Edsite WA: Will I need another C/section??

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Topic: Will I need another C/section??

<Tamcor>
unregistered

posted 24 November 2004 05:33 PM

Hi

I had my daughter in 2003 by emergency c/section. I had a 16 hour labour and although I was fully dilated the Dr could not feel her head. I ended up having an emergency c/section and the Dr said my pelvis was small and the umbilical cord was short. My baby was only 7 pound 10 ounzes. They said I would probably have to have future c/sections. What is your opinion? I think she was also posterior.

I am preg now due in July 2005.

Thanks Tammy

Mary
Moderator
Member # 461

posted 31 December 2004 02:29 PM

Hi Tammy

A posterior position does make a labour and birth longer as the head usually has to rotate 180 degrees to be in the best position to move through the pelvis (taking into consideration all the diameters of the baby’s head and the mother’ birth canal). Some babies, however, are born in a persistent posterior position as the mother’s pelvis is large enough for the head to fit through easily. So, it is important to be aware of positions to assist the baby in an anterior position prior to labour beginning - see 'Optimal Fetal Positioning' by Jean Sutton and Pauline Scott.

Every labour and birth is different and just because your baby didn’t fit through on that occasion, doesn’t mean that this baby won’t. A true indicator of whether a baby will be born vaginally is to attempt the labour. The Passenger (baby), Pelvis and Power (contractions) all work together to enable a baby to be born. Pelvimetry has not been proven as a reliable indicator of whether a baby will fit through the pelvis or not, and ultrasound has been shown to vary 10% either way in estimating the size of a baby/head size.

I’d recommend working through ‘The Pink Kit’ to gain confidence in your body’s ability to birth vaginally and understand the shape and flexibility of your pelvis.

All the best
Midwife Mary

Posts: 22 | Registered: Dec 2004

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