Forceps in c section

Heya I had forceps for my c-section but I had to get put to sleep for it and they told me after xx

I did for my second, I didn’t know until after x

I don’t think I did. But I’d assume they would have done it for an emergency. Like if baby still didn’t want to come out then they would have to and at that point they probably wouldn’t ask for permission they would just do what they needed to do

I did but didn’t know until after when she had a mark on her face xx

I had forceps used in my c-section 6 weeks ago and was told afterwards (no one asked for consent at the time!) Baby was engaged head down and impacted low into my pelvis, so was a bit stuck!

The consultant said that using forceps isn’t ‘standard’ practice or something they do everyday, which is why I was told about it afterwards!

I had them during mine, was told afterwards. During surgery they have to get baby out as quick as possible to keep mum safe and if baby’s head is stuck (mine was, his head was so far down it was more dangerous to try and pull) the quickest and safest way to get them out is forceps. He had 2 tiny red marks on his face but other than that no issues at all x

I don't even know. I was awake, but not much communication.

Yes. Only found during my birth reflection appointment a few months later. Baby had got very stuck in my pelvis - I actually found it weirdly reassuring because it made sense why I hadn't been dilating during attempt at vaginal birth (I'd been having insanely intense contractions every 1.5 minutes but only 4cm). So the fact that baby was so stuck made me understand what had happened in my body and made me feel less like I'd failed.

I had them with both of my c sections, didn’t know till after with my first, but my second they struggled to get him out as he was big so they did tell me they was going to use them

I had them during mine - I was not told before or afterwards, only realised as he had a mark on his face

They used them on my first but told me before doing it anything they did they told me ahead so I new what was going on.

It should be part of the consent form discussion. They generally won’t ask in the table as all the consent forms I’ve seen in my time say forceps may need to be used if baby needs to be guided from the pelvis or something along those lines

I was told by NHS that the use of forceps is not something one can opt in or out for. It’s totally their call and it’s only used if it’s absolutely necessary.

it absolutely is something that you can request isn’t used. If you don’t consent for it and they use it it’s assault but mum or your baby may also die as a result

I had forceps for my planned c section delivery.
Daughter was very low down and a bit stuck, I had no idea.
They didn’t tell me but I don’t think it’s necessary. All I had written on my birth plan was “do whatever you’ve got to do and want to do to get my baby out safely” I didn’t care about music candles, gentle birth anything. I just wanted them to be as comfortable as possible

My baby boy had a scar after forceps, I also did not know they used it

I used to be a surgical tech in labor and delivery and a labor and delivery nurse. I’ve worked in three different hospitals and we never used forceps in c sections. Not saying you couldn’t but it doesn’t make sense to me.

Forceps look like salad tongs. They go on one side and then the other snaps the lock in place around baby’s neck. Then they pull down to help dislodge the baby and guide it out. We used them all the time in vaginal births but never in a c section.

If the baby was too far wedged down in the mothers pelvis then a nurse would have to climb under the sterile gown between mothers legs and help manually push baby up through her vagina while the c section was going on.

they are used during C-section when baby has become wedged in the pelvis. Most commonly as a result of obstructed labour or deep transverse arrest due to malposition of baby. It’s definitely something that’s used especially in emergency csections in uk delivery theatres. The zavinelli manoeuvre that you are talking about where the baby is pushed back up is now only used in the uk as a last resort as it’s been proven to cause more trauma than forceps to scoop baby out (uk midwife with 8 years delivery suite experience)

They also absolutely do not ever go around baby’s neck and if you do witness this then it needs escalating to the drs supervisory body as this is dangerous. They go around the head

I’m pretty sure it’s in the surgical consent forms that says any intervention necessary can be used, so they don’t have to ask consent for forceps as they are part of the agreement.

Im sorry I wrote the forceps go around the neck. I meant head. Sorry, taking care of a crying four month old is making me go a little crazy.

During a cesarean section, if the baby's head is impacted and difficult to deliver, a technique called "manual vaginal disimpaction" or "pushing the head back in" may be used. This involves gently pushing the baby's head back into the uterine cavity to allow for a change in position or to facilitate a different delivery approach, such as a different angle of extraction or even conversion to a c section delivery.

You are describing a maneuver used during shoulder dystocia that helps dislodge the baby and they would still be delivered vaginally.

generally in the U.K. we still don’t use any manual disimpaction due to the risk of fractured skulls and ruptured vessels from misplacent of pressure. Most trusts now have fetal pillows that will be used if forceps fail and manual manoeuvres will only be used if these fail (I’ve only ever seen it once in 13 years working in maternity and that was before the introduction of fetal pillows). Most babies release with the application of the first forceps blade though so it is a lot less invasive to begin to apply forceps

A zavinelli is still the motion of pushing babies head back into the birth canal and delivering via C-section. It doesn’t dislodge a shoulder dystocia and is the result of all other manoeuvres to dislodge the shoulders failing

yeah very normal. As they manoeuvre the head out of the pelvis there’s a lot of pressure from the bum up onto the diaphragm which is probably what you felt. Sometimes the second surgeon or scrub nurse will also hold babies bum through the top of your tummy to stop them moving away