Baby Facing Left -- Is that a problem?

[GinaRae]

I was reading the thread about baby facing forward. What if the babe insists on facing my left and almost never deviating? Is this going to be a problem?

Babe is so low all the time, really grinding my cervix when I bend over, etc. And it seems s/he never moves. I feel fingers and toes mostly to the left and sometimes the front.

[Valerieg]

DD was facing that way right until full term...at which point my hypnobirthing instructor told me to spend as much time on my left side and/or my hands and knees. It worked.

Many babies move into a better position during labor, others don't, the biggest worry with the position your babe is in is that you'll have back labor.

I watched TV every night propped up so I could be comfortable on my hands and knees (we're talking hours). And I never deviated from my left side. Oh, and don't lean back. Even to put your feet up!

There's a lot you can do to get your baby in the "right" position. If you need help go to www.spinningbabies.com.

It isn't a problem per se...but I'm pretty crazy with making sure this LO is in the right position. I had a great L & D with DD and she was in the "right" position going into it. I figure it doesn't hurt to at least start out the same way.

GL!

[melissakc]

I asked my MW this question at my last appt. bc everyone talks about the ideal position being LOA (left occiput anterior) and the "back labor" position being OP (occiput posterior), but what's wrong with ROA? If the pelvis is symmetrical, why would it matter whether the baby is facing left or right?

She said it does matter bc of the way the baby's head needs to turn to get out and the angles involved in the bones. It's not as bad as a posterior baby, so that's good.

She also told me that it is much easier for the baby to turn from left to right than from down to up at this point, so I think there is still plenty of time for your baby to get to LOA. Just do everything the PP said and put caution tape on the recliner!

[scheelimama]

Honestly, I never thought so much about the position of my babies until the last few months of being on this DDC. My first two girls both faced my right side with their backs solidly on my left side and feet up in my right rib or down on my right hip, the whole last half of my pregnancies. I never once thought to worry about it. And both labors and deliveries were fairly normal with no "back labor" or interventions needed.

This one is in a weird transverse position, and I'm really not worried yet. In fact at my last appt., the mw said it was too early to worry and she wouldn't even check palpate to see what position the baby was in because it really didn't matter she said. And you're a few weeks behind me, so I really don't think you should worry yet.

[LittleLlama]

:

Woah, I don't think about position at all. I can't even tell where she's at. I feel something hard and roundish at the same upper left but I don't know if it's a shoulder, butt or head!

[pixiesmommy]

Pixie was facing left and I did have back labor. OWWWW! They kept telling me if I relaxed some in between contrax that she would turn. Well, I couldn't relax. They tried me on Stadol in an IV and that DID NOT work. They sat me up (I was laying at this point- EXHAUSTED from about 60 hours of labor) and started to give me an epidural. I've said this before, but it was the ACT of sitting up that turned her- just sitting up and being still for the epi- NOT the epi itself. Epidural had YET to kick in- the needle was going into my back when I wanted to start pushing.

So, if you get "stuck" in labor and baby won't turn- sit up and don't move like you're getting an epidural and see what happens!!

Manda

[wwisdomskr]

Gina! Don't make me come over there!

Who is it in our DDC that talks about "borrowing trouble?" You have enough on your plate right now, Mama. Trust your baby and your body. Babies work hard during labor to get into the best possible position. Your job is just to let baby do that by not getting into a hindering position yourself, kwim?

Your baby is going to get into the perfect position and slide out of your body like butter!!

[GinaRae]

OMG you're so right, Jessica. I am so lost right now and questioning everything. All the info everyone gave me is great and I should follow the advice but not go crazy worrying. Never once have I worried about positioning with any of my kids. I'm just really on shaky ground here...

[wwisdomskr]

I know, sweet Mama. We are here to hold you up...