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Any luck with an OP baby?

CMBCMB
in VBAC

I'm officially one day overdue. I had a midwife appointment today. My midwife was hoping I'd be ready for a stretch and sweep before my scheduled repeat cesarean on Wednesday. I didn't have high hopes going into the appointment because not much has changed from my appointment last Tuesday.

I have been feeling some pain in my lower back, off and on, but that was all. It turns out that dull ache in my low back is related to the baby's new current position. He has turned OP, which stands for occiput posterior. That means the baby is lying spine-to-spine facing outward, also known as sunny-side-up. My midwife thinks the baby is having a hard time descending into my small pelvis, which is what happened with my daughter's birth, and that's why he has spun around, trying to find his way. She said my cervix is soft and in the right position, but without some pressure from the baby, my cervix hasn't been able to thin out and get things going. My cervix is still too long, she said

This sounds a lot my experience with my daughter. After reading online a bit, I'm not sure I want to go into labour with an OP baby. Apparently, an OP birth is more difficult and prone to interventions (longer pushing, need for oxytocin which I can't have, forceps, vacuum, c-section) and complications for the mother and baby (episiotomy, tearing, hemorrhaging, low Apgar scores, and time in the nicu) so knowing all of that, I'm more happily embracing my repeat c-section, which is scheduled this Wednesday afternoon.

I'm sad that I won't likely have a VBAC though, unless he decides to come early. I was told that I would pretty much have to have a perfect labor to have a VBAC, and OP doesn't seem to set me up for a perfect labor, if it needs interventions and will take too long and put the baby in distress.

Cara, married 05.14.05 Leyla Marie, born 01.11.07 Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
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Re: Any luck with an OP baby?

  • stepht514stepht514
    Check out spinningbabies.com this might help some. I really hope things work out for you. GL!
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  • TwizzleTwizzle member
    Babies can still shift into a better OA position after labor has started.  I agree with pp that you should try some spinning babies techniques and maybe see if a chiropractor can help you with an adjustment to get baby in a better spot.
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  • penguingrrlpenguingrrl member
    Both of mine were OP. For the first that ended in a C. I did successfully VBAC an OP the second time. It took 3 hours of pushing, forceps and I did have a second degree tear. My OB spent a lot of time working and was able to get her into a position she could descend. I also was induced with pitocin due to high blood pressure and trace amounts of protein in my urine (I had had mild pre-e with my first). The nurses commented that they had never seen a doctor spend so much time in a single patient's room as my OB did, but she was determined to let me VBAC. I'm trying for another VBAC in February and really hoping this time the baby will be in a better position!
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  • annabelle.27annabelle.27 member
    I had a c-section with my first, who was OP, after three hours of pushing. My second baby kept lining up OP as well and a friend convinced me to see a chiropractor. I was skeptical to say the least but at the appt, the chiro pinpointed the spot of an old injury in my sciatic joint immediately (without me telling her about it) and felt that that was causing my babies to sit abnormally in my pelvis. She did certain stretches with me and dug her fingers into certain tendons in my pelvic area (she didn't even do any "popping" or regular chiro "adjustments" because she could tell I was uncomfortable) and the baby moved into OA almost immediately after (literally, within minutes). I ended up having an uncomplicated, 2 hour labour from start to finish with my vbac baby. I credit the chiro.
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  • Jen524Jen524 member

    Both my babies were OP.  First was a section because her heart rate would stay down while pushing.  Second baby was VBAC even though she was also OP.  I pushed for an hour and a half, needed forceps, and had a second degree tear.  She was also 2 pounds heavier than my first.  It was worth it and recovery was a lot easier than the section. 

    My labor with DD2 actually moved along pretty fast even though she was OP.  I got to the hospital at 6 cm after staying at home with early contractions for 7 hours.  Got checked in at 2:30, epi by 4:00 where I was at an 8 started pushing at 6:45 after waiting about 20 minutes to see if she would move down.  Had her at 8:13.  Her position didn't slow down labor.

    I was 1 day before my due date with her. 

    BFP #1 7/1/2009 ~ EDD 3/9/2010 ~ Ella Adeline (7lbs 4 oz, 19.5 inches) 3/5/2010 csection (39w3d)
    BFP #2 7/13/2011 ~ EDD 3/16/2012 ~Aubree Olivia (9lbs 1oz, 21 inches) 3/15/2012 VBAC (39w6d)
    BFP #3 5/15/2014 ~ EDD 1/16/2015~Addison Isabelle (9lbs, 0oz, 21 inches) 1/25/2015 2VBAC (41w2d)
    BFP #4 7/20/2016 ~ EDD 3/25/2017 ~ Malachi Mathew (10lbs 0oz, 22 inches) 4/4/2017 emergency csection (41w3d)


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