Well I did it - I vaginally birthed a posterior baby! Our beautiful Isobel arrived on Saturday 5 September and she was well and truly posterior!

My contractions started at 6am and my waters broke at 7.30. We were at the hospital at 9am and an internal confirmed I was 75% effaced and 3cms dialated. I was so pleased to have made such good progress in such a short amount of time.

My early contractions were in my lower back so I suspected she may have been posterior but the midwife had a feel around and was sure she was anterior. Labour progressed rapidly and most of the contractions were in my belly so I too assumed she had turned. I sat on the fit ball with my sister rubbing my back and my DH doing what ever we found helped from the front. About 11am the pain returned in full force in my back and I just wanted to escape. The belly contractions were managable but the back pain was excrutiating. I thought someone was ripping my lower spine out of my body. I've never experienced pain like it. I dealt with it for a few really decent contractions then I screamed for an epidural - there was no way I could do it any more. As it turns out, I was in transition but just didn't realise it - we found out after the epi was in.

Anyway, my lovely epi man arrived about 30 mins later and I was so glad to see that doctor! We got it in and there was instant relief - I was pain free! My OB then decided to do an internal and just as he was about to insert his hand I had a massive show. He then found I was 9cm! I had gottent to 9cm drug free in 6 hours, I was thrilled. Was a shame I couldn't push on that bit extra on my own but as it turns out, I needed the epi regardless as Izzy wasn't going anywhere - she was stuck but we didn't know this for another 2 hours.

We waited for the epi to begin to wear off so I could feel the contractions during pushing. Pushing was going really well, apparently my technique was fabulous and all involved thought Izzy would be out in no time at all. About 30 mins in the backache returned in full force so I was screaming in severe pain yet again. I was now certain she was posterior. I tried birthing on all fours which helped with the pain but we didn't seem to be progressing. The midwives put a mirror between my legs and sadly there was still no 'head on show' after almost an hour of pushing. It made no sense. My OB was called back in and a quick check confirmed that yes, she was posterior and she was stuck in my pelvis.

To cut a long story short, the epi was topped up, Izzy was manually turned by my OB (thank god for the epi at that point!) and she popped out in just 3 well controlled pushes. It was incredible and I only sustained a tiny graze - just one stitch. Woohoo!

What a thrill!!

Some stats:
weight: 6lb 8oz
length: 49cm
HC: 34cm

Labour: 9 hours total (including 1 hour of pushing and less than a minute to deliver the placenta)