Curious to know

I think it’s because if the forceps don’t work then you will need a caesarean really quick so you are already prepped and in the right place.

My first ended up being an emergency section (back to back and "stargazing") and we went to theatre to see if forceps could be used, but it quickly resulted in a section.

I’m not sure but I’m assuming that theatre in this instance means surgical? And no it isn’t the same, they will use the forceps in the regular delivery rooms here in the USA.

Forceps do not always work and it becomes necessary to perform an urgent c section as there is increased risk to mum and baby so it’s done as a precautionary measure that saves time and can save lives! Usually if there is an instrumental delivery the scrub nurse will also set up the instruments for a c section also to save time if it does need to convert to c section!

@Jo what is stargazing?

Thank you ladies, I’d seen it a few times and was curious as to why as I’m from Australia. My first baby was an induction and they tried vacuum & forceps to assist in his delivery but it was performed in the regular birth suite. Wasn’t sure if it was due to the hospital (smaller rural hospital - don’t think there was a theatre per se) or just something that wasn’t a frequent occurrence here.

By stargazing, she had her head tipped right back and was looking up rather than down.

@Jo ahh sunny side up! I’d never heard it as stargazing but that’s such a cute way to refer to it. My first baby was back to back and facing the wrong way - he came out like that too 😭

I’m in the UK and my forceps delivery was in the delivery room not in theatre. They were in a rush though Tbf and it wasn’t planned, he was distressed so they quickly just cut me and pulled him out x