Posterior Baby

[LizaM]

Hi there,

I'm nearly 39 weeks pregnant and was told this week that my baby is 3/5 engaged and back to back.

The midwife really scared my saying that I am to be prepared for a much longer, emotional and painful labour.

What are the chances of me having a normal delivery as I've heard quite a few of the cases the baby is born by c-section??

I'm really working myself up about this as it is my first baby and my midwife wasn't really helpful.

Any advice welcomes!!

x

my 2nd baby was back to back and i was told i would be a more difficult labour and it wasn't, from my waters breaking to giving birth was an hour and a half, he was back to back all thru labour then turned as he was coming out, it was much easier than 1st labour

PLEASE don't worry too much.

DS1 was back-to-back - he took just under 12 hours to be born from first sign of labour to baby in arms. Only the last couple of hours were very strong labour though.

My back was sore, but with massage from the midwives and DH, it was totally bearable.

He was born in the water with no other pain relief, so it is definitely do-able.

Try some optimal foetal positioning techniques (on all fours, don't sit with feet higher than hips) and good luck!

positive thread about OP birth

nice of the midwife to make it sound so horrendous ! yes, your back will hurt, your labour might be longer, but no reason that you cannot deliver vaginally...upright, active, not on your back !

spinning babies good tips here too !

you;ll be ok, my 3/5 engaged, OP baby turned and was born vaginally, so i know it can be done

My first baby was also posterior, and the hardest part of the labour for me was the back pain through the contractions. I think my labour was about fifteen hours from start to finish, but the first ten hours or so it was completely bearable and I just took paracetamol at home. She was eventually delivered by ventouse as she didn't turn, but my midwife says that the majority of babies in this position turn either natuarally or with a little help from the midwife/doctor as labour progresses.

My second was. I had a 2 1/2 hour labour!

My first was OP and didn't turn in labour - he came out without intervention
Labour was fairly long.
Just had my 2nd who was not OP but turned that way for exit. Again a long labour but I think my body is just slow!

theblonde! congratulations..did i miss the birth announcement?

Thanks lulumama - haven't done a birth announcement as she's still nameless

oh ! congratulations on the birth of babyTheBlonde , hope all went well xx

My first was OP. It was a long labour and very painful, I couldn't lay down, I did have an epidural for the last 4hrs or so for sheer exhaustion. BUT ds did not turn and was born facing the wrong way, I needed no intervention though and pushed him out with 2 pushes.

Good Luck xxx

Hi , my second baby was OP . It wasn't that painful . It did last 13 hours but he was also 10 lbs . Also , remember the baby can turn during labour ( in early stages or later ) . IMO , labour is another confidence trick . Don't play scenarios like CS or gruelling painful labour etc . Your body has its own pain threshold , your baby is unique , you are unique . Don't let a midwife persuade you that you can't do it because it can easily become a self fullfilling prophecy . (1) Get down on your hands and knees and wiggle your bum to try and persuade the baby to move (2)During labour move i.e. walk , stand and sway your hips from side to side , use a birthing ball .

I also had a ten pounder who came down and out OP.
Painful, but mercifully short. Natural, born just about where I'm sitting right now with no pain relief and no intervention.

These labours are really all different. The contractions can do lots of turning and positioning before they even kick in properly. I think your MW was unwise to issue this warning.

If I were you I'd keep nice and active in labour for as long as you can and try to stay upright. I have home births because I don't like being wired up to monitors or having my movements (and my loud noises!!) restricted in any way. I feel this really helps with positioning.

I had a good old dance through this labour and two really good MWs who manouvered me around during contractions to get me in the most open position. (I was standing up at the time and they were like furniture removers looking at each other, waiting for my contraction, and going "OK one, two, three and HUP!")

All the best with your labour and try not to let the unhelpful scare stories in.

BTW my OP labour was out in five hours, which is my shortest of 4.

I wouldn't worry too much about what position the baby is currently in. I was very smug as DD2 had been in perfect position from 30 weeks. However, she turned OP during first stages of labour and stayed that way until she was practically out. You never can tell what they are going to do!!

My OP labour was a bit of a nightmare as the uncooperative little, um, 'love' never did turn. The hardest part was having no break from the pain (in fact, I did not feel pain from the contractions at all during the last 10 hours or so, just the extreme back pain, which faded only slightly between contractions). No amount of walking/wiggling/bathing/yoga helped. After 2 and a half hours of pushing, and a little help from ventouse/forceps, the little guy finally came out, stargazing to boot.

That said, don't panic. If it is truly awful (and it might be just fine), just ask for the pain relief you need. I mean, it wasn't fun, and I really hope number 2 is willing to be more helpful in her positioning, but you'll get through one way or the other and have a lovely, if stubborn, child to show for it!

Thanks everyone for your messages of support. Fingers crossed everything goes ok on the day!!