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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Baby got "stuck" at crowning. Anyone else?

31 replies

minipie · 10/09/2014 13:30

DD was born premature, at 34 weeks. She was obviously pretty small - just 4lb 15/2.25 kg. Shortish labour, natural birth, G&A only.

Despite being small however, she got stuck at the crowning stage. The top of her head went in and out for ages and I just couldn't push her out. In the end I asked for an episiotomy, got one and she then popped out pretty quickly.

I know this doesn't sound like a big deal but she really was stuck for ages and it had some nasty effects. She ended up with a ventouse-style swollen circle on her head, and a really squashed face (I know squashed faces are common but she was so squashed that the hospital tested her for chromosomal issues) oh and she was not breathing for 3-4 minutes after birth .

Now, I am pregnant again, and hoping that this one will go to term. But I'm scared - if a tiny 4lb 15 baby got stuck at the exit point, what is going to happen if I have a full size baby?? I was 8lb 10! I guess I should assume I'll need an episiotomy or have a big tear ? Should I use Epi-No or whatever it's called?

Has anyone else had this happen? What happened? If you had another child afterwards did you do anything differently?

Thanks

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iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 10/09/2014 13:33

My first child was like yours only nearly 9lb... Took 2 hours plus of pushing to get her out, bad tear, lots of stitches, she struggled breathing, and she was a cone head!

Second child was roughly the same weight, pushed for 12 minutes and no tearing at all, not even a graze

I dont think the weight makes much difference, without being crude it's a big thing coming out of a small hole!!

The second is almost always easier, don't let it put you off

DinoSnores · 10/09/2014 14:16

I needed an episiotomy with DC1 who was just under 8lbs but had his hand up beside his face.

DD2 was over 9lbs. I pushed for 5 minutes and had a tiny graze at the end.

squizita · 10/09/2014 14:18

FWIW I have been told (by people with more than 1 child) that smaller 1st child can be hard to birth because they aren't as heavy/forceful as a bigger one (to be blunt, a bigger one might give you a bit of a tear and come out, a smaller one can't do that), then they have a bigger one with no issues a couple of years after.

I'm about that because I'm expecting my 1st and she isn't massive, and has a relatively small head. I will mention to the midwife that if I struggle to crown I don't mind being cut, thanks for the warning.

Glad to hear your baby was OK albeit after a scary start!

Original poster

minipie · 10/09/2014 14:29

Thanks all that is very reassuring!

squizita I will definitely be saying that to the midwife second time round. I slightly think my midwife was reluctant to do an epi because she didn't like doing stitches (I heard her say so)

OP posts:

DinoSnores · 10/09/2014 14:35

Should also mention that I do have big-headed babies, generally greater than the 98th percentile, (Thankfully they do grow into them!), so even massive heads don't automatically mean problems.

Good luck! Hope all goes well this time.

vanillavelvet · 10/09/2014 14:38

My 2nd DD got stuck at crowning. (1st DD was caesarean due to being breech, so 2nd was first vaginal birth iyswim). But she was 9lbs 9.

Actually, they reckon that's WHY she got stuck (I'm not that big!!).

WaffleWiffle · 10/09/2014 14:39

Don't most people take a long time to deliver the head when crowning?

That is the longest bit of pushing, given that rest of the body is out in one or two pushes generally.

So when someone talks of spending 2 hours pushing (or whatever), that means 2 hours of babys head being pushed out a bit, then going back. Then being pushed out a bit more, and going back. And so on - for ages.

As long as babies heart rate isn't affected, I think this is normal and not a sign that the head is stuck.

biscuitsandbandages · 10/09/2014 14:42

My biggest baby was 6lb 14 and was a really easy birth. My first and 3rd were both about 5lb and much harder. A little bit of weight helps I think

Notso · 10/09/2014 15:06

DS1 (DC2) head was going in and out like this he was 9lb5oz and had his arm up near his head like superman.
Funnily enough it was the 'threat' of episiotomy that spurred me on to push him out, I was really tired. I didn't tear so was the right decision.
I think position can make a big difference.
DS2 was 9lb, had a bigger head and also had the superman arm but I was on my side and he came out in two pushes.
DS3 was 8lb 4 and shot out, I was on all fours.

Original poster

minipie · 10/09/2014 16:08

Thanks again, more encouraging stories. Sounds like I shouldn't worry too much...

vanilla so what happened with your DD2 - did you push her out in the end and did you have a cut/tear?

Waffle I guess you're right... DD's heart rate was affected though, they were saying she was in distress and had to come out. (And as demonstrated by the not breathing).

Also I thought the pushing stage included the whole time in the vaginal canal - so it starts when they exit the cervix iyswim and finishes when they hit fresh air! So only some of the pushing stage is crowning? But I may well be wrong on that.

Notso interesting about position. I had to stay on my back due to heart rate monitor not working in other positions, wouldn't have been my choice and I bet it didn't help. I was also very tired (shock of going into labour at 34 weeks I think!)

Also good to hear you didn't tear despite superman arm - I had somehow got the impression that hand near face always = tear or cut.

OP posts:

DinoSnores · 10/09/2014 16:39

The pushing bit is pushing the baby from beyond the cervix to being born, not the baby crowning. Two hours of just that would be awful!

