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

[blessedatlast]

Holy crap! I just watched a c section on you tube and they used forceps to reef the baby out! I was HORRIFIED! Please please tell me that's not common practice? I hope my babies weren't reefed out like that! Then the baby was just placed somewhere while they cut the cord. Wasn't held or anything.. Oh dear.. This is so scary! I wish i didn't watch it.. I hate the thought of little Button reefed out then cold and alone.. This is going to bring up so much trauma, and thinking what my twins went through With the twins i didn't know better. Now I am far more educated. I wish I could have a peaceful homebirth and have no one touch my baby but ME!!!

[wysiwyg]

My DD was c-section and forceps were used, I was given the impression that they aren't used that commonly in c-sections only when bubs is really stuck - my DD was so stuck you heard the pop when they pulled her out. The forceps was noted on all my birth notes and a few people commented so I assume it isn't common but I could be wrong.

[starangelk]

Forceps were used in my c-section too but I also got the impression that this is def not the norm. The ob explained to us why he used them and then came to see us in the hospital and checked for any marks on DD and explained again why he needed to use them. DD was also in a strange position and had a really massive head, big enough for him to exclaim in surprise and the midwife to come over and comment the same.

[black_rose]

Dd was breech and pulled out by her feet. She was 34 weeks and placed straight under warming lights in a crib while dh cut her cord and the pead gave her a check before I cuddled her.

[Danielle_NZ]

I've had three c-sections and they were used in my second because he had descended and was stuck *birth canal doesn't fit my babies large heads*

The other two didn't need forceps, so no I don't think it's common practice unless needed.

[Saffy]

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

[RainbowBrite]

Forceps when not used for either of my c-sections.
They where very gentle getting them out...DD3 was stuck (footling breech, foot in cervix) so they gave me a classical rather than pull her out....once they where out they where handed to the MW while the cord was cut then taken to the table to be worked on (XDH saw not me).
I would think that they would be less inclined then normal to use forceps on such a prem baby.
Their sculls are still so soft and skin is so thin and prone to abrasions.
I think you can be quite confident that your boys where handled with care.

[blessedatlast]

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

It didn't look gentle.. The forceps scare the life out of me.. Their heads are so little, how could it not hurt and damage them??

[wysiwyg]

I know with DD - it wasn't gentle because she was so stuck - but she was fine and they had to get her out - maybe the birth you saw today was similar and the bub was very stuck. I myself was a vaginal birth but with forceps and my head according to my mum was shaped like a banana for a few days afterwards - but all was good.

[{sarah}]

No forceps for either of mine.

[AnyDream]

No forceps used in mine either.

[Janie71]

Forceps were not used in my c-section.

Janie xxx

[KittyK]

They used forceps in my c-section. I think they were saying his head was stuck behind something...my placenta maybe? I had placenta previa though. Afterwards his head was a little mishappen but snaps back into place in no time since the skull is so soft.

I have a tiny neat scar, so I think it goes along with what saffy was saying as i was surprised at how short my scar was and found it hard to believe they pulled a baby out of there, but maybe thats another part of the reason they used forceps in my DS's birth cos the incision was so short.

[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.