[Claire98909]

Does it ever happen where part of the baby's head has crowned but the rest of the head gets stuck in the pelvis and they have to do a c section? Or once part of the head has cleared the pelvis is the rest of the head pretty much guaranteed to clear it as well? I'm only curious because I read that OP baby's heads come out differently than OA babies.

[Alina0210]

OP babies are just facing the wrong way up......In being a doula for 5yrs I've never heard of a baby getting its head crowning and then getting it's head stuck....

[TwiceThe Woman]

Essentially, the widest part of the baby's head needs to negotiate it's way through the narrowest part of the pelvis successfully.
If the baby is stuck;
a) above this point - a c/s is required
b) beyond this point, the doctor may need to rotate the baby with forceps - but the mother is generally allowed her best efforts to see if the baby will turn with pushing. The time this takes varies with every individual delivery for every woman.
If the head is crowned - the rest of the head won't be stuck in the upper pelvis - if the baby gets stuck at this point, it invariably means the Mum is exhausted, or the pelvic floor is holding things back (frequently seen in super athletes) or shoulders may be tight trying to get through.
Take heart OP, babies are frequently OP at the commencement of labour and will turn during either during stage 1 (up to full dilatation) or will turn during stage 2 - deep in the birth canal - sometimes well down on the pelvic floor.
Yet, despite the very best of maternal efforts, occasionally the baby may get stuck but it is helpful to be aware that much can be done to encourage the baby to turn.
Listen to your body and keep upright and moving;
- rocking on all fours
- semi squats while rotating pelvis
- go with what feels right for you
Commit to practise relaxing as much as possible and "surrender" to the process.
Your health care support are there for vigilant observation and to identify what's going on - so trust in them is also a key factor for relaxing.

(On a personal notes a midwife who had seen various outcomes at birth, personally, I desperately wanted a live and healthy baby - with as little intervention as possible.
My first baby had to be rotated and lifted out with forceps and I couldn't care less - I was SO overjoyed to greet her - she was alive and well! woohoo!
2nd, 3rd & 4th all rotated late in 2nd stage (so prolonging that part for a bit) and didn't need forceps just pushing kneeling upright on the bed, but yay, I got my four healthy babies!)

Gain as much knowledge as you can and surround yourself with positive support.
Have faith in your body to know that it will try to do it's best for you.
Allow mother nature to take over.....surrender.
Let the staff know what your preferences are.
All the best:)

[Claire98909]

If the head is crowned - the rest of the head won't be stuck in the upper pelvis - if the baby gets stuck at this point, it invariably means the Mum is exhausted, or the pelvic floor is holding things back (frequently seen in super athletes) or shoulders may be tight trying to get through.

So in those situations would they do a c section?

[Miso_Missieys]

My second baby was posterior. They come out facing up, so they call it back to back labour. Where a normal birth babies should come out facing down.

My biggest problem was that it didn't take me long to get to 8cm dilated but it just wouldn't go the extra couple and he wanted to come out, they said this was all due to him being posterior. I did have to have an episiotomy and I did internally tear (small one) .

If baby is stuck they will either give you an episiotomy, forceps or in extreme cases rush you in for an emergency c section but where baby is already so far down it's a big pull and tug to get baby out of there.

Have you been told your baby is posterior? There are ways to try help them turn around, this can also happen in labour. I think the one I was told was get down like you are washing the floor on all fours and do that motion.

[Miso_Missieys]

So in those situations would they do a c section?

Highly unlikely, if the head is crowned then they will use forceps, suction cup, or episiotomy if there is no progress with pushing.

[mibi]

I would think that if the head is crowned then its a bit late to do a c-section. The head would be of the womb and in the vaginal canal at this stage.

Whilst I'm no expert I would think any intervention at this stage would have to be forceps or vacuum, rather than surgical.