midwife about it.
DS1 was born emergency caesarean, DS2 was normal delivery, DS3 due in May and there's no way I'm letting anyone go anywhere near me with forceps. I would rather opt for an elective caesarean if baby shows itself to be big etc., at my 36-week scan.

I had to have Chorionic Villus Sampling with this baby, as I had tested high for Edwards Syndrome, and the Consultant doing the CVS told me that she had a lower than 1% miscarriage rate ... because she 'knew what she was doing and had done this before'. I shudder to think sometimes, I really do ... I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or run away!

thatgirlsam

c-sections can definitley make breastfeeding harder to establish ..

a lot of section babies are very mucousy as they haven't travelled through the birth canal where this mucous is usually expelled .. mucousy babies don't feel very hungry as they feel 'full up' with mucous and they don't have such an urge to feed

also its much more difficult for mum to get in a comfortable position during the first few days

like another poster we only have one consultant that will use keillands forceps , i have never seen them used , whereas i have probably been at hundreds of other instrumental deliverys which ahve been performed with no problems .. the neville barnes forceps are used most commonly

kindofagilr

Hmmm this isnt good, I am due my baby today, really hope he comes no bother