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AIBU?

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Original poster

Alternative birthing positions

33 replies

PastaBaby2024 · 13/04/2024 16:36

I'm 20 weeks pregnant, first baby. Because I have a pretty severe hip cartilage tear, and now also issues with my tailbone pain and PGP, physio recommended I consider not give birth on my back as my hip could get injured further (women routinely get hip labral tears from birth anyway) leading to a lot of pain post partum. Injuring my hip further would guarantee I need hip surgery as well.

I need to speak to my OB GYN but I know she is generally supportive of different positions for birth.

My mum and a friend who has given birth recently however have said that birth plans tend to go out the window, especially if I have a long labour, and their experience was that midwives tend to manhandle you to do what you need to do to get the baby out anyway. And I won't care about post partum hip pain when I just need to get the baby out. So they think it's unrealistic, I'll likely end up on my back and injuring my hip anyway.

The alternative is C-section and I've heard so many horror stories about it, I'd like to avoid it. I don't know anyone in real life who has had a C section to talk about it. But AIBU to think I could give birth naturally in an alternative position? Or should I just accept I need a C-section?

DP is worried about my hip as I spent 8 months on codeine and intense physio after my hip injury to get me to a place where I could function again without too much daily pain.

FYI I'm not in the UK, I have an OB GYN who I am seeing throughout and she will be there at the birth. I'm seeing her next week but it would be useful to get some opinions before I go in.

OP posts:
Maray1967 · 13/04/2024 17:17

I’ve done vaginal after induction with second degree tear and c section- technically an emergency but it wasn’t really - it was recommended as the best option several hours earlier so was very calm and the staff were great. There are pros and cons to both, but I healed very well from my cs and would have had no problem having another if we’d had more DC.

I imagine it must be harder recovering from a cs if you have a toddler- my eldest was almost 8, so no lifting of an older child needed.

TipsyKoala · 13/04/2024 16:54

I can’t comment on birth positions as I had 2 CSs. First was emergency and although not traumatic I was exhausted after as I’d been in labour a long time, the recovery was also longer. Second was planned section and no issues at all. I recovered very quickly.

Mumaway · 13/04/2024 16:53

I have a long-standing labral tear and mild hip dysplasia. My whole life I had groin pain and struggled to abduct my hip,.couldn't sit cross legged etc
Epidural after 48hrs labour, one of the midwives shoved my hip into a position it had never been in my life. Obviously it wasn't painful because of the epidural. Next day, quite a lot of bruising. 10 years later, never had another twinge and my hip moves much more freely!

Penguinmouse · 13/04/2024 16:50

Alternative view: I had a planned section and found it a really positive process, whereas I have heard a lot of horror stories about vaginal births. Given your issues, I would really give consideration to an elective section - you may find you end up having an emergency one anyway regardless of your health issues so it’s worth keeping an open mind about options.

renthead · 13/04/2024 16:49

Can you contact Pelvic Partnership for advice and support?

https://pelvicpartnership.org.uk/get-support/get-help-and-support/]

Mumoftwo1312 · 13/04/2024 16:42

Cross posted with the comment above!

Mumoftwo1312 · 13/04/2024 16:41

Gently, yabu because everyone I know who has had an elective c section (including myself) would recommend it. If you want to avoid a horror story (your words) I think you have circumstances that would make a vaginal birth more horror story like

softslicedwhite · 13/04/2024 16:40

I've had two c sections, the scary sort you mention and an elective.

Scary one involved me labouring with back to back baby for 36 hours, whimpering in pain, failed epidural, projectile vomiting, foetal distress crash section.

Now I later had someone talk me through my notes and what should have really happened is that when the nurse noted the back to back and how little I had dilated they should have offered me a section on the basis of how my body was coping. But they didn't. So I ended up having major surgery after two days of no sleep and agony. Sub optimal.

Second I went in, had a nice nurse shave my bush, put on a gown and some compression socks on and joined the morning conveyor belt of electives. I was third on the list and my baby was born just after 11. By the afternoon I was installed in my cubicle eating McNugs.

Have the c section.