oblique babe at 38.4 weeks

[june'smom]

Ok, so I don't know if this belongs here or in Pregnancy. But here goes.

Babe has been consistantly diagonal with head towards my right hip and legs kicking just under my right ribs. I am 38.4 weeks and I am starting to worry.
I think that the baby is small, under 7 lbs, and has too much room in there.
I spend itme on my hands and knees every day and go to a chiro at least once a week. I am not sure if I should worry about something else going on, a reason that the baby won't move, yk?

We want to have a UC but I am starting to worry that if the baby doesn't rotate during labor that home would not be the best place to be. Dh thinks that I am overreacting, but I am not feeling right about it.
DD was posterior until the end of labor and I didn't worry at all about it.

I just want this to resolve itself and have my baby here. i don't want to transfer to the hospital at the last minute and end up with a c/s.

Suggestions?
Louise

[pamamidwife]

I have a client in a similar position (she's due June 2).

I'm not worried about it, I think her baby will turn with some good early contractions. The only issue would be if the water broke before labor and before her head is in your pelvis (increased risk, but not a definite, of cord prolapse).

You're doing everything you can - just relax and enjoy this last part of pregnancy! I can't wait to hear your UC birth story!

[OnTheFence]

Originally Posted by june'smom

We want to have a UC but I am starting to worry that if the baby doesn't rotate during labor that home would not be the best place to be. Dh thinks that I am overreacting, but I am not feeling right about it.
DD was posterior until the end of labor and I didn't worry at all about it.

If you don't feel right about it, follow your instincts. Out of everything in your post, that stood out the most. There is nothing wrong with doing something different and changing your game plan at any time.

Goodluck,
Kim

[Skim]

Hey-
I think pam had some good words of advice. And since you are planning a UC, you know what feels right and what doesn't. It seems that you would know in plenty of time that babe is not right before needing a transfer...

pam: how is your client handling this same situation?

I felt like you did when dd wouldn't turn anterior before she was engaged in my pelvis. My midwife stressed me out about it, and my back pain was horrible, and I worried about back labor so much that I was doing relatively every thing I could think of to turn her. And of course she did turn, well before labor. Not that his helps you - I know you said you weren't worried when your #1 wasn't anterior until labor... but it's that UC thing, you know? (I'm UCing too, so I'm sympathizing here) Knowing you are responsible for making that decision based on your true gut feelings and not outside stress.

Do you have a prenatal midwife stressing you out/worrying about this for you? If so, stop going! If not, try to listen to your instinct and follow what feels right later. You're not due for another week or so, so who knows?

Will be thinking happy spinning baby thoughts...

[pamamidwife]

Skim, my client is just handling it, I guess. Her baby has been all over the place - a very busy little one. The only thing I mentioned was if her water breaks before labor, to lie down and give me a call. I'm not too worried about cord prolapse because I'm not worried about her water breaking before labor necessarily. It's good to be aware of these things, but they don't have to become your reality.

[flapjack]

If you want to do something, try acupressure or acupuncture. They have a 60% success rate with turning breech babies at 38 weeks- and as yours isn't breech, just the head hasn't engaged yet, the odds would seem much better for you.

[starlite]

What's so terrible about a posteria position??? My DS was born staring at the ceiling - and I had a back labor WITHOUT an epidural (just gas and pethidene) and we turned out just fine. I had no tearing and no episiotomy (the snip) and was able to make love to my husband quite comfortably after 3 weeks - not the usual 6 week wait.

The only thing I'll say is that it was a very painful 13 hour labor!!

[applejuice]

Your baby still has time to turn.

good luck and do not worry.

Happy baby

[Skim]

Originally Posted by starlite

What's so terrible about a posteria position???

The OP said the baby's position wasn't posterior, it was diagonal (oblique).

Posterior is not awful, I agree.

[june'smom]

Thanks for all of your responses.

Skim,
My midwives don't seem to care that the baby is diagonal at all. So no pressure there. I really think that the pressure to ahve everything go "right" because we will be UC is what is making me nervous. My mom has been asking a lot of nervous questions and letting us know that she is not entirely comfortable with our birth choice. Not having her total support is hard. She and I are very close, but her last birth was hard and my brother had trouble breathing and had cord problems, etc... so I understand that she is just concerned, but it is still hard.

But on the bright side, I had one strong contraction the other night and after that the baby was is a little better position. I think that a few good contractions will move babe.

It helps that Dh is so relaxed about it. He isn't worried at all.
Louise

[Kundalini-Mama]

This happened w/my 2nd baby, and IIRC quite a few of us UCers were going through the same positioning or had gone through it. The key w/my son's birth, is that I felt that everything was fine, so I was not at all concerned.

He ended up dropping at 37w3d, and was born exactly a week later after an easy, painless 5 hr labor.

hth
Amy

wanted to add that I would think this is more common w/subsequent babies, and I see that this is #2 for you. In fact, of us Dec moms, I believe those who were going through it were all on at least #2.

My son was also small, about 6 1/2 lbs, and was breech up until 35-36w as well. I knew he was smaller than his brother, and I felt everything was fine. And I'm sure the stress from your mom is not helping. Any chance of cutting her off until the baby is born? I always need a lil' protective cave until the baby is actually out