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Scared after rotational forceps - help!

Rachel320

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Hello all,

I’m looking for support/advice, and please no horror stories because I’m anxious enough!

So last year I had a beautiful baby, I was in labour for 3 days and it was excruciating as baby was back to back the whole time. By the time I got to the labour suite I was EXHAUSTED and had the epidural, which slowed down my labour, stopped any chance of baby turning, and resulted in 3 failed attempts of manual turning, and then taken to theatre for episiotomy and rotational forceps.

My pelvic floor was shattered afterwards and the recovery was long, painful and worrying.

I’m not trying for another baby right this minute but have started thinking what id do. Would I attempt another vaginal birth and risk that all happening again or worse (included continence issues). OR do I opt for elective C section, which also sounds pretty traumatising but would avoid another trauma to my pelvic floor or even a prolapse.

I feel emotionally drained just thinking about this all the time. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated x
 
I should also add that an OB told me that if I try another vaginal birth I would probably have bladder issues for a while after due to the fact that I had that issue quite badly last time. He said the risk of permanent bladder damage was low. Still terrifies me though.
 
I totally understand the fear! My first birth wasn't as complicated as yours, but I did feel like my pelvic floor was ruined. I was very lucky to not to suffer from incontinence, but I wee a lot. I don't go out and socialise a lot to be honest, so it's never been a problem. But the urge can happen immediately after what I thought was emptying my bladder, but I hadn't fully.

I'm pregnant with a second, and I'm already going to the bathroom up to 30 times a night for a wee. I've tried the exercises and theres been no noticeable improvement. I just keep getting told to keep doing it.

I am considering speaking to my midwife about my worries about giving birth a second time. At the same time I'm wondering, will it be easier and I guess everything isn't as 'tight' down there as the first time? Will there be less damage than the first? Will the birth be as easy as my first, or will it be entirely different and cause more damage than before?

I would personally be considering an elective c section if I've already had some considerable damage to effect your daily life for some time following a birth.
 
I totally understand the fear! My first birth wasn't as complicated as yours, but I did feel like my pelvic floor was ruined. I was very lucky to not to suffer from incontinence, but I wee a lot. I don't go out and socialise a lot to be honest, so it's never been a problem. But the urge can happen immediately after what I thought was emptying my bladder, but I hadn't fully.

I'm pregnant with a second, and I'm already going to the bathroom up to 30 times a night for a wee. I've tried the exercises and theres been no noticeable improvement. I just keep getting told to keep doing it.

I am considering speaking to my midwife about my worries about giving birth a second time. At the same time I'm wondering, will it be easier and I guess everything isn't as 'tight' down there as the first time? Will there be less damage than the first? Will the birth be as easy as my first, or will it be entirely different and cause more damage than before?

I would personally be considering an elective c section if I've already had some considerable damage to effect your daily life for some time following a birth.

Thanks for the reply! It’s such a massive decision isn’t it? Are you considering an elective c section? You must be exhausted being up all night. Is your other LO a toddler?

My OB recommended vaginal delivery but followed it with ‘but then, I would’, because an OB would never choose major surgery over something else.

My bladder is back to normal now, but the thought of having bladder issues again would ruin me I feel. I was terrified last time that there was permanent damage or prolapse (there wasn’t). But what if I’m not so lucky next time?

C section recovery on the other hand sounds horrific too. Especially with a toddler running around.

I feel like either way there’s significant risk :(
 
I didn't have pelvic floor issues from my first but I had a traumatic labour where my son was really distressed, I was really poorly from infection, my labour was 38 hours long (from waters breaking with meconium, hence the infection...) and he wasn't coming out with me pushing for an hour so I was rushed for foreceps and an episiotomy. I had internal problems afterwards but thankfully it was something that was actually made better by giving birth again. I fell pregnant 10 months after having my first and was offered a section at 13 weeks because of my first labour but I ended up refusing and I'm glad I did as I had a 9 hour labour and my daughter was pushed out in 8 minutes with zero assistance.

Obviously I can only speak for myself but my second experience was a million times better. I do agree with PP though that if it had caused such significant damage I'd consider the section more seriously.
 
I didn't have pelvic floor issues from my first but I had a traumatic labour where my son was really distressed, I was really poorly from infection, my labour was 38 hours long (from waters breaking with meconium, hence the infection...) and he wasn't coming out with me pushing for an hour so I was rushed for foreceps and an episiotomy. I had internal problems afterwards but thankfully it was something that was actually made better by giving birth again. I fell pregnant 10 months after having my first and was offered a section at 13 weeks because of my first labour but I ended up refusing and I'm glad I did as I had a 9 hour labour and my daughter was pushed out in 8 minutes with zero assistance.

Obviously I can only speak for myself but my second experience was a million times better. I do agree with PP though that if it had caused such significant damage I'd consider the section more seriously.

Thanks for your reply 😊. I mean the damage was significant enough that it caused some incontinence issues, but pelvic floors rectified that. I guess the thought of even having those temporary issues scares me, and I’ve already been told that I probably would have those issues again. Then there’s horror stories of women being left with permanent damage.

