WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for October, 2000: What's the deal with forceps?

What's the deal with forceps?

From: AMD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 13 Oct 2000 15:14:55 -0500 (CDT)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Robin: "Re: question for a friend"
Previous message: Lilly: "question for a friend"
Next in thread: Connie: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"
Reply: Connie: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"
Reply: Kelly Shanahan, MD: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"

Over the last year, when I've mentioned to people that the OB used forceps to deliver my baby, I almost always get a weird response of some sort - ranging from indignant to pity. Questions like " so is he brain damaged?" or "shouldn't he have done a c-section" or "why didn't they use the vacuum -- that's so much better" blah blah blah. And I've heard of people refusing forceps in preference for a c-section -- that seems nuts!!

Why does there seem to be such a negative opinion of forceps? Aside from some "road-rash" in front of the ears which healed in a few days, there seemed to be no harm done. In fact, he was (and is) way better off than the "normal" delivery 4 years earlier that resulted in a large hematoma on top of the baby's head as well as scalp lacerations. Son #1 looked like he went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson, and he was way smaller and a natural delivery. My "forceps baby" was 1 1/2 pounds larger, but in generally good condition with no significant complications.

Why is vacuum considered "better" among laypeople? If I have to choose between road-rash from forceps or a hemotoma from the vacuum, I'll take the road-rash. The babies I've seen that have been "vacuumed" almost always have a huge bruise on their head. After 2 babies with serious jaundice (bili > 25 for #1, >20 for #2), I would avoid anything that would tend to lead to more RBC destruction and absorbtion. I don't recommend jaundice as a way to spend the first 2 weeks of your baby's life. And to me, the physics of forceps just makes more sense, in terms of maximum work with the same force.

So am I just crazy for thinking that forceps aren't really that bad? Ideally, nothing would be needed, but it seems silly to not trust the judgement of the doctor you've chosen. I gotta think that the doctor is just as interested in a safe delivery as the parents are???

Thanks, Andrea

Next message: Robin: "Re: question for a friend"
Previous message: Lilly: "question for a friend"
Next in thread: Connie: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"
Reply: Connie: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"
Reply: Kelly Shanahan, MD: "Re: What's the deal with forceps?"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: