Does/Did anyone have Left Occipito Posterior Position

[jaabaar]

Hi,

I am 38+5 and yesterday was told that position is Left Occipito POSTERIOR position.
I have read that (if it does not change by time you give birth) it prolongs birth, prolongs pushing time and can cause more severe tears and forceps and ventous to be used for chainging first position and then asst birth! Sometimes C-section is advised.

I would prefer in this case c-section as it seems less complications are invovled in comparison. Can I ask for a c-section or have to take the decision given to me??

I would much appreciate your opinions as I have a US scan with consultant at lunch time.

Thank you very much.

G

All of my 3 babies were posterior; two turned in the birth canal and were born very easily; and my middle child didn't turn so easily but was still a natural birth - home water birth.

Just needed a couple of stitches with each birth; no forceps, no ventouse, no episiostomy needed. All births were average length or a bit faster then average. Recovery far faster then a c-section in comparison to my friends who have had c-sections!

Please try not to worry.

Mobility before and during labour will help get your baby into a good position - eg; rock on your hands and knees when the baby is awake. I spent most of my labours on my hands and knees and this will help turn the baby.

A water birth can help with your mobility during labour.

Hi Belgo,

THakn you for sharing your experience!

Do you think it was not too complicated because they turned in the birth canal (two turned easiy and one not so easy but all turned?)

Also my baby is assumed to be 10 pounds and i have also a bit of high blood pressure (not VERY high but midwife was not happy with it)

G

jaabaar - that's the point I am trying to make, most babies will turn in the birth canal - because the birth process itself turns the baby - a bit like a screw. Like you, my babies were posterior during pregnancy and they turned during the birth - that is exactly what you want to happen!

My middle baby was manually turned by the midwife just before birth. She was also the smallest baby at just 7 pounds, but the hardest birth.

My largest baby at 8 and a half pounds was the easiest to birth. But don't worry too much about the size predictions of your baby - they are often inaccurate.

My blood pressure was also a bit high at the end of pregnancy - 150/90 at it's highest - fortunately it didn't get any higher and wasn't a problem.

My dc1 was LOP - she was actually anterior until I went into labour and then turned!

It was a long labour and I needed a couple of hours of augmentation but in the end she was born vaginally with a little pull from a ventouse - 9lb12oz! I had a small tear but was up and about within hours and fine after that. I didn't have an epidural, just some diamorphine and then plently gas&air. I kept mobile and on my hands and knees as much as possible.

It wasn't exactly the most pleasant 40ish hours of my life but it passed and then I had a fabby baby. I'm so glad there was no CS - though it was suggested towards the end as I was so tired, which just spurred me on as I so didn't want that!

I've never heard of anyone offered an elective CS for OP position, for some other malpositions like transverse lie yes, but not for OP when it can easily turn or be born even when OP.

All the best - I hope that baby turns for you and that you can have the birth you want.

Interestingly my worst tear (with dc3) was my smallest baby (7lb13) and fastest, easiest labour! She was anterior and small and came out so fast I ended up having to have a theatre repair!

My ds and dd2 were both posterior at the onset of labour... both turned during. Both were quick, easy births with no stitches.
ds (2hr50min active labour)14 days overdue 10lb6oz,
dd2 (1hr30min active labour)2 days overdue 9lb.
dd1 was my hardest birth and smallest baby, ventouse, episiotomy etc and she was not posterior! (3 days overdue, 8lb4oz)

Have you tried optimal fetal positioning?

All mine were OP, all were delivered without use of forceps, ventouse, episiotomy and with just gas and air (sort of, had pethadine with DS2 but it was given too late so didn't kick in until after DS2 had come out. Asleep!). Not all OP births are horrendous or exceptionally painful.

They were all overdue though, and all gave me rotten backache. Labours weren't too long either (12, 4 and 5 hours), not small babies either (9lb2, 8lb13, 9lb10)

Both of mine were posterior, DD was born posterior at 8lb 4 with a 2nd degree tear. Despite DS being 9lb 6oz I only had a tiny 1st degree tear down the line of the original tear with DD. He turned in the last hour of labour.
Both labours I found very manageable, with both there was a very long latent stage (15hours +) with little dilation and mildish contractions-equivalent to strong period pains. Then dilation happened very quickly- less than an hour from 5cm to delivery with DS. Pushing time with both was timed at 3 minutes.
Mobility in labour helped, I had a TENs and walked around with it, leaning over when a contraction hit. DD turned anterior to posterior in labour when the midwife told me to lie down on my back on the bed and then kept me there so I made sure not to stay lying down with DS. Gym ball helped too.