C sections just look terrible though, the recovery. I’d have a toddler too so extra pressure :/
 
Your experience is almost identical to the experience I had first time around. Honestly? My second was waaaay easier! He descended well on his own and I pushed him out in 20 minutes. A couple of stitches and a smal graze and that was it.
After my daughter I wast stitched up a fair bit and it took months for me to walk properly again and feel 'healed'. I struggled going up and down stairs and was generally miserable for quite some time.
After my son, I was up the following morning, in the shower and dressed in no time. After a week, I felt comfortable enough to head out on walks with him in the pram and I enjoyed motherhood a second time round much quicker than I did first time around.
I should also add that my second labour was also fairly long (not as long as my first) and I did end up back on the drip and had an epidural, but it still wasn't anywhere near the horror story of my first birth xx
 
With my first I was in prodromal labour for 48 hours, then active labour for 36 hrs. She was born vaginally (7 lbs 4 oz) without interventions, but I did have an epidural after 30 hrs of active labour and I had a "very complicated" second degree tear that took over an hour to stitch up. Then 19 months later I had my son (8 lbs 11 oz!), active labour was 4.5 hrs, no epidural/medications/interventions, a small second degree tear, home 3 hours after birth feeling great. So in my experience, my second was so much easier than my first even though he was huge! I didn't have any incontinence with either of my labours, but after my second I did experience a first degree prolapse of my bladder, uterus, and rectum. Not from delivery itself, but because I went for a 3 hour walk at 3 weeks postpartum (what can I say, I felt great!). With physiotherapy and a postpartum specialized trainer I currently have zero prolapse symptoms at about a year postpartum, but it did take about 8 months for the prolapse to improve. So even if you do have prolapse issues after a second it isn't the end of the world! It has actually been a bit of a blessing in disguise for me, my core is so much stronger and more functional than at any other time in my adult life because I've been forced to focus on it. I've had a lot of hip and back issues the last 10 years that have vanished now that I have really focused on developing my core strength. Pregnancy itself is "traumatic" on the pelvic floor, so I personally wouldn't opt for a c-section just in an attempt to spare your pelvic floor from trauma. A pushing phase longer than 1 hour can increase your risk of prolapse, but second babies tend to require a shorter pushing phase, although there are always exceptions to the rule obviously. I personally would avoid a c-section at all costs, but I know a lot of people are more comfortable with the thought of the surgery than I am. Good luck with your decision!
 
Thanks every for the advice/support. I feel much better about it now, I really do. I also feel like I will just “know” what to do when the time comes. I definitely see a second attempt at vaginal birth as an option again, and in some ways it’s less scary than a c section (in some ways more scary 😂). I guess there’s no risk free solution, all I can do is choose what I’m most comfortable with and hope that it’s the smoothest option. Perhaps I will keep you all posted whatever happens xx
 
I guess you also have to see if when pregnant with your second, that baby might not be back to back?
If the next one ends up being in a better position, then great, give the vaginal birth a go! Maybe you won't feel the need for an epidural either, so then your labour won't be slowed, and it may all round be a better experience!

If the next baby is back to back, then I would possibly consider the c section!

Before and during pregnancy, keep up with a good pelvic floor routine. I've really been slacking lately, so I really need to get back on top of my exercises again in time for the impending due date!
 
Hi
I get where you’re coming from.
I too was in labour for three days with my first - worst pain ever! He was back to back, pushed for 2-3 hours, they could see the head but then he would pop back inside. They prepped me for c section but forceps and episiotomy worked.

I was worried about subsequent births, the second my waters went on their own and she was born within 6 hours. My third was born working 45 mins of arriving in hospital (last two both water births).

So just a bit of hope, that although likely, it is totally random and fingers crossed unlikely to happen the same way again for you xx
 
I totally understand your fears. My first delivery was dreadful, 18 hours and ended up with very distressed baby, lots of blood loss, an episiotomy and a significant tear and a forceps delivery. I got infected in my stitches afterwards and it was agony. It was all so bad it took until DS1 was 4 before I was brave enough to consider #2. I was petrified of going into labour, and I had a great excuse to request a CS with DS2 (he was breach) but I decided to let them try to turn him, which they did. I went into labour naturally, it took 3 hours I had only gas and air, and no tearing or stitches. I couldn't quite believe it was so easy! Good luck xxx
 
Hey lovely, I see you've had some really helpful answers but I wanted to give you one from another perspective.

My first son was a bit of a traumatic time.. I was induced at 40+5 due to pre-e setting in. I had the pessary and labour began soon after but didn't progress well, 9:30am the next day I had my waters broken and labour started to be intense from that moment on. I was given an epidural which failed, all it did was start me getting intense leg cramps with every contraction. I started pushing at 3pm but he wasn't descending.... cue lots of cathaters to make me pee and empty my bladder, clips put on babies head... lots of internals... rude staff who shouted at me and wouldn't say what was going on. I was taken to theatre at 8pm where I was given a spinal block which stopped all contractions... a Pitocin drip failed to get them started again so they gave an episiotomy and tried vontouse. This failed so they moved onto foreceps… they literally tugged me from the top of the bed to half way down it by the time they got my son out. He had a cut to the head as well as swelling from being stuck and the vontouse. My episiotomy cut was stitched up wrong leaving me with a bit of skin on the inside that was loose. It took me 3 years to stop being in immense pain from the damage they caused to myself, including random sharp pains (I still get them 8 years on but not as bad) as well as incontenance issues and pain during intercourse.

I went down the route of having an elective section as it was decided that the risk for more damage being caused was just too high and it would most likely set me back recovery wise. IT was the best decision I ever made! The section went without an issue, recovery was amazing also.. waaaayyy shorter than the initial recovery from my first. I then again with my third went down the elective route BUT I was able to pick on the day because I went into labour early.. I tried natural but nothing was happening and since id had section I wasn't allowed Pitocin so had another section. that one was a little tougher pain wise but still nothing compared to the first birth <3
 

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