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I think hospitals stay away from forceps these days, and mostly use the vacuum. Forceps can leave nasty scars, and there was a woman here awhile back whose daughter was actually hit in the eye, and blinded by them - whereas the vacuum may leave a bruise (a pretty big one, as all the blood is pooled at the top of the head) - but it goes away rather quickly. I would tell your dr. your concerns about these methods. What is he estimating your baby's weight at right now? Because many times they are way off with their guesses. My best friend was 'supposed' to have a ten pound baby - he was six pounds. Anyways, if you do have complications, don't fear the vacuum - it's used all the time, and I would definatly take them up on the epidural! Oh! Also, with a vacuum - it has a release on it, so if the baby is not being successfully pulled by it, it will instantly self release so there is not too much pressure on the baby - so if that happens, then they will go to plan b - and probably do a c-section. If you are really wanting to try natural - tell him so, but let him know you are open to a c-section, so as to possibly avoid forceps (I really am terrified of forceps!) Anyways, good luck -sheesh, he's certainly full of positive info, huh? Maybe all this build up will mean a super smooth delivery!

I think it's good that your dr is warning you of the possibility of a difficult labor and is suggesting appropriate pain relief. This way you can be prepared mentally. The vacuum extractor - as already stated - is used all the time and is definately preferable to a c-section, which is a major surgery and as such poses greater risks. I would also go for the epidural. Labouring with a stuck baby is VERY painful. A woman in my home forum (I'm in Europe) who runs marathons, desperately wanted to give birth naturally. Her att_tude was that everything can be accomplished with enough willpower, but she met her boundaries during delivery. She labored without meds for 3 days - they let her because the baby was doing OK. In the end, in pain and total exhaustion, she begged the drs to put her out of her misery. They had to do a c-section. Later after a CT-scan, it was determined that she could never have given birth naturally due to malformed pelvic bones. Now she is furious that nobody noticed anything beforehand. If she had known of this, she would have been spared her birth-trauma (she actually had to have therapy for post-traumatic stress syndrome).

My first baby was an emergency forceps delivery, they had literally seconds to get him out or we both would have died. I had to have a spinal block and thankfully couldn't feel anything. Have an epidural but be prepared for it not to work as I had two and neither worked. Apparently 1 on 1000 doesn't work for. and before anyone says that it did work, that's what the midwives were saying amongst themselves to until one got a pin and jabbed it in my cervix where i supposedly wasn't suppose to feel anything and ofcourse i jumped sky high. but back to the forceps, they didn't do anything to my little guy and they saved ouir lives after a 3 day labour. I think the vacuum sounds safer so don't let them leave it to long before they don't have to time to try it. One thing I learnt from my first labour was not to be scared to ask questions and say what YOU want. Good Luck with everything and I hope it all goes well.

With respect, your mil should b___t out! Its a different time now, my son was born with a vaccuum and he was fine, not even much of a bruise or a pointy head. If you have the choice, I would think that it is preferrable to the major surgery and risks a__sociated with c-sections. But listen to your dr's advice.. they will probably do an ultra sound closer to the time to check the size of your baby, although I would expect not too many babies induced 1 week early or so would be over 9 pounds.. Good luck!!