Are forceps commonly used in C sections to get the baby out?

[RainbowBrite]

it definately is the norm sorry girls, its usually done because its too hard ( and slippery)to grab the baby's head with hands, also the cut isn't very long and too small for the dr to get their both hands in (sorry if this is tmi). The just gently lift the babies head out rather than yank if it is any consolation xx

That may explain a discussion i had with some prem mums...they all said (me included) that their scars are really long I wonder if that is because they do use their hands instead?

[Arimeh]

They used forceps to get DS out. I'd have to double check with dh if my OB with dd1 did cos I can't remember and don't have that bit on video.

You would be horrified to see the birth of DS, my then OB yanked him out with the forceps then turned his head to see the camera - it is just gruesome. DS needed 9 months of chiro to fix his neck up after his birth.

[LimeSlice]

Yes, forceps were used in mine.
And yes, 3 different obs (at different hospitals) have told me that forceps are somewhat a matter of routine, but I get the impression that is more to do with the Ob preferences and training themselves, than the procedure, itms.

I think what doesn't look gentle, in terms of augmented extraction, and what is actually rough, though vary largely from simply watching it. As in, although it looks hideous, sometimes it actually isn't that rough in respect to the pressure being used. My DH was horrified when they used the vacuum to extract DD2, although that was actually a very gentle extraction.

HTH

ETA: The incision for a cs is only about 4inches, and you are pulled open using retractors, so when you think about it, getting a full sized male hand in there, let alone two, to retrieve a very slippery, moving being, whilst being gentle and careful etc would be beyond difficult and may lead to tearing etc. Forceps are often a safer option I would imagine, and possibly a trade off for having a small, neat wound site.

[Gigi]

i had an emergency c-section, bandl's ring was discovered immediately and then it was a race against time - in which time forceps were tried (failed), vantuse was tried (failed) and then much more robust methods were used to get bilby out by one limb (not breathing, immed to resus table). I was an invalid for months afterwards (could not stand up long enough to butter some bread), couldn't drive for six months. Took a year until i was strong enough to bathe bilby myself.

[nickle730]

I have been in theatre for numerous ceaser's at the Royal Women's and Monash Hospitals and forceps were routinely used by all ob's.

[MummaSue]

No forceps used in mine and DD was very transverse. When they opened me up, all they could see was her back and there wasn't much to hold onto. But they didn't use forceps at all.

My scar is tiny too. It amazes me that she even managed to get out of there!

[Yeddi]

I think it is a matter of training or more OB pride. There was a blog written by a midwife (anon of course) who went into detail about certain births. She hated one of the female OB's who prided herself on how all her patients only had little c-section scars even though this meant that she always had to use forceps. But there could be other reasons than vanity, like length of recovery and smaller scars might be less likely to rupture... If the main reason is vanity though, I think given the choice, many women would choose to have the slightly longer scar with no forceps, than to use forceps to have a little scar.

Blessed - It might be worth asking your OB whether they do or not, and if so why. If it's simply for aesthetic purposes, perhaps you can put in your birth plan that you don't mind having a longer scar to avoid the use of forceps.

No forceps with mine BTW, and a do have a fairly long scar - about 6 inches.

[TaRhLi.]

My Ob used forceps to get DD out as her head was wedged into my pelvis and my lower uterine segment hadn't developed so she was tightly lodged. She had a graze mark on her right temple (just near hear eye) and a big graze on her head which took a couple of weeks to heal.

It didn't look pretty when she was born, but she had no ill affects from the forceps being used.

My Ob indicated that he thinks my c/s will be much easier this time for the twins as my lower segment is fully developed and hopefully Twin A's head doesn't engage before delivery.

[Shanti]

DH is a registered nurse and mainly in theatres so has been present in MANY c/sections and he said YES forceps are used the majority of the time..... he said they are so quick though that it's not always seen.