Is it safe to squat?

[Dot-to-Dot]

I am 35 weeks and 3 days pregnant.  My chiropractor recently said she is pretty positive baby is head down, though I can't tell an elbow from a head.  Is there benefit to squatting right now?  Last baby was asynclitic (ouch) and I'd hate to engage this baby in a bad position...or is that possible?  Even if the baby engaged, could the head still wiggle back and forth however it wants to or am I in danger of getting her stuck?

Sorry to be so clueless about this part.  No matter how much I research about labor and birth, I am always still filled with questions!

[L&K'smommie]

Originally Posted by Dot-to-Dot 

I am 35 weeks and 3 days pregnant.  My chiropractor recently said she is pretty positive baby is head down, though I can't tell an elbow from a head.  Is there benefit to squatting right now?  Last baby was asynclitic (ouch) and I'd hate to engage this baby in a bad position...or is that possible?  Even if the baby engaged, could the head still wiggle back and forth however it wants to or am I in danger of getting her stuck?

Sorry to be so clueless about this part.  No matter how much I research about labor and birth, I am always still filled with questions!

Considering I have to squat to wipe well after using the bathroom I don't think so.  My baby is still floating high(my 3rd did as well until he was on his way out).  I think it would only be bad if the baby were breech.  As to posterior or anterior facing they still have plenty of room to turn around that way.

[lovebeingamomma]

sqautting is a very beneficial position, don't think it could be harmful.  I'm surprised that you're not 100% sure that the baby's head is down, you're caregiver hasn't told you?  You can feel it with your own hands, just press in a bit right above your pelvis in the front with both hands a few inches apart, you will feel the hard head on either side.  Be flat on your back to feel in the best.  Or stick a clean finger in your vagina, if the head has engaged it shouldn't be too far up there, you'll feel a hard surface behind the vaginal wall. 

[samstress]

i was told that squatting past 37 weeks is fine unless baby is in a posterior position.  you wouldn't want baby to engage in the pelvis in a posterior presentation (i believe it will become harder to turn).  however, if baby is anterior and his/her back is on the left side then you can squat.

you can probably find more extensive info about fetal positioning at spinningbabies.

[melon]

Originally Posted by L&K'smommie 

Considering I have to squat to wipe well after using the bathroom I don't think so.

Hahaha so true.

Also, squatting is the only way I can pick anything up off the ground. Bending is out of the question. So with a 2 yr old, I do a lot of squatting. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow.
 

[L&K'smommie]

Originally Posted by melon 

Hahaha so true.

Also, squatting is the only way I can pick anything up off the ground. Bending is out of the question. So with a 2 yr old, I do a lot of squatting. I'm 39 weeks tomorrow.
 

Same here as I have a 2, 4 and 6 year old. 

I also found that my #3 didn't move down at all until he was on his way out, seems #4 will be similar as he is still floating high and nothing I do seems to help him move down.

[annaconda]

Many women around the world are squatting pregnant now - like working in rice fields and stuff like that.

However there are concerns with posterior as sam brought up.  I like to do squats... and my birth coach said it was fine.  I have worked up to being able to be in a squat for like five minutes.  I don't do longer than that though.

[Dot-to-Dot]

Originally Posted by samstress 

i was told that squatting past 37 weeks is fine unless baby is in a posterior position.

This was my concern...if I don't know if she's posterior or not...then I feel like I should be wary of squatting.  I figure that the pregnant women squatting in rice fields aren't dealing with the factors we westerners deal with like bucket seats and comfy couches so they likely aren't at risk of posterior babies in the first place.  Then again, I've also read on spinning babies that a large percentage of babies are posterior just before labor starts and they rotate when it's time.

lovebeingamomma:  I am not sure at all what position she's in.  The doctor managing my pregnancy is a family doctor (I fired 2 OB's before I found him and he's the only guy I could get who supported my desire for a natural birth).  He's not experienced at palpating.  Of course next week at my strep exam, I think he'll be able to tell me if he feels a very hard head like he did with my first baby.  But, even then, I don't know if the baby is left or right or what.

The chiro seemed very sure the baby was on the right and could feel the butt up high followed by the long stretch of a back...I didn't feel any big changes since then...but, all day that "back" was kicking me.  *sigh*  I just cannot figure this little octopus out. 

[lovebeingamomma]

I was just at the Spinning Babies workshop, she said it's fine unless you're past 38 weeks, and have an OP that has not engaged.  One way she said that you can usually tell is if you feel flutters right above your pubic bone in the front and/or both sides, which are probably the babies hands, which the baby is usually playing with near his/her mouth, so than that would mean the baby's face is facing forward, or OP.

one more thing, to know if baby has engaged, lay flat on your back, find your pubic bone, then run your fingers up towards you belly, if it's soft, head is probably fully engaged (unless it's breach and not down there at all), if you hit something hard, the head hasn't fully engaged.