backsleeping and posterior baby?

[porcelina]

I have been trying to follow all kinds of advice to prevent the posterior position of my baby (since my first birth was posterior and very difficult). Mainly, I'm trying to aim for good posture, avoid reclining, and have started chiro. I'm only 25 weeks, but I keep waking up on my back! I never realized that I'm a back-sleeper -- maybe it's because I cosleep with 2.5 yr old DS. I will comfort him in the night with my arms around him and apparently fall asleep again that way. This can't be good for baby's position! What can I do? Or is it not worth worrying about?

[Qbear'smama]

Ooh, good question, I am interested in the answer too, as I am also a mama of a posterior that was a big pain in my posterior during labour .

[terra-pip]

I'm a back sleeper or tummy sleeper...both positions not very comfy in pregnancy or recommended. If you don't have one already get a Snoogle full body maternity pillow, made by LeachCo. I love mine and it has helped with my previous pregnancies too. You can wrap it around your head with extra pillows for more incline (helps with heartburn and breathing) and then the long "snake" part can be wrapped around your back or your front depending on if you want tummy support or back support. That happens naturally as you turn over. And the bottom curled end is perfect for placing betwen your knees for hip comfies. It keeps you on your side and if you should roll onto your back you can't really get very flat since the pillow is there. We also cosleep with a 2 year old and the pillow makes a great buffer between you and the sleeping kid too!!! I love it!!!

I sometimes have to remind Husband whose pillow it is!!

[evabea]

I have one of those pillows, but I find also using 4 pillows around you works well: a pillow between the legs, one in front just under your belly, one behind to keep you from rolling on your back, and of course one at your head.

[limette]

I'm a belly sleeper and I still manage to have posterior babies. Mine don't turn posterior until just before labor...so annoying.

[aloneinid]

It is a bit too early to worry about a posterior baby, but good that you are getting in the habit already. And, yes, it is very important to not sleep on your back to prevent posterior positioning. I would suggest putting something behind your back to prevent you from rolling onto it. In my last two pregnancies I used a firm throw pillow. I have also heard of sewing a tennis ball into your shirt to make it uncomfortable to sleep on your back. Since you wake up so many times at the end of pregnancy you can also just reposition each time you wake up/use the bathroom. The best position is slightly forward with your stomach "hanging" down. Prop the top leg up, bent. I would get serious about positioning techniques by 34 weeks.
I have been very careful in all of my pregnancies to have a properly positioned baby with the thought that it is worth the effort- I have never had back labor and my labors were painful enough. I can't imagine adding to the pain with something that can be prevented! However, in this pregnancy I have an anterior placenta for the first time and at 25 weeks my baby is mostly posterior. I think I will have a struggle this time and am going to be extra diligent about positioning (I see a chiropractor for the Webster technique, also).

[porcelina]

I too have an anterior placenta this time! I am not positive about positioning, but every time I feel a kick/sock in the front, I feel a bit bummed. It's kindof sad to not enjoy it like I did last time, because I just think about how he's probably posterior!

I've looked at those pregnancy pillows and wondered whether they're really worth it, but after that raving review from terra-pip, maybe I'll have to reconsider. I tend to kick away all my pillows while sleeping as well, so maybe that would stay in place.

[terra-pip]

I love it...I've actually kept it around after birth for just normal sleeping too. About posterior, I have had good positions with my other two at birth and I always felt kicks in the front of my belly? I feel mostly big kicks in the front this time too. They change around so much in there and then during labor, I would just try to relax and not worry too much. Breech would be something to worry about. I had some back labor with my first and my midwife had me doing deep squats while in labor...pretty uncomfortable and I didn't really want to keep it up...but it did seem to help rotate.

[porcelina]

Yes, I should try not to stress so much. And, I would like to have more active on the part of my midwife if it happens again (positions to facilitate change) and try stuff like squats.

