Hoping for VBAC but baby posterior - help!

[munteria]

Hi there

I am 35 weeks today and have been told by the midwife that my baby is posterior (as was DD1). I was induced at 40+12 last time and ended up with an emergency section after 24 hours of labour (as is often the case!)

I'm pretty upset about the posterior news. I understand that the baby may turn (and I am doing all i can to encourage it!) but if it doesnt (as DD1 didnt) then I may be in for a long and gruling labour. Consequently I am thinking about an elective c-section (i recovered well after the last one) but the recovery whilst having to deal with a toddler with no help is putting me off.

My question is because i didnt give birth 'naturally' first time round will my birth be the same time as a first timer? I've heard its easier to push out posterior babies 2nd time round, but is this the case if you had a c-section first time?

Also, I understand that the contractions with a posterior baby may last longer before you go into active labour. I was hoping to stay at home for as long as possible as have childcare issues. my midwife told me today though that, because of the section last time, the hospital may want be to go in as soon as the contractions start, but they may send me home again if all is okay / not progressing. this isnt great for org childcare!

In addition to this my DD1 has got a massive head (thanks DP!) so if this one has the same I'm in even more trouble!

All I can see is a long and painful labour ahead of me which will prob end up with a section anyway (I DONT WANT FORCEPS). Maybe i should just have an elective as much less stressful and try and org childcare.....

Anyway, would love to hear from any other mums who had a postive VBAC with a posterior baby.

Thanks

[kitkatqueen]

Hiya, 2 of my babies went breech before birth. my 1st and my 3rd. I turned my 1st by crawling about for days but found it a major slog - so uncomfortable a position to be in at that stage. The 3rd pregnancy I floated in the bath for about 3 hrs on my tummy ( toes and elbows on bottom of bath) reading a book - the baby was really wriggly and all of a sudden he turned. Midwife confirmed he had definatly turned and thought it was because in that position gravity was pulling him into the soft of my tummy enabling him to turn where before he had been stuck against my hips. I would have gone ahead though with both of them for a normal delivery.

[CaliforniaBrit]

Hello! Newbie here

I had an emergency C-Section with DD1 after a planned home birth, very long labour and failure to progress. DD2 was VBAC in hospital but arrived at 38 weeks, 'sunny side up' with her face up, so must have been posterior. It was a relatively short labour comparatively - only 6 hours active compared with several days on the first one!

I've just had DS as an amazing home waterbirth. Just before 40 weeks and he was posterior at about 35/36 weeks but rotated himself around - I didn't really do anything special to prepare or rotate him other than sitting on a birth ball.

I would have gone ahead with VBACs for both of them, even if I had known DD1 was posterior and even if DS hadn't turned.

Good luck!

[Lulumama]

i had a VBAC with an OP baby who was born face up. latent phase was 15 hours, labour was 3 hours 15 minute and intervention free. i used entonox and a small dose of pethidine.

it was totally straighforward and i stayed at home for the first 10 hours.

you needd to remain active, upright and mobile , swinging your hips can help and listening to your body

www.spinningbabies.com is a good site

[munteria]

i'm so glad to hear there are positive stories out there. you have done me the world of good - thankyou. I will check out that website and get the birthing ball down from the loft!

X

[Klaw]

Some babies just need to be posterior. So that means you should prepare for a longer labour, be patient and go with it. Ensure your partner knows that you need extra support.

I know a VBACer who had a face to pubes VBAC.

As pp said be upright and mobile so that your pelvis is able to open up to 28% more. State on your Birth Preferences that you expect a longer labour and expect support and encouragement accordingly. Pack a heat pack so that you can have it on your lower back. or get someone to use counter pressure with their hands.

If your placenta is anterior then there's little point in doing OFP till after 36wks when the placenta has grown up as much as it's likely to and then baby has more chance to move.

[Piffle]

My dd was posterior 20hrs before I went into labour (38+1)
I had 38 wk check and scan ( they had worries about cholestasis)
But went into labour at 5:35am she delivered at 6:31...
She turned somewhere along the way!
Don't give up hope!
Really focus and believe your body can do this job it was specially made for.

[munteria]

thanks - I am 36 weeks next week so will try OFP then!

[flimflammum]

Munteria, and anyone else hoping for a VBAC: I can strongly recommend a very supportive email group/list, go to Yahoo groups and look for UKVBACHBAC. You email the moderator a little bit about your situation and then you receive group emails and can post questions etc. There are some very wise and wonderful women on there who know loads about all the VBAC issues, without whom I wouldn't have gone through with my (very successful) home VBAC.

Spinningbabies.com is great too. My VBAC baby was turned partially posterior (can't remember the terminology), but turned back to a good position after acupuncture from someone specialising in pregnancy/birth.

Really wish you all the best with the birth

[kaz33]

VBAC with posterior baby

DS1 emergency cearseran after 35+ hour labour
DS2 vbac 34 hour labour he was posterior - stopped progressing about 4cm dilated so had epidural. It was hard work but great midwife.

I was so happy at the end I cried with joy. Wouldn't have changed it for the world, even though it was a risk. Think I have a dodgy pelvis though as neither baby was flagged by midwifes as posterior until they came out.

[MrsTittleMouse]

My first posterior baby stayed exactly where she was, despite much effort to turn her. The second I did exactly the same stuff and (hallelujah!) she turned. The general consensus from the MWs was that my uterus wasn't as "toned" second time around and it was easier for the baby to move. So all is not lost!

[munteria]

great - thanks. you have given me hope and dont feel as compelled to go for a an elective now. I will check out the email group.

x

[CaliforniaBrit]

Yes, my midwife explained to me that after a first baby, there's more room for subsequent ones to move around. DS seemed to be in a different position at every appointment

She wasn't at all peturbed about me homebirthing even if he'd stayed posterior though.

From what I understand, even if they are not turned by labour, they usually will manage it during labour but things might take a little longer. I don't think it's et in stone though as DD2's birth was the quickest and she never turned