VBAC with a back to back baby, WWYD?

[TripleRock]

I had a tough time with my first labour, DD engaged in OP presentation, was OP during my 3 day labour and to cut a very long story short she was delivered by crash section at 6/7cm for fetal distress. Cord was round her neck once or twice (notes differ) and the cord being compressed was causing the problems. My notes don't say whether she was still OP by the time she was delivered.

I am currently 38+3 with my second pregnancy and have been planning a VBAC, particularly after presentation scan 2 weeks ago showed this baby in an optimal position.

However, I have just been told the news that this baby has flipped OP/back to back. Not yet engaged.

I have gone ahead and booked an ELCS for 41+1 and will be given a CS on request if I go into labour sooner.

But reading all the blurb they have given me about CS, spinal etc has freaked me out. In my heart of hearts it's just not what I want at all.

I find myself hoping that baby comes before my ELCS so I can see what happens and maybe VBAC regardless.

But am I mad to be even entertaining the idea of a VBAC with an OP presentation given what we all went through last time?

WWYD, I feel like I need a slap with a cold wet fish.

Hi. I had a VBAC with both my OP pregnancies. First was horrific, second was a breeze - only 7 hours from start to finish. I had the epidural when I was about 5cm even though the pain was manageable.

I can't speak for VBAC as I only have had one and it turned out as I turned up for my induction that he was back to back - obviously, I have nothing to compare just how difficult it was but I had really, really wanted as natural a child birth as was possible to have after a failed induction.

Why don't you try VBAC and then if not working for you go to CS. Go with your gut and remember to be flexible - there really are no prizes for enduring too much pain.

Sorry, half my message disappeared. What I meant to say was that I wanted to go for as natural delivery as was possible but in the end the induction failed and I had a CS.

I had a successful vbac 6 weeks ago. He was back to back all the way through and then turned at some stage between 4-10 cm.

Laboured entirely on all fours.

Most exhilarating experience of my life that I would weirdly repeat again!

Good luck

As the previous poster said, labour on all fours (or in an optimal position for turning).

Contractions are very good at turning babies, but you have to be in a position that allows it.

AS SOON as you start to have contractions go and relax in a bath, lying on your front, head on a towel (ipad on the edge safely so you can distract yourself by having a live birth thread). You can either have the shower or someone pouring water over your lower back if needed.

When that is no longer enough get the TENS on and remain either on all fours or on your knees leaning over the sofa/bed or something that enables you to remain in that position.

I had first labour short but turned out baby was pretty much back to back and the pressure on my back was awful. I suffered with lower back pain for a long time. Had section second time round, much better.

By the way - I had been on my knees scrubbing floors due to house renovation for THREE WEEKS before labour, during labour i was active, moving, on a ball,on all fours etc.

I tried a lot of all fours in the early stages with DD but found it hard to get comfortable. I was trying to sleep between contractions on all 4s over an upturned cardboard box in my bed. Tried leaning over my birthing ball in the bath with the shower playing on my back, but again so uncomfortable...

I guess that time she was already engaged during late pregnancy. Plus they broke my waters at 5cm, by whichtime I was labouring on my back with turning to my left hand side with each dedeceleration. So not optimal for turning at all :( but all for good reasons based on the sticky situation at the time.

I'm just worried that this is how I carry babies... Placenta is anterior again, plus I'm very short bodied and carry my bumps massive and all out front (consultant kindly described bump as 'pendulous' )

Don't want a repeat of my last awful experience. Apart from the pain and distress caused to me, it felt like it was touch and go for DD. Would rather opt for ELCS over EMCS of course.

Feel like this has thrown all my previous decisions and birth plan completely up in the air.

DH wanted to ring his parents and tell him the date of the ELCS but I wouldn't let him . I think I'm in denial.

Without insulting you, this time you're a lot more.....baggy!

Well quite!

Plus I have waters intact and baby's head unengaged in my favour.

