A question I can't answer...

[Eli's_mommy]

If there is a midwife that can answer this, or someone that has experienced it themself- it would be greatly appreciated.

I had a woman come to me and tell me she would really like to have a homebirth next pregnancy. She has had her other two children in the hospital and medicated. The issue here, is during her last childbirth she broke her tailbone. She is wondering what the chances are of her breaking her tailbone again during her next childbirth, and is wondering if having a homebirth without medication would be a poor decision.

I think it's a very valid question, and I'm not sure how to answer it. I don't want to leave her hanging though. Any thoughts or information would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!!

[BeckiCNM]

Originally Posted by Eli's_mommy

If there is a midwife that can answer this, or someone that has experienced it themself- it would be greatly appreciated.

I had a woman come to me and tell me she would really like to have a homebirth next pregnancy. She has had her other two children in the hospital and medicated. The issue here, is during her last childbirth she broke her tailbone. She is wondering what the chances are of her breaking her tailbone again during her next childbirth, and is wondering if having a homebirth without medication would be a poor decision.

I think it's a very valid question, and I'm not sure how to answer it. I don't want to leave her hanging though. Any thoughts or information would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!!

I had a birth last month - unmedicated hospital birth - where she had broken her tailbone in her last delivery. She didn't rebreak it, and had a 8-plus pound baby born OP.

I would say her chances might be higher just because a previously broken bone might be more inclined to break again, but she would be much better off in a setting where she wouldn't be numb and she wouldn't be pushing sitting on that tailbone, KWIM?

[Mamabeakley]

I suspect she would be much LESS likely to re-break her tailbone in an unmedicated home birth. My guess is that if she was medicated in the hospital she was probably pushing on her back. Being upright and especially squatting opens the pelvic bones up and would allow more room for the baby to pass through without damage to the bones.

Since as far as I know, there isn't anything you can DO about a broken tail bone except avoid causing yourself pain as much as possible, I don't think being in the hospital would be a help if it DID happen again.

[Eli's_mommy]

I'm so glad to hear she has options, I will definitely relay this information to her. She was indeed pushing laying on her back and I thought about that. I was thinking if she pushed on hands and knees in particular, that it would take a lot of the pressure off of the tailbone.

[Mavournin]

I can't answer this as a professional, but personally I can say that I broke my tailbone in an accident several years ago and had no issues with it during any of my labors. All three of my kids were over 9 lbs and two were OP. One of those births I was unmedicated, but on my back.

[etoilech]

I'd say it's unlikely in a physiological birth that see would break her tail bone again. I'd encourage pushing on hands and knees so the tail bone could work like it should (a swinging door allowing the baby through). I'd avoid all lithotomy positions.

I would also recommend a wee bit of chiropractic care to help stabilize the pelvis/sacral area.

[courtenay_e]

Having broken my tailbone, I would also strongly suggest chiropractic care to "tweak" the sacral area, as a matter of fact, they can even make sure that the tailbone is where it belongs. Too, there is a kind of yoga (Eischens) which has helped me a great deal lately in stabilizing my sacrum and it's surroundings. That may help her, as well. FWIW, there are still things she can do in even just two poses (I know, because my back is so messed from something else that that's all I can currently do) that will help a great deal.

[mountainmidwife]

I did learn something in nursing school!

I remember in A&P discussing broken bones. When a bone has been broken and healed it usually stronger than before which means she would be less likely to break it again.

Also, upright birthing position would be helpful possibly a water birth too.