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Forceps or vacuum?
Added: 293 days ago.
Added by: shay5895
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


Well in attempts to avoid a c-section, the specialist I seen wants my doctor to use either the forceps or vacuum extraction.. has anyone had these done? How did it turn out? Advice is greatly appreciated :)

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kamy107 - 292 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Is there some reason your specialist thinks you will need an assisted delivery? Both of my boys had the vacuum, and my current doctor told me that this time, we'll try to avoid all of that! It was never assumed that I would have vacuum and/or forceps beforehand. My older son had the cord wrapped around his neck and was under stress (heartbeat kept going in and out), so they used the vacuum to get him out quickly. there was a spot on his head that was tender, then bruised and scabbed afterwards, but other than that, there were no issues. my second son was stuck - his hand was up near his face, and he just didn't want to move it down, so they had to use the vacuum to help, but my doctor only used it right at the end. his spot wasn't as bad (not as dark, etc) as my older sons, but he didn't have the vacuum on for nearly as long. good luck, hopefully you won't have to use either!

Harrycat - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Hey....I agree with the other ladies....i don't understand why doctors are assuming you will need some sort of assistance? I completely understand that women need to be informed what might happen should something go wrong, but its weird that it is being discussed as if it is something that will likely be required. I'm a doctor (although not an obstetrician).....if things start going wrong towards the end of labour the decision whether to go for a c section or an instrumental vaginal delivery (vacuum or forceps) is made based on what is safest for the mother and baby, how far the labour has progressed etc. Usually vacuum is attempted first (if there is time). Practice differs between clinicians, but often they will do an episiotomy with forceps but will attempt without one for vacuum extraction. HOpefully your labour will go smoothly and you won't need to worry about any of this on the day!

yayfornumber2 - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Just to disagree for a minute---c-sections can be risky and that's why they don't like to do them...if you don't have to have a c-section I wouldn't. I had to have one and it was the worst recovery of my life!

angie2008 - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) My daughter was born with a vacuum- I had a very long and hard labor and pushed for about 1.5 hours. The doc used a vacuum to help her come out- she was 9lbs 2oz! She did have a ring on her head from the vacuum and a little scab but nothing serious. I would go that route again instead of getting a c-section.

tigger6101 - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I had an emergency c-sec w/ my first after a failed attempt to deliver using both the vacuum n forceps. I agree w/ the ladies below, I had scheduled c-sec w/ second, this will be my 3rd c-sec I feel completely at ease and safe w/ scheduled c-sec.

weber3 - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Why can't you just push out your baby by yourself? I would avoid either of those procedures if possible as they can be dangerous to your baby. Our bodies were made to push out babies. Have you had a c-section before?

cbv25 - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I'm with laurap, I've had two c-sections....just skip the drama and get one. I loved mine! I see you already have a baby, so I'm assuming something was discovered during your first pregnancy/birth that makes the doctors pretty confident that your body cannot birth on its own...God knows there's a host of diagnoses that would make this true. If that's the case, like I said, c-section 110%. They're no where near as horrid as people preach. <3

BabySaunders - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) How odd that they're talking about intervention before you've even started labor. That makes ZERO sense to me.

Eloiseandharrys-mummy! - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) agree with kirbyann and lisseo, i have never heard of a doctor doing a planned vacuum or forceps before.

kirbyann - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) This is YOUR pregnancy and YOUR birth... I agree and am wondering the same as lisseo - why are they presuming you are going to need assistance? BIRTHING IS A NATURAL PROCESS!!! I agree that you should go in with the idea that you CAN do this on your own, and if there is need for assistance be open to it. And again I agree that if the vacuum is used properly, it is the lesser of two evils; but they should be switching your positions and moving you around to help deliver baby rather than trying to force him/her out the way they see fit.

laurap - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Just wanted to say I had 3 c sections.....the first one was not by choice but with the alternatives I would do it all over again.

lisseo - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I had both :) Vacuum wouldn't get a proper suction, so we ended up needing forceps. From my understanding and experience, vaccuums are the lesser of the two evils. With that being said, if you don't get the good latch, unlike Emma, your baby can get very bruised from all the attempts. My son had bruising and a very funny looking head, and if we had used the forceps in the beginning, he would have been just fine. Advice? Don't do either? Lol is that an option? I really don't understand why your Dr would be telling you that you need assistance, before you've even attempted birth. I would go into the delivery room, with hopes you can do it on your own, and don't be upset it doesn't work. I can't say which is better for you, but vaccuums are generally easier (I think)

emma32uk - 293 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) my sister had the forceps and she was badly damaged, needed alot of stitches and the baby was bruised on the face and head. i had the vacuum and apart from the babys head being a little out of shape for a day or so, it was fine, no stitches for me!!