So dispiriting when I haven't dared slouch my whole pregnancy, have been on my ball every night, knees lower than hips even though my cankles are MASSIVE, slept on my lhs and basically put a lot of effort into getting a good position to work with for a VBAC only for the little monkey to do a 180 at what feels like the 11th hour. Sigh!

Seeing MW again on Friday so will hope for different news then. Won't see consultant again until the pre-op. Hopefully it won't come to that and baby will have flown out with ease by then!

I had a successful VBAC with a back to back baby. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad I decided to try it. My situation was different to yours though as I hadn't even had a trial of labour for my first as she was as an elective section due to breech position. Pain wise it wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I did opt for an epidural once they decided to give me a drip to speed things up. I was in labour for 18 hours which didnt seem too bad for what was effectively a first birth.

How would you feel if you ended up having to have a cs again if it didn't work out? My feeling was that it was worth giving it a go as I was keen to avoid another cs.

I had a VBAC water birth at home. Baby over a week late, so I booked reflexology to induce labour - which started a few hours before the appointment. Not sure if the reflexology made any difference but birth was fabulous (not pain free - but recovery AMAZING compared to ELCS). The therapist knew where to press to stimulate the baby getting into position. Worth a go?

Whilst I didn't labour first time due to baby being breech, I would also like to offer words of encouragement.

I did a short active birthing course which really helped me mentally prepare - esp once I knew baby was back to back. Yes it was bloody uncomfortable in early labour but I opted for some pethadine (which didn't actually take affect as I went from 4-10cm in 45 mins!) to take the edge off.

Recovery has been a zillion times better which I've appreciated with a toddler in tow.

Always your decision though and just make sure it's what is best for YOU x

Thanks everyone. I feel much better now I've had chance to mull it over.

My MW showed me a model pelvis today which helped me understand it is easier to turn once the baby's head has decended past the pelvic brim into the cavity.

Tempted now to go for it with a vbac, my notes state my preference for cs for b2b presentation which is signed by my consultant as well as a speedy section on any ctg trace abnormality. So I feel like I have all my options open if I decide to vbac/cs on the day

My first labour was very much like yours - but with an EMCS rather than a crash section at the end. It was a horrible and frightening experience for reasons I won't bore you with - but the upshot was that I was committed to trying for a home VBAC from the very beginning of my 2nd pregnancy. When the midwife informed me during labour that that 2nd baby was OP, my heart sank. I had been doing hypnobirthing (a CD specific to VBAC), which I honestly hadn't thought was doing anything, but I do believe it kicked in then and kept me relaxed and focussed on believing I could manage a VBAC. I was on all fours from that point on - mostly on my knees in a birth pool with my upper body draped over the side. I actually felt the baby turn as she descended, and she was born after only 5 hours of labour (vs 52 unsuccessful hours the first time). 5 years later, it is still the most amazing experience of my life, and one that I am incredibly glad I had the chance to experience.

Home VBAC is obviously not for everyone, and I'm not suggesting it for you but I would very highly recommend VBAC hypnobirthing and a birth pool.

Whatever you choose, I wish you a happy birth experience.

I haven't had a VBAC, just 2 vaginal births, second of which was back-to-back 9Lb 1oz.

Honestly it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be... Just used gas & air, and focused focused focused on breathing.

My tip is to believe you can do it, and trust in the midwives who are there with you.

I was (and am) a bit of a hippy and focused on breathing in through my nose for 3 seconds and out through my mouth for 4. Focus on counting through the contractions.

Also (and even more hippy) is that during each contraction I thought of my cervix as a flower opening.... a very very sore flower, but a flower nonetheless

The hospital I was in had a modern birthing stool which I made use of and I stood for a lot of the labour too as gravity really is your friend when you have a back-to-back baby.

Good luck!

What needless says - although I'm not a hippy at all. Breathing really is key and everything became too much only when I lost it re breathing.

You sound similar to me OP in that understanding what was going on really helped me, in a scientific way. And also knowing that remaining calm would speed things up, which did help when I felt everything getting on top of me.

Please keep us posted on how it all goes, I have got everything crossed for you x

UPDATE: 39 weeks today and baby is now LOA

Clever baby :)