Positioning a baby whose head is to the side of my pelvis and kind of OP

[StormySar]

Alright the midwife came for a visit and the baby in in a really weird position. Last night my dh and I DTD to try and get things started (this is #4 and I'm going on 4 days late. Not a biggie, I know, just surprising...). I don't think the baby appreciated ti much because now his or her head is no longer deep in my pelvis but rather positioned with the face looking up towards my ribs almost and the head is in the left sideof my pelvis. The butt and back are on my right side, with the butt right udner my ribs and the back and butt are kind of posterior - I'm feeling way too many limbs and feet on my left side.

I am trying ice packs to move the head and back, stickign my butt in the air while my shoulders are on the floor to try and bring the baby back a bit and reposition the head, hands and knees, and stroking the baby in the direction I want its back to move.

Once baby is once again head down (straight!) and in the right position I'm going to do a lot of squatting.

Is there anything else I can try? Its position is worrying to me.

[hikingmommy]

It sounds like the baby is almost transverse. DD was transverse for a while late in pregnancy. She finally turned with the Webster Technique (chiropractic) and a massage. Acupuncture didn't work for us, though it has a high success rate. I also tried all the ice/heat, music, etc., and none of that worked, either. Walk a lot, and I remember reading that walking with one foot up on a curb and the other on the street can help. Swimming is supposed to be good, too, though I didn't try that, either. Good luck. I know a malpositioned baby is so stressful!

[titania8]

what helped my baby get into a good position was chiropractic adjustment and ligament stretching (webster). she just put her fingers right over my ligaments and held them there. i didn't even feel like she was touching me, it was that gentle. at other times when i feel my ligaments are tight i have put heat on the area and that helps too. maybe try that if you aren't up for a chiro visit. good luck!

[StormySar]

I dotn know if i can get in to see a chiro soon enough?

Will labor start on its own eventually, and is it likely that the contractions will help move the baby?

I DON'T want a hospital birth. I'm getting really stressed.

None of the positioning is working - completely anyway. I think the head did budge a tiny bit back towards center but it's still not engaged, but I'll try heat and see if that works.

[hikingmommy]

Did you check out spinningbabies.com? From what I've heard, it's completely possible that the baby will turn in labor. Can you get a good massage? Maybe that'll relax things enough for baby to turn even w/o chiro.

[MsBlack]

I am guessing that your baby is a finger or fist sucker--and it's easier to have that in her mouth when she is up a bit and to the side as you describe. I had a baby like this--and she did move down during labor, positioned herself perfectly and was born without issues. Yes, labor can have the needed effect--try to relax, and not worry about it. If labor itself does not move the baby into position, then it's very likely that some of the things you are trying now, will be very effective during labor--the contrax will be making the uterus smaller and tighter, it will be far harder for baby to fight the downward flow.

But, you may wind up with a compound presentation--baby's hand up to chin/face at birth....maybe not, tho--mine managed to get her hand out of the way long enough to come out Then immediately put her fingers back in her mouth....

by the way, I don't see as knee-chest position will be helpful at this point. Knee chest is helpful when the baby is already down in the pelvis and *can't* reposition easily; getting your chest to the floor and butt upwards gets gravity working to bring baby out of pelvis for greater ease of baby's repositioning. But now, you don't have that particular problem--and knee-chest could actually be working against you, helping baby to stay high/out of pelvis. Probably upright positions are better--walking, dancing, hula, etc.

I also wonder if possibly belly-binding might help?

[StormySar]

Just an update - we were able to get the baby to move back to where he or she needs to be and I think my water broke this evening - so things may be moving along now!:

[hikingmommy]

What wonderful news. Best of luck and keep us posted.

[MsBlack]

Yay! :

[StormySar]

It's a boy! Born monday morning in my tub.

What a relief!

[madiesmommy]

Congrats!

I was going to say my son was much like this position, and he did present with his hand on his chin...ouch...but otherwise in perfect position. He was also a week and a half past due date