VBACing with a posterior baby?

kelly321 · February 2013

I was talking with a friend yesterday, and her first DD was posterior, got stuck, and ended up as a c/s. She VBACed with her 2nd, and while we were talking yesterday she said she couldn't imagine trying to VBAC with a posterior baby because that labor was so much more difficult.

Fast forward to a few hours later, and my BP is above the limit (it was 150/90 and I have a history of pre-e/HELLP) for almost an hour, so I had to go in to L&D. Thankfully everything except the BP is fine, and they did an u/s where the dr told me LO is posterior. So that got me a little worried.

Have any of you VBACed with a posterior baby? Have you heard of that being a complication that makes VBACs more difficult or increases the risk of rupture? If my BP doesn't get better, we might need to induce, and the thought of attempting a VBAC induction with a posterior baby kind of freaks me out, TBH. Any words of support would be appreciated!

holly321 · February 2013

I just wanted to add to what pp said, that when they are posterior, that can easily change. I thought DS was posterior, so I was doing some research, apparently they can easily move out of that position. Also, I think there are two posterior positions, one with chin tucked, the other with out ( I think I am remembering correctly) one is much better for delivery.

kelly321 · February 2013

holly321:
I just wanted to add to what pp said, that when they are posterior, that can easily change. I thought DS was posterior, so I was doing some research, apparently they can easily move out of that position. Also, I think there are two posterior positions, one with chin tucked, the other with out ( I think I am remembering correctly) one is much better for delivery.

I think I remember my friend saying that her posterior baby did not have her chin tucked, which is what caused her to get stuck. The OB at L&D also said LO could turn when labor starts, I just think - I'd like to know whether she does before she ends up getting stuck and I need an emergency RCS!

penguingrrl · February 2013

Both of my girls were posterior and I was able to VBAC DD2. I won't lie, it was a difficult delivery. My OB was able to turn and guide her enough to get though, which definitely takes a highly skilled practitioner. I ended up pushing for 3 hours and needing forceps assistance, but she arrived safely and I'm attempting another VBAC with this baby.

nosoup4u · February 2013

Just because your baby is posterior now doesn't mean it will be for your whole labor. A decent percentage of babies turn anterior during labor.

iris427 · February 2013

nosoup4u:
Just because your baby is posterior now doesn't mean it will be for your whole labor. A decent percentage of babies turn anterior during labor.

Yep they have found that like 95 of babies will turn anterior on their own. I was concerned about an OP baby for my VBAC and my OB's response was "eh, if he's posterior, I'll just turn him with forceps.". My son was posterior at my prenatal appointment about 24 hours before he was born. At some point he turned because he was anterior when I had my VBAC. And people do deliver OP babies vaginally. I think it helps if you have a provider who is willing to work with you turn the baby, let you try different positions, etc. instead of just doing a section at the first sign of slow descent.

preg_amy · February 2013

My VBAC baby wasn't posterior, but he was in there funny. I don't know the exact term for his position. But he was facing my right leg, and his head was in there crooked. He was in there pretty good, as he was at 0 position for a week or so. So I wasn't able to turn him, but I did manage to push him out like that. I had a long labor and pushing stage, but I had my VBAC and it all worked out.

It helped that I had VERY patient healthcare providers.

kelly321 · February 2013

iris427:
nosoup4u:
Just because your baby is posterior now doesn't mean it will be for your whole labor. A decent percentage of babies turn anterior during labor.
Yep they have found that like 95 of babies will turn anterior on their own. I was concerned about an OP baby for my VBAC and my OB's response was "eh, if he's posterior, I'll just turn him with forceps.". My son was posterior at my prenatal appointment about 24 hours before he was born. At some point he turned because he was anterior when I had my VBAC. And people do deliver OP babies vaginally. I think it helps if you have a provider who is willing to work with you turn the baby, let you try different positions, etc. instead of just doing a section at the first sign of slow descent.

Ok, that's good to know that 95% will turn on their own! I mentioned on the NB board with my Cytotec question that I have no influence over the MW / OB I'll have when delivering since it's whoever is on duty at the hospital when I'm in labor, but in general my hospital is VBAC-friendly (that's the default option, although you can choose a RCS if you want), and when I was in L&D on the weekend for high BP, the OB who told me LO is posterior didn't say anything about that affecting my decision for a VBAC, so I would assume they don't care. And they're very big on different positions during birth (every room has a tub, chair, ball, they encourage being on all fours, etc), so hopefully even if this LO doesn't turn on her own we can try different positions during labor.

af2004rn · February 2013

My DS was a VBAC. He was posterior and didn't turn until I started pushing and roated him self during my 2 pushes. I have nothing but a c/section to compare my birth to, but would gladly take a posterior VBAC over a repeat C/S.

A37licia · February 2013

Posterior babies CAN make for longer labors, regardless if you have a uterine scar or not. It's not the ideal position for labor, but many posterior babies are born safely, and often, the mom needs good support!

That said, many times babies will turn to anterior when labor starts.

There are ways to help a baby turn in labor if posterior.

Lastly, I turned my daughter back to anterior doing rebozo sifting and went into labor that night. She was born a few hours later. https://spinningbabies.com/techniques/activities-for-fetal-positioning/rebozo-sifting

More on posterior https://spinningbabies.com/baby-positions/posterior

kim_le · February 2013

i may be ignorant, but i think my daughter was posterior. i had a successful VBAC three weeks ago today and i know that my dr rotated her when i was 9cm and before i started pushing.

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