Pregnancy tips Forceps in Childbirth and Pelvic Prolapse

I consider myself lucky that I was able to deliver my daughter without the use of forceps or without a C-Section. I did, however have to push for a good four hours. Here is an article that shows a possible association between forcep deliveries and pelvic prolapse:

Childbirth Muscle Damage Linked To Pelvic Prolapse, Incontinence (aphroditewomenshealth.com)

From the article:

The study used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the extent of damage to the levator ani muscles. The women's vaginal closure force at rest and while contracting her pelvic muscle were also measured. Interestingly, half of the women in the study with prolapse recalled having forceps used during childbirth, nearly twice the amount (about 27 percent) of women in the study who do not have prolapse who remembered that forceps were used.


But even with the newly established link, the researchers caution women against using the findings as support for elective caesarean procedures. Rather, they say, the study results should be used to help determine how to prevent these injuries in the first place. "The next step is for researchers to look at ways of preventing and treating these injuries of the levator ani muscle in order to reduce the rate of pelvic organ prolapse later in life," said DeLancey.