| Helping your baby's position, and how it helps your labor! When a head-down baby faces mom's front, it is called Occiput Posterior (OP), meaning the back of the baby's head (its occiput) is at the mom's posterior (back). This position is responsible for extended early labor, "back labor", "failure to progress", and many Cesarean Sections. You can do things during pregnancy to help your baby settle into a better position. *Avoid recliners and the couch. Resting and relaxing in pregnancy are of course important, but do it smart! When you recline, the heaviest part of the baby, its back, reclines with you. Use forward-leaning and straight postures when sitting, and lay on your left side as much as possible. Use many pillows to support you comfortably in bed - behind your back, between your knees, wherever you need. *Use a birth ball for sitting (knees wide apart) and rocking your pelvis. Do the doula-hula! The more you move, the more likely your baby is to move with you and settle into a favorable position. *Exercises - 10x, 2-5 times a day: -Pelvic rocks - on hands and knees, knees apart, back flat, tuck and extend pelvis -Hips side-to-side - hands and knees, knees apart, back flat, push hips to each side -Lunges - hands and knees and/or standing, put one knee up and lunge to that side -Walking, climbing stairs, swimming, stay as active as you're comfortable! *IF DETERMINED OR SUSPECTED MALPOSITION: Open Knee-Chest position - pillow under chest, lay down with hips up in air, knees apart and out behind hips (this helps lift baby out of pelvis, giving it more room to move and turn). *Sleeping - on left front, extend bottom leg out straight, put 2 pillows under top leg and bring it way up, leaning towards your front. Hug another pillow with your arm for support. When on your right (avoid as much as possible), keep hips at right angle. *Eat well and drink lots - good nutrition and hydration helps your muscles and tissues stay healthy and toned, and they will perform better for you in pregnancy and labor. Water also helps provide ample amniotic fluid, making it easier for baby to move and turn. How can you tell if your baby is posterior? Where you feel the kicks and big bumps can say a lot. If you feel lots of kicks and movements across the front of your stomach, the limbs are probably there, hence a posterior baby. If you feel the kicks way on the right side, the baby's back is probably on your left front and you'll probably feel a bigger bulge there - this is the optimal position for a baby. Other fetal positions: Sometimes babies can be facing a hip (called transverse), or their heads can be acynclitic (not symmetrically on the cervix, cocked a bit to one side). All the positions and exercises mentioned above can also help these babies. |