So last night I spent a ton of time researching these body pillows. I am a little hesitant because those who gave them a low rating complained about them being so big/fluffy for the head. I use a very low/squishy pillow, and hate anything too big, so I'm hesitant. Also, I like the idea of having a buffer between DS and me, but he likes to soothe using my hair (!). Anyway, thanks again!

[terra-pip]

It matters how you like your pillows. I actually turn mine around, so what is the head part is between my knees and the knees part is under my own pillow. But I like to sleep at an incline when preggo...it helps heartburn. I don't like to be flat and I don't like flat pillows. And the buffer is great. He can still snuggle with you..it's not that big. And my kids have always thrown their legs up in it or hugged their side. Thay like the body pillow too!!!

But if you're the type of sleeper that doesn't like a lot on the bed then maybe a smaller maternity pillow would work for you.

[mizznicole]

My chiro ended up being not worth a hill of beans. Thousands of dollars and ended up with posterior baby still. She did fix the SI joint dysfunction, however. So it wasn't a complete waste...

[GreenMomPhD]

My doula told me with my first to start sleeping exclusively on my left for the last 4 weeks to prevent a posterior position. She said she never had anyone with back labor that followed this advice. I am have about 2 more weeks until I have to do this again, and I'm not looking forward to only being on one side, but it is worth it!

Re chirporactors, look for ones that have a DICCP certification. They have had extra training for pregnant women and therefore know what they're doing! I wouldn't go to one unless they have that. My chiropractor is great. Towards the end of the pregnancy, she has me go in every week, then twice per week to make sure I'm adjusted and ready for labor. I have zero back issues with my first and none so far with my second pregnancy!

[flitters]

i love my snoogle too!

[terra-pip]

Originally Posted by flitters

i love my snoogle too!

I'm going to alter it and sew a pretty cover for it and make a nice long bolster for the bed after this baby. I know this is my last child but I can't think what sleeping without it would be like! lol.

[porcelina]

Okay, so after great debate, I went ahead and got a snoogle. The first night I woke up on top of the thing on my BACK! I have kept trying a couple of nights, and plan to try a bit longer. Last night, I woke up away from the thing entirely (I had moved to comfort DS on the other side of the bed and had fallen asleep) and on my back. The crazy thing is, I'm so tired and out of it when I wake up on my back that I don't even care enough to roll myself over. I'm only half-conscious! I need to work on forcing myself to roll over anyway!

Anyway, it's still fun & cuddly, so I'm not sure I'll return it. I really want it to work, and, if nothing else, it's nice to be able to make a space to lie on my tummy every once in a while!

[WildinTheory]

UGH! Sleeping positions. I will never understand how anyone is supposed to sleep on one side all. night. long. I know I can't. And I often end up semi on my back. For a long time, I'd wake up in a panic that somehow I'd hurt the baby by sleeping wrong. A few nights ago I decided that as long as it was comfortable enough for sleep I wasn't going to worry about it. It is hard enough to fall and stay asleep without feeling like I'm always in the wrong position. Although, I think this baby is posterior as well, so... *sigh*

[corban's mum]

argh yeah im struggling with this too. im a stubborn back sleeper even with a tennis ball in my back lol

my first child was posterior and i ended up having a section, this child im planning a HBAC with hypno but ive also got an anterior placenta *sigh* luckily my doula is also my hypnotherapist so she's going to do a few hypno-positioning sessions with me and has given me a birth ball to relax on instead of my **recliner sofa** eek. i am 25 weeks and somehow still manage to sleep on my front too.... no hope...this is all with a snoogle too haha

[terra-pip]

For me sleeping on my left side hurts my left hip. I always have bad hip pain in pregnancy on the left side. I wake just so crampy and achey and hip popping. I feel so much better sleeping on my right side or kind half way on my back with the Snoogle under me. I can usullay sleep well as long as I can keep my hips comfy. I always worry about the placental blood flow thing more than baby position...I wake up on my right side and think "oh no..baby needs blood and oxygen...turn over."