[shearernurse]

Hi guys, I am new to this thread. I work mostly nights in a small (16 bed) hospital. Tonight we had a delivery that scared the bejesus out of me. Babe was sunny-side up, maybe nothing new to you L&D nurses but very new to me. She pushed for over an hour, we tried to use the mighty-vac but that broke so we ended up using forceps. Boy did she tear even with an episotomy. I know the tearing is normal, but is the use of forceps. Even the Dr. didn't know this baby was occiput posterior. Would like to know if we could have done something different or better.

Thanks, shearernurse:

[SmilingBluEyes]

Yes, OP babies are hard to deliver. You should NOT let this scare you, however. I had my son this way, after 3 hours' pushing and forcep use by the OB.

It will happen again, trust me. Many things happen in OB will that scare you. All that is new in OB potentially can scare us or be hazardous.

I hope the mom and baby are doing ok!

Just a clinical hint: sometimes, with OP babies, turning moms from side to side (especially if there is an epidural running), can help a baby "flip" from OP to a more favoable variation of OA positioning. Sometimes, having them push on their side or while squatting, on hands-and-knees, or sitting on a toilet is helpful(obviously, no epidural here)---anything but being on their BACKS is helpful for OP positioning and delivery.

Sometimes, NOTHING helps but clever and careful use of forceps or vacuum by a doctor or a c-section. But when a mom is in labor, if you determine a baby is in OP position, (by feeling for fontanels of head or hearing mom complain of BAD back pain), have her MOVE about the room or unit or change positions in the bed as much as you can. This has helped me countless times.

Take care now!

[renerian]

I had my son in the method you described blue eyes. Did the side to side thing and they ended up using the forceps with no anethesia as I was going natural. OWOWOWOOW hurt bad LOL. I tore really bad.

It has to be scarey to watch and I know it scarey to be going through it.

renerian

[SmilingBluEyes]

OUCH ren...

oh yea my butt felt like hamburger after my son was born. it was a LONG time before i could be a wife again, IYKWIM....

and longer still before I ventured to having another baby....

7years.

it is NOT a picnic....eeee

[acuteobrn]

All I can say is OUCHHHHHHH!!!!!

Dang those poor girls hurt. I have learned the turn, flip, hand & knee and squating tricks, luckly. I have seen a couple rotate from this, have seen a mom, first baby, large baby, deliver direct OP...she did increadible!!!! Just be patient, watch the tones, and remember this wont be the last time...for some reason my hospital seems to be running a special on these lately, several in the past two weeks or so. We are lucky enough to have one OB with nice long hands who can manually rotate these kids.

I am curious to know what happended to that mighty-vac that "broke" was it a pop-off or did it really break???

[cannoli]

What is IYKWIM?

[acuteobrn]

I think it is: If You Know What I Mean...

[cannoli]

acuteobrn, thanks.

[fourbirds4me]

My first child was OP with nuchal cord x2 (7lbs 15oz) Fortunately I only pushed a couple of times but the doc thought he was helping be out with ML episiotomy.... now that was ouchie! Delivered my other 3 with intact perineum.... thank goodness!!

[L&D_RN_OH]

I think we must have that same special, acuteobrn. I have seen some turn during labor, some come out looking to the side, andsome never turn. Although, I have yet to see a forcep delivery for OP. We resort to mityvac, if neccesary, but most seem to deliver w/o assistance. Over the weekend, I had a pt deliver OP in about 2 pushes. He came out looking right at us. LOL