https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:52:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684733 Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:28:42 +0000 LAZB 2684733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: lol, well I guess she did well then! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684719 Sun, 22 Jan 2017 16:17:46 +0000 pastemoo 2684719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LAZB: That is what they normally do with compound presentation! They try to make the baby pull back it's hand or foot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684314 Sat, 21 Jan 2017 07:21:51 +0000 MrsADS 2684314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was born with his hand and arm next to his head. I had a very fast labor and pushing phase, but he was not tolerating pushing and having major decels, and I could not push him out. My OB basically said he is in distress, you have to get him out NOW, and cut a big episiotomy which took me a long time to heal from. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684308 Sat, 21 Jan 2017 04:01:34 +0000 LAZB 2684308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My second child came out with her arm up and hand by her head. Fortunately I still only got "road rash" and no real tearing.<br /> When I was delivering my third child, the nurse said she pushed something back down (she thought his arm) during delivery. I don't know how that would even be possible though lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684300 Sat, 21 Jan 2017 01:53:04 +0000 lemondrop 2684300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My second did, he came out with hand on his head. The doc did a couple quick suctions on his head and he was out fairly quickly and easily. I think I got a stitch or two, he was much easier than my first. With him, I tore pretty significantly, but his head was much bigger, he got hung up on my pelvis and had a very large bruise on his head. This one was a breeze compared to him, but I took forever to actually go into real labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684286 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 23:07:06 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2684286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Me too! DD had her hand on her face, but her elbow tucked down, so the whole arm wasn't up. Only 2ND degree tearing, she was born pretty quickly. My doctor thought it was funny how she just looked like "ugh, am I born yet?!" with the hand on her nose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684267 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 21:50:45 +0000 lilyofthewest 2684267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep. Right hand across face to left cheek, left hand up in the more ordinary nuchal arm position. He had bruises and scrapes on his left check for a couple weeks post delivery from where his knuckles and nails were digging into his cheek.</p> <p>I didn't have any serious tearing, but, I was so so so so sore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-2684266 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 21:45:02 +0000 pastemoo 2684266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: I did! My VBAC was a compound presentation baby. Hand and head came out at once--my water broke when she was undescended but I was complete (10cm), and she rushed out very quickly after that (30 min from -3 to birth). I guess there was a lot of room in there. I had a lot of tearing, some requiring stitches, some not. It was still amazing, and I had a birth-high after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274566 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:13:35 +0000 Veggiemama 1274566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never heard of that term but I had a very severe 4th degree tear after #1 (it took 6 months to fully heal!) and was told by one midwife later (not the one who delivered) that it was likely his arm was folded next to his head with his elbow up. I had a c-section for #2, which was strongly recommended by my ob and fully supported by my midwife. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274540 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:01:09 +0000 Boheme 1274540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had one! I also had 36 hours of back labor and pushed for 4 hours. I tore up, down, and sideways. DS presented with a sideways head and his hand/arm up by his face. My two choices were vacuum or c-section :(</p> <p>I'm terrified of this being an issue with number two. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274479 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:22:48 +0000 78h2o 1274479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: That makes sense regarding the hand/cord. </p> <p>This is where I got the 1 in 700 stat: <a href="http://www.uptodate.com/contents/management-of-the-fetus-with-compound-presentation" rel="nofollow">http://www.uptodate.com/contents/management-of-the-fetus-with-compound-presentation</a><br /> In another article it said 1 in 2500... Then I read elsewhere that it happens enough that it is considered fairly normal... so who knows! </p> <p>That's interesting that you have seen several births like that! I never knew it happened before LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274465 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:12:49 +0000 MsMini 1274465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think it is more than 1 in 700! I have been to lots of births that were a hand/head presentation, usually if they are with a nuchal cord, the cord is under the hand in the cases I have seen. I don't think I have seen any where the cord was over hand/arm! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274350 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:31:34 +0000 lamariniere 1274350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a a woman whose son was born with one hand up and had some pretty dramatic tearing. She opted for an elective c-section with her second baby, which her doctor fully supported. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274294 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:10:00 +0000 78h2o 1274294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Den mom: that's a funny visual! I actually have a photo my DH took of my little one's fingers sticking out by her head. I was watching in a mirror (not something I ever thought I would do, but I found it helped me to push effectively) and I think I recall the doctor pulling her arm out straight. I just can't remember where the cord was exactly, but I know he said it was around her neck. </p> <p>@Arden: I remember that you had a lot of stitches but I didn't realize your LO had her hand on her head. I'm sure that had a lot to do with why you tore so much.</p> <p>I am crossing my fingers that if I ever have a second child, I don't have this type of delivery and have an easier time/less tearing... though I guess I should just count my blessings that I ended up with a successful vaginal delivery and a healthy little one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274162 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:27:07 +0000 Den mom 1274162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD had a hand up too. DH claims she pulled herself out then stretched her arms. We had a knot in the cord but luckily there were no complications from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274077 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:03:03 +0000 Arden 1274077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we had the hand by the head too. AND cord, though I think that was under her hand.</p> <p>I had third degree tears up and third degree tears down (soo many stitches). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1274001 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:36:53 +0000 78h2o 1274001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Confetti: Yeah, I guess when they are born hand &amp; head at the same time it's also called a ""nuchal arm birth". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1273981 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:28:19 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1273981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO came out with cord around neck and one arm up as well. I've never heard of the term compound birth. So interesting. He was small (6lbs 11 oz) but 2 weeks overdue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-elses-little-one-have-a-compound-presentation-during-birth#post-1273973 Wed, 11 Dec 2013 13:24:42 +0000 78h2o 1273973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was born a year ago with her hand on her head. The doctor called it a "compound birth", since 2 parts presented at once. I've since read about it, and it seems compound births like this happen relatively rarely... about 1 in 700 births. I've never heard of anyone else experiencing this and am wondering if anyone here has? </p> <p>I have a feeling her presentation is the reason why I was in labor for 34 hours and maybe also why there were some decels (well that, and she also had the cord around her neck... her arm may actually have been between the cord and her neck though, I'm not sure). I don't think my doctor was aware of her position until she was on her way out. I'm so glad she was born safely and that I was able to avoid a c-section. I did have 2nd degree tears, but I'm not surprised as she was almost 9 lbs and had a big head (and then her hand)!</p> <p>I've looked at the risk factors for this happening and my LO doesn't fit any of them... she wasn't small, wasn't premature, etc... the only one that maybe fits is that I could have a larger pelvis...when I had her I was 5'8" and size 8-10, but definitely curvier/hippier). </p>