Community› The Bump Message Boards› Natural Birth
Natural Birth
New Discussion

Anterior lip

carolinefriesencarolinefriesen member
in Natural Birth

For our first baby, we planned a completely natural birth at a free standing birth center.  All went well, labouring at home with our doula all day, and when we arrived at the birth center, I was 8-9 centimeters already.  I got in the tub, and I was loving the experience... Until a swollen cervical lip was detected.  I got out of the tub, tried everything to make it go away, but finally had to transfer to the hospital.  The only thing that would make it finally go away was an epidural (needing Pitocin too).  She was born vaginally about 42 hours after contractions woke me up.  She was healthy and happy, but I'm still upset about my birth experience.  

 Question: did anyone have an anterior lip with their first pregnancy, but not subsequent ones?  My midwife said it doesn't usually happen the second time around.  I'm just wondering if anyone has experience.

 Thanks!

 

Report Reply to Post

Re: Anterior lip

  • tokenhosertokenhoser member

    I don't have experience, but I recently read this and you'd probably find it very interesting:

    https://midwifethinking.com/2011/01/22/the-anterior-cervical-lip-how-to-ruin-a-perfectly-good-birth/

    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Natural Birth Board FAQs
    Cloth Diaper Review Sheet

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • carolinefriesencarolinefriesen member

    Thanks for sharing the article.  I had read that one, and my experience doesn't agree with the conclusion to just leave it alone.  My body started pushing, and I was unable not to push.  I pushed against it for about 3 hours in every position mentioned.  I tried hard not to push, but it felt impossible, like telling someone not to sneeze.  The pain was excruciating because it was like pushing against a bruise. All the pushingcaused it to swell more, so by the time we made the call to transfer to the hospital, I hd gone from 9 cm to 6.

     The positive of the experience was that our doula was with us the whole time, so she coached us with how to alter your hospital experiece.  The docs wanted to send me off for a csection, but because I was fine and the baby was fine, we delayed and delayed.  They were getting really to say enough is enough, but she checked me one more time.  To her complete shock, I was fully dilated after a good 17 hours at 9 cm. lots of med students came in to watch because I wasn't a textbook labor at all.  It was a good lesson to just allow time to work it's magic.

     I'm hoping for a less invasive, altered, experience next time without 12 people in the room and lots of cords and monitors :) 

    Report Reply
  • tokenhosertokenhoser member
    Well, I think the good news is that every pregnancy and birth really is different. I had a posterior baby that ended in 2 hours of pushing and a third degree tear, so I'm also hoping for a different experience this time. I'm doing some optimal positioning exercises and the Webster technique with a chiro to try to help thing progress differently - but ultimately, I think it's also about remaining positive and not getting caught up in how things went last time.
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Natural Birth Board FAQs
    Cloth Diaper Review Sheet

    Report Reply
  • carolinefriesencarolinefriesen member
    Agreed!  There are many factors we can control with labor and delivery, but some things are truly out of control.  Best wishes to you with this delivery :)
    Report Reply
  • rooftoprooftop member
    interesting article good things to keep in mind i guess

    Engaged 10/2/1202
    BFP (a lil quicker than expected) 12/7/2012
    Married to my best friend 12/24/2012
    Beautiful baby girl arrived 8/15/2013
    BFP #2 3/13/2016

     Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • wenzel11wenzel11 member
    I faced this problem as well. I started having mild contractions on a Friday, but didn't go into the hospital to check in until Sunday at noon, dialated 4-5 cm. After water laboring and walking/sitting, I went to 9 cm in a just a few hours. However, at about 4PM, I was stuck at what the nurse called 'pretty much 9 and 3/4.' I had a cervical lip that just wouldn't go. They tried seeing if they could flex it enough to get the baby out, but no luck.

    I tried laboring in different positions, including laying on the side with the lip which was incredibly painful. I nearly caved in and asked for an epidural. I had planned to go natural but was open to the concept of not being disappointed in myself if I needed one. But once they brought the anesthesiologist to the room and I spoke with him, I decided to keep trying, I'd come so far already. At 610 PM they put me on the smallest amount of Pitocin and said they'd check on me in about 30 minutes.

    However, at 615 PM, I knew it was time to push and called the nurse back in. She checked and found that I was fully dilated and ready to push. After pushing for about 20 minutes my DS was born at 642 PM, 7 lbs 10.4 oz.

    I'm afraid of having the anterior lip again for our next baby, but at least this time I know what I might be up against and can mentally prepare for it. Good luck and let me know how everything goes the second time around!
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"