Optimal Fetal Positioning question

[LiLStar]

Does following optimal fetal positioning "rules" simply keep baby in a good position during pregnancy with the assumption that it will remain in a good position during labor? I ask because I read about it, but didn't put any huge effort towards it because at every mw visit, she was LOA, which is how I wanted her to be towards the end of pregnancy right? I always sat on the birth ball at the computer, but I did spend a lot of time in a recliner, or on the couch, in "bad" positions. Is that a mistake? during labor she went from LOA to ROA to ROT to OP. I know there's no way to be certain, but if I'd done better at avoiding recliners and such, might she have remained in a better position in labor?

I'm NOT trying to beat myself up and dwell on what I can't change, I'm just trying to understand as much as I can so as to have a better experience next time. So basically, does optimal fetal positioning refer to keeping baby in a good position during pregnancy in hopes that they stay that way in labor, or does it encourage a good labor position regardless of pregnancy position? (does this question make sense? lol)

[AbbieB]

:

I want to avoid 51 hours of back labor.

I also find that I am more comfortable this time in some of the spinning babies recommended positions this time around. Does this baby know something I don't?

[Jenlaana]

I don't think I would worry too much unless babe got into the wrong position. A lot of times, they just know how they're supposed to be and go there. I spent a lot of time on the birth ball because it relieved my lower back pain, but if I wasnt on the birth ball for back pain, I was doing whatever was comfortable and most of it was what you're not supposed to do according to the book.

If my babe was facing the wrong direction (breech etc) I would definitely do all of those advised things in hope of an easier labor, but otherwise, no biggie. But thats just my personal opinion.

[LiLStar]

my dd was positioned perfectly through pregnancy than flipped posterior in labor I had to have a c/s because of it. Thats why I wonder if I followed the "rules" better if she wouldn't have turned around. I was homebirthing and we tried for a *long* time (2 full days of labor, yikes) to get her out or to get her to turn around, and it just wasn't happening. My pelvis just didn't want to let a sunny side up head pass through. I'm definitely going to try a chiropracter next time as well, to see if that helps.

[Snork]

There's a lot of luck in the whole thing, quite frankly. OFP is supposed to help position the baby for a good labour - but pelvis shapes differ and babies do their own thing.

I have a roomy pelvis but an oddly shaped one. My babies sit OP until I do my pelvic rocking (on hands and knees and on my pregnancy rocker). Then they turn nicely and tuck their heads. For about two hours. Then they turn back. In labour I rock - eventually baby turns OA again. Its just how I am.

[wombatclay]

The OFP during pregnancy is to help your babe find and settle into a familiar/comfortable/and "good to go" position. There are similar positions that can be used during the birth itself to help a babe rotate to a better position...as well as positions/interventions that tend to cause a babe to move out of that good position.

Nothing to beat yourself up over...if your little one was in a good position before the birth then sitting in the recliner probably didn't cause them to move during the birth (unless you were sitting in the recliner for the birth that is!). But you might want to find a copy of the Labor Progress Handbook (by Simkin) since it goes into a lot of detail about positions for the whole birth process that can assist in positioning. And perhaps study/print out/have handy the labor suggestions from the different OFP sites (like spinning babies).