Sad, another miss-positioned baby

[Babieseverywhere]

First baby was OP (forceps delivery)

Second baby turned transverse during labour (c-section)

Now our third baby, who was OA and engaged last week, has turned OP and no longer engaged.

I am just so sad, so the last 24 hours of painful bracken hicks are likely to continue, not doing any good as the baby is in the wrong position to trigger labour. So just painful and tiring for no bloody reason.

Midwife is not expecting me to go into labour this week and is talking about a sweep next week when I will be 41 + 3. I am not having a sweep, I had one with first OP baby and it broke my waters and started a very slow stop/start labour which ended up with a hospital inducement because my waters had gone so many hours.

Yes, I know about birth balls (am sat on one) and crawling around on all fours. Nothing has helped. It looks like I am facing another crappy labour failure, assuming I actually get that far.

I can't get induced due to last c-section, I suppose they will be suggesting an elective c-section...joy.

Well, another few nights of no sleep due to bracken hicks and I suppose I will be past caring. I just have to let go of my dream of managing to give birth. I am clearly not destined to birth our babies.

On the bright side, only another week or two and we will meet our new baby. However she/he is dragged into the world.

I know it is easy for me to say but try not to be too downhearted. You are doing all the right things and it is not that usual that an OP baby does not turn in labour to OA anyway. The labour will probably be longer but hopefully no forceps this time. Have you considered reflexology and/or acupunture too.

By the way it is normal for a second and subsequent baby not to engage until labour begins.

My second baby was born OP. He never turned at all during labor and the labour was fine, I was the best of my three births by a long shot. 18 hours but only 4 of those were proper regular strong contractions and he went from 5cm to born in less than an hour. I had no pain relief and needed no stitching and left the hospital 12 hours later.

Have faith and be positive, OP doesn't necessarily mean a compete disaster and for a woman who's had previous vaginal births it's alot less of an issue than for a first time birth.

Oh hunny that's tough. If you want your baby to turn then on a practical level, get thee to a swimming pool. Did my DS the world of good, when he was OP.
However have you considered that in this instance baby might know best? I did everything I could to get my DS out of OP but in hindsight I think he was that way for a reason.
I didn't sit on a sofa for the last three weeks (idiot), only slept on the left side (idiot) and only sat on chairs tipped forward (idiot). You know what, he never di engage and he turned occipital transverse (is that what you mean when you say transverse)during labour, then got well and truly wedged and I ended up with an em-c section.
No one warned me he was big beforehand despite a monstrously huge tum that got called the comedy bump by my pregnancy yoga buddies but it turned out he was 98th centile for height and 9 lb 6 oz and I'm of a small build. I think by turning OP he was trying to get into the best position to fit through my now allegedly dodgily shaped small pelvis and I might have stopped him from doing that. If you honestly aren't the queen of slouch and yet your babies end up OP maybe they know something you don't. Apparently second OP labours are much, much easier.
Hugs and good luck.

Thanks ladies, I know it is not the end of the world. I just really wanted a decent attempt at childbirth this time and I am sad to see the odds stack against me again.

Plus my midwife is confident that I won't be in labour for another week or more and as I am now having painful fake contractions, it makes me want to cry. I really can't have a week of little sleep before I even start a mammoth countless hours of OP labour.

I am also worried how am I meant to know when this is/turns to proper labour. My husband working a 90 minute drive away from home, so I need some warning to get him back here. Will the fake contractions stop and real ones start, or will it fade from one to another ?

Both my sons were OA until I went into labour, they then went the wrong way round so I presented at hospital (4/5cm dilated) with them OP. I delivered them both normally as they continued to turn in labour. However DS2 (8lb 6 at birth with an arm up) was only born without interventions due to the skill of the midwife looking after me. She helped me change my position reguarly to help him move round. I couldn't have done it without her. I really hope you get someone with the same amount of knowledge and patience. My labours were not long, an OP labour need not be.. I went into hospital about 2hrs after I first realised I was in labour with both boys and deliverd 5 hrs after arrival in both cases.
Be prepared for it to be hard work by eating and drinking in the early stages (I wish I had done but the midwife picked up on my lack of energy and gave me Lucozade.)

Sorry I can't help with braxton hicks question, I only had a few so knew I was in labour when I started to want to thump people who asked if I was OK..

Good Luck, remember your midwife could be wrong and the baby might arrive today or tomorrow if you are lucky

Thanks for that, nice to know that OP labour does not have to equal a very long labour.

I am feeling quite a bit of pressure below, wonder if baby has moved or is settleing down again in whatever position he/she is in now. Baby is very active and wriggles around a lot.

oh poppet, have you looked at www.spinningbabies.co.uk and go and see a good acupuncturist or osteopath! They can do wonders!!!!
Do some inversions!

oops, www.spinningbabies.com

I wonder what benefit it has been to tell you that baby is OP? I have been a midwife for 26 years and I am still crap at positions sometimes. Your baby has plenty of time to turn - it may not be till labour has established but it certainly can turn or come out OP. Do not let this information make you feel downheartened. Take plenty of baths and paracetamol if it helps. Don't even contemplate labour before 42 weeks. It will creep up on you when you least expect it x

Good link daxibaby

Thanks Mears. I am feeling better now, than I was this morning. It was a different midwife last week who said I was engaged and OA (cheer) and my normal midwife who said not engaged and more OP.

So in theory either lady could be right ? I am getting strong kicks on my right hand side which is why I was hoping the baby was still OA.

Yes, I should not be even thinking about labour until 42 weeks and that is ages off yet. I was joking with friends that I only accept babies in August, and at 42 weeks he/she would be another August baby

Off to put my poor feet up for 5 minutes per your other post and will bother ask DH to put the water pool up for me tomorrow, so I can have a float on all fours and take the weight off for a while.

Babieseverywhere- I do have sympathy for you as my 1st was an OP baby but I just wanted to help you change your perspective a bit on what you are experiencing now i.e the braxton hicks and the 'fake' contractions. This link should make you feel a bit better as it describes what your body is doing right now and in no way is it a painful waste of time. Please have a read
warm up labour

That is a good link and I know Cassie well

my second baby was op. i went into labour spontaneously and he was born 6 hours later, he didn't turn during labour either

so OP doesn't necessarily mean a long labour or necessarily any intervention. ds2 was born at home

i hope things work out for you tho whatever happens. the main thing is that you get that baby!

Good idea BE - a good float around may well help braxton hicks settle for a while. Keep positive. Makes all the difference

Like the concept of warm up labour and I think I will aim for TIY 6 hour labour of an OP baby. (worth a try)

Absolutely

kicks on one side sounds promising doesn't it?

i had 2 big knees sticking out the front almost permanently from about 32 weeks onwards! and a big dip in the middle

hopefully your body is getting ready with all the BH. with my last baby I had similar, 24 hours of them, then nothing all the next day and then went into labour in the early hours of the morning!

i will keep my fingers crossed for you!!!

Yes kicks on one side is a very good sign. OP usually right in the middle