Zara8 · 10/09/2014 16:42

I had this with DS. He was 7lb4oz. In out in out for 45 mins, DH said you could see the top of his head but he kept slipping back. I wish I had had an episiotomy as eventually he came out by me just splitting an inch in each direction when midwife yelled at me told me I had 5 mins to get him out or they would have to get a doctor to use instruments. I had a tear up to my cervix.

Gynae and midwives reassure me that second usually comes out easier as the first is the one that does all the damage

We'll see... I'm due DC2 in 5 weeks.

WhispersOfWickedness · 10/09/2014 16:51

Hmm, ok, let's try and find a nice way to put this....
You know when you blow a balloon up, it's quite hard work? If you let the air out, it goes back to the same size, but is a LOT easier to blow up the next time, because the fibres of the balloon have been stretched, IYSWIM?
Wellll.... That balloon is your vagina Seriously, if you have already pushed a baby out, it is so much 'easier' and lots quicker. My DC1 took 90 minutes to push out. DC2 took 4 minutes

Original poster

minipie · 10/09/2014 16:56

Whispers

I must admit I have refrained from asking DH whether all seems the same down there!

Zara ouch. Hope you are ok now and best of luck with birth 2!

OP posts:

Notso · 10/09/2014 16:56

I had to stay on my back with DS1 minipie the midwife was quite old fashioned (DS1 was her last birth before retiring) I was high risk so had to be monitored throughout.

With DS2 I was only with a midwife for 20 mins before he was born and about 15 of that was trying to answer a million questions through contractions she tried to get me to lie on my back but I point blank refused as had SPD and then she realised I was pushing and he was born.

Most of my labour was spent walking around, I was buying extra maternity pads as I'd used all mine up soaking up my waters in boots 40 minutes before I gave birth. With DS1 and DD (DC1) I laboured in bed on the monitor and the labours were significantly longer.

I don't know if it made any difference at all but I did perineal massage in all my pregnancies and I didn't have any stitches.

WaffleWiffle · 10/09/2014 17:01

I must admit I have refrained from asking DH whether all seems the same down there!

I asked my dh, and wish I hadn't.

The word "slack" was used

DinoSnores · 10/09/2014 17:37

Ouch, waffle. That seems a bit harsh.

5madthings · 10/09/2014 17:47

I had this with ds1, three hours of pushing and eventually an episiotomy.

My next four were all MUCH easier and no need for an episiotomy. First baby was 8lb 7oz, the next three were over 9lbs, ds4 was 10lb 13oz and his was the easiest birth!

Then had dd who was 8lb exactly and back to back, she was slightly harder to push out due to her position but it was still fine.

I think a bigger baby helps and the position you are in, I found kneeling up really good.

IHeartLockhart · 10/09/2014 17:50

Would you be up for trying a water birth? You're less likely to tear with a water birth.

5madthings · 10/09/2014 18:05

Yes I had my ds4 the big almost 11lb baby in birth pool, it was my best birth :) am sure being in the pool helped with his size. Also he had a huge head off the top of the percentile chart, 42?cm.

Original poster

minipie · 10/09/2014 18:09

Heart yes I'd like a waterbirth but depends on being low risk so you never know.

... and that's why I haven't asked Waffle!

Notso I hated being talked to during contractions. Luckily I had one quiet midwife but the person who spelled her during a break would Not. Stop. Talking and I nearly killed her.

OP posts:

Acorncat · 10/09/2014 18:29

I tried to have a water birth but also got stuck just before the crowning stage - so demoralising when they just keep getting sucked back in! Baby was also getting distressed so had to get out of pool and episiotomy. A couple of big pushes on my back after that and he was out, much easier once cut was done. As much as the pool was great for pain relief it slowed things down so much that I think I would have been better staying out of it.

PicandMinx · 10/09/2014 19:52

I'm by the way some of you have been threatened by a MW with instruments or an episiotomy.

vanillavelvet · 10/09/2014 19:58

I had an episiotomy in the end. She wasn't for coming out without help!!

3 years ago now and it's all a distant memory. I'd do it again tomorrow (funny how you forget the nitty gritty of it all, eh?), but DH says no to any more babies!

Incidentally, up until DD2 started getting distressed I was in a birthing pool. I liked it.

Zara8 · 10/09/2014 20:52

Hmmm yes I am just grateful I had an epidural at the time. It fucking hurt when it happened and I knew I'd torn even though I couldn't feel much below my boobs - god knows how bad it would've been if I hadn't had the epi!!!

In fairness Picandmix the MW had told me in advance that I had only 1 hour max to get DS out on my own as there was meconium in the waters and his heartrate was occasionally going a bit funny. I was definitely flagging and wasn't surprised she did the drill sargeant midwife thing on me (I had been warned in advance by community midwives of this happening in the delivery suite, so it wasn't too distressing although I just felt fed up and awful)... DH said the surprised look on her face when I split suggested to him she didn't think I was going to tear.

Fanjo is definitely errrr larger since DS. So I think unless baby is in less optimal position or is huge then it will be easier to push this time. I hope. Ugh.

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