Face presentation!?

Dana&Pete

Found out at my appointment today that baby is presenting transverse face first. Doctor is recommending a c-section tomorrow. Does anyone have any experience with this? It is very rare, and I have no idea what to do. Was hoping for a natural birth but want to do what's best for baby. 

FyreFlyeRush

It means instead of having his head tucked into his chin so the point of his skull is coming out first, he's looking up and his face is presenting. Also called sunny side up. Babies can be born this way, but it's a long, hard labor for mom and baby. When baby present skull first, the bones shift and you get the cone head, making it easier for him to come out. If he presents face first, the bones can't shift. He'd be born with black eyes. I think also the direction he's pointing left is ok, but right they tend to get stuck. Even on spinning babies, it says you have a 50/50 shot of delivering by c section.  

Nicolewinsbingo

I have only read about it in my natural birth preparations, but the book I read said it was always cause for a C-section.  I would recommend posting this over on the Natural Birth board if you are hoping for any advice on how to avoid a C-section...

I'm sorry its looking like you might not get your natural birth, but I hope it all goes great tomorrow and your LO is as healthy as can be! 

fyziksgirl

As others have said, it means the baby's face would be born first instead of the top of the head. This is harder on mom and baby since moulding can't occur in the same way, but it is definitely possible! It's also possible that baby could change positions before birth. I, personally, wouldn't agree to a c-section for position at least until I went into labor and baby was still in that position. Might as well give baby all the time possible to adjust! This is not a dangerous presentation as far as early labor, so I think you'd be safe to at least wait that long, even if you decide on a c-section if baby stays face-first.

Here's a pic of a face-first birth, btw. Warning: graphic!

https://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2011/06/04/face-presentation-vaginal-birth/

gatogrrl

DD2 was just born this way.  It wasn't an easy delivery, let me tell you -- it took 2 hours of pushing -- but she was born vaginally.  It was not terribly painful once I got an epidural.  Her Apgar scores were 9 and 9, so she was no worse for the wear.