Back to back

[ann_of_loxley]

So - I know people worry about breech babies....like, 'when should I worry about my baby being breech and what can I do to encourage them to turn head down'...

But what about back to back?

This baby of mine is back to back and has been for some time. (which explains a lot actually lol)....

When do I need to worry about that (well - not 'worry', but start thinking it might be a good idea to encourage a different position)...and how do I go about encouraging a better position?

I know babies usually tend to sort themselves out - but I have heard of nothing but long and painful childbirths with back to back babies! (no thanks! lol) ...

Also - if it makes any difference, I think my placenta is anterior (not 100% sure but I have a handful of reasons to think this - though I have had no scan and will not be getting one).

TIA!

[ancoda]

This site can help with all kinds of baby positioning problems. http://spinningbabies.com/

[erin_brycesmom]

I read a study where they did ultrasounds a few times during labor to assess fetal position and something like 38% of all babies were OP at least once during an ultrasound regardless of what position they were at the start. Position during ultrasound during labor had almost no relation to what position babies were at birth. Also, pain levels had nothing to do with OP presentation when they studied that part.

Considering women were only checked a few times (or less if they went fast) and there was that high a percentage of OP presentation at least once then I can easily conclude that it was really a higher percentage since the babies moved around so much. So basically, it's very very very common for babies to be OP at some point in labor which leads me to believe there is no reason to worry about it at all in advance. Babies don't take their final position for birth until very late in labor...like just right before they come out. Remaining OP at that time is the problem but that doesn't seem to be associated with what position they are in during labor.

Regardless of what position baby is in now, I would do Webster throughout the third trimester and frequently at the very end of pregnancy. Webster is proven to reduce rates of OP presentation. I'm a strong believer that it helps babies take the proper final position for birth.

[annekh23]

I don't think there is all that much evidence for working hard on positioning prior to labour. I'm not saying don't do it, just don't exhaust or injure yourself doing it!

My midwife said with an anterior placenta and 2nd baby they probably aren't going to turn before labour, but most turn in labour.

Mine didn't turn in labour, but then we discovered she had very low fluid, so she probably couldn't.

I know 8lb8oz isn't that big in the grand scheme of things, but I'm not big and my previous baby was 5lb13oz, and giving a spontaneous vaginal delivery or a 8lb8oz complete OP baby made me a legend in the area. I'd meet midwives several months later who once I said anything about the birth would say they heard about it!

However, it was not a sucess, I don't want to scare anyone because my experience is rare (dislocated my hip), but I don't like the attitude that vaginal birth despite the odds is a triumph.

[moonglowmama]

I would just do some pelvic rocks on a regular basis. Just a few times while watching tv or whatever. I would do it again at the start of labor and try to retain an upright, or forward leaning position. Lounging back (like on a couch, car, recliner) are the positions that encourage posterior positioning.