Posterior Challenges

I received a text at 6:00 am Sunday morning, saying that my latest client was in early labor.  With a first time mom, I never know what to expect.  Early labor can last for days, or it can go quickly.... but most likely, last for days!  I spoke with the dad on the phone around 7:00 and was informed that mom's back hurt.  Not good.  Immediately I was concerned that her baby was posterior.  An hour later they headed to the hospital.

I met up with them at 9:30, just as they were being officially admitted.  Mom was coping by leaning over the birth ball while dad rubbed her back.  She was 4 cm, coping well; but I could tell that she was already experiencing alot of discomfort.

Posterior babies are a real pain in the rear!  They are facing the wrong way, which puts tons of pressure on mom's low back.  And unlike contractions (which come and go), back labor is constant and exhausting.

We used the ice roller and the jacuzzi.  Both helped, but labor was still difficult.  I worried she would stall out, as is common with posterior presentation.  But at 10:55 she was 6 cm, and was 7 cm a half hour later!  I couldn't believe it!  I thought I just might be home in time to make dinner.

Wrong.  :)

Mom got an epidural around noon, and then she stayed at 7 cm for hours.  This is common with posterior babies, and with epidurals, so it's impossible to know which was the larger culprit.  Thankfully, the epidural worked well and mom was able to rest.  And baby started to rotate all on his own.

The OB came in at 5:45, and the decision was made to break the water.  At 8:15 mom was 9 cm with just a lip left of cervix, and was complete at 10:00 pm.  She was thrilled to make it all the way without pitocin, even with the slow labor.  But she was also anxious and nervous to push.  I hoped that pushing would go quickly since everything else had taken so long  (For her sake, not mine)  Her baby was already +2 station, so I thought for sure this would go well for her.

Wrong.

Ok, it wasn't horrible.  I've definitely seen longer, and she was able to deliver without intervention.  Baby boy was born at 12:18 am weighing in at 7 pounds, 13 oz.

Dad was moved to tears at the moment of birth, and was able to spend lots of quality time with baby while mom was dealing with afterbirth issues.  You know, all the stuff no one talks about....

Afterbirth wasn't exactly a cake walk either.  Mom bled alot, and after laboring all day without pitocin, needed it shortly after she delivered.  But hey, when it comes down to hemmorhaging or getting pitocin: pitcon wins every time.

It wasn't fast.  It wasn't easy.  It wasn't exactly what she planned.  But in the end, she got everything she wanted.  A loving husband, and beautiful, healthy baby boy; everything else is just the icing on the cake.