For anyone who has experienced a Direct Occipito Posterior birth

[MiniMarmite]

I've just (well, 10 days ago) given birth to my beautiful DS2.

Both DSs were born in the direct OP position but were in an OA position when my waters broke. Both labours required augmentation (syntocinon) as my waters broke but labour did not establish within 36 hours (so considered an infection risk). DS1 was delivered via ventouse with no pain relief. I was keen to avoid this for DS2 but did not want to have an epidural and, thankfully, my very experienced midwife helped me to give birth without intervention using entonox and meptid.

Despite this I am still trying to come to terms with a second Direct OP delivery/augmentation having been told that the chances of it happening a second time were small - I'm now told it is just the way I am built!

My Mum sent this article to me and I have found that it really resonates with me so it might help someone else too.

I'm also interested to hear if others have had more than one Direct OP birth and whether this has influences their decision to have more children or not.

i found this article really interesting because i think many women are being scraed out of getting the birthing experience they want.

Great link thanks.

Thank you so much!!!!! for this link. I am 40+6 wks pg with and baby has been OP for most of the last 4 weeks (he did turn around for a few days but turned back again about 10 days ago).

I'm planning a VBAC but the baby's position has totally freaked me out. My sister had an awful first birth in July, and her baby was OP. She faced a "cascade of interventions" culminating in EMCS that went badly. To be honest though I don't think she could have managed without the epidural - she was still 3cm after 48 hours of labour and utterly exhausted. She was already tired at the start of the labour having had several false starts. The author of the article might just see that as "different" but I can't imagine how my sis could have pushed the baby out without getting some sleep first, and the epidural was the only way that was going to happen!

Although having read the article I still do think OP position can be a problem if it means the labour is much longer than normal, I just feel so much better being able to picture the baby turning. Also understanding that the baby's position isn't my fault is immensely helpful. I have been exhausting myself crawling round on the floor and marching up hills, trying to get the baby to turn. Now I'm just going to be kind to myself and focus on getting lots of sleep and food before the big day. I feel so much better. Thank you OP!

In answer to your question about other posters, my first baby was a brow presentation - back in normal place but his head flexed back so he was trying to come out forehead first. When I finally had EMCS after epidural and syntocin drip, the cord was wound several times round his neck and body preventing him from shifting from that position. HIs position had a similar effect on the labour to an OP position. I have no idea if there is any coincidence between the position of my 2 DSs.

Congrats on your DS2 OP! Hope to join you soon!

Also in answer to your question, I can't imagine the baby's position affecting my decision to have more children! But it has made me decide to go for ELCS rather than induction if the baby doesn't come by 14 days late.

Great article, thks. Described my labour pattern exactly. Why isn't this common knowledge & accepted wisdom?

I haven;t had a chance to read the article but congratulations on the birth of your baby.

All three of my babies were OP at the start of labour. All three with natural, spontaneous births with no drugs , and supportive midwives.

I spent the whole of the 13 hour labour with dd1 on my hands and knees and she turned just before birth.

With dd2, I had a home water birth, after a two day stop start labour, at the end of it she didn't turn and the midwife turned her. It was very painful but she came out fine,; cord twice around her neck but again that wasn't a problem.

These 'complications' did not put me off having a second home water birth and ds was born again after a stop start labour. True labour was just 6 hours or so and I was on my hands and knees and he came out with no problem.

Please don't let it put you off having another birth.

Hi All

Sorry, took me a while to come back - thanks for all your responses.

A few weeks later and I'm starting to feel more like it wouldn't put more off having more children - I think it was all a bit raw at the time!

Hi Mini

so glad you are feeling better about it all.

just to update you - ds2 did turn to an roa position the week before the birth, but i still hadn't gone into labour at 11 days late. the hospital wanted to induce me (it was a friday), i had planned to resist until at least monday but in the end went for an elcs. a glorious decision. if i'd had any idea how easy it would be i would have chosen it in a heartbeat. i'm much more mobile than after my emcs with ds1 and full of energy for my lovely boys.

i'm sure after successfully pushing out 2 babies there wouldn't really be any reason for you to make the same choice, but if you were too traumatised to consider childbirth again i could definitely recommend an elcs as preferable to not having a baby at all! it vreally was a lovely experience, so peaceful compared with last time. i'd say roll on dc3 if it weren't for the whole pregnancy lark that comes first! now that i@m not sure i could face again...

Congratulations! Glad the elcs worked well for you and hope you are enjoying lots of lovely newborn cuddles.