Trying not to freak about OP baby...

[Curlita]

Baby has been occiput anterior for 4 straight weeks, and then suddenly decided to turn occiput posterior on Tuesday. I've been doing cat cow and trying to keep my knees lower than my hips (thus having to choose between getting the swelling in my feet to go down and getting the baby to turn around again), but so far he is not cooperating. On Wed my midwife said she wasn't worried, that I should just get on hands and knees if he was still OP when labor started.

I appreciate her confidence, and I have been told over and over that I have a spacious pelvis and baby still has plenty of room to flip around. But I'm a little worried anyway... I'm 39 weeks, and no strong signs of impending labor yet, but who knows?

Any words of wisdom?

[Heather Marie]

Erica-

This baby has been posterior for several weeks and isn't turning very quickly. The MW keeps reassuring me that the baby may just wait until labor begins to turn, but I am also a little worried. She had also said the baby still has room to move.

I have been spending lots of time on my hands and knees, doing pelvic tilts, sitting on my birth ball, but it hasn't gotten me anywhere yet.

[Undercover Hippie]

Mine was OP for the last few visits and my MW said the same thing... be sure to get into hands and knees as soon as labor starts! She thought he'd rotate quickly at that point and then engage and descend in a good position so there would be no issues for the birth. But even if he didn't turn, she was very reassuring about that. She said for moms that have spacious pelvises an OP baby is *not* the end of the world. If baby decides not to turn it doesn't have to be a problem. She said it would be a more uncomfortable labor but not necessarily longer, and that he'd come out fine no matter what. I'd still rather not have the back labor, but at least I was glad to know it didn't doom me to a longer or more horrible labor and birth... we will be fine!

[Curlita]

Originally Posted by Undercover Hippie

She said for moms that have spacious pelvises an OP baby is *not* the end of the world.

Whew, okay, that's what I was hoping to hear! Not sure why it makes me feel better coming from YOUR MW than mine. Anyway, nice to hear others are in the same boat. Trying to be patient and do what I can, and let baby know what I expect. This *is* the same kid who hitched his placenta up 5 CM away from my cervix.

[adon]

my babe was anterior the whole time...until last week....now posterior:. MW isn't worried. DS was posterior also...turned after labor started. this babe moves around so much, i'm trying not to think about it too much, i think babe will correct sooner or later:.

[DeChRi]

Mine flips back and forth and my Dr says no worries....they will do that many times right up until birth.

I would worry more about getting that maternity leave stuff done.

[Angierae]

Not on your DDC, but just wanted to let you know I had a wonderful labor with my last, who was OP. I never really had a lot of "back labor". The counterpressure was nice, but I could take it or leave it. She turned right before transition (when we tried the knee to chest thing for the 3rd time) and was born face down. I do think it made labor a little longer. But for me it made the early stages longer, I had about 12 hours of labor (short ctx 5 min apart) before things really got going. In the end it was great b/c active labor and transition and pushing all lasted 3 hours total--I really enjoyed the "easier" part of the day with my family getting worked up and excited and prepared to have another child. Try not to focus on it and know that you ARE going to have a beautiful birth! Good Luck!

[Curlita]

Originally Posted by Jojo

Mine flips back and forth and my Dr says no worries....they will do that many times right up until birth.

I would worry more about getting that maternity leave stuff done.

Joanna you are a harsh taskmistress! I'll go post on the accountability thread.

[HarperRose]

My babe switched directions CONSTANTLY, even while I was in labor! He ended up coming out facing my left leg.

[DeChRi]

Originally Posted by Curlita

Joanna you are a harsh taskmistress! I'll go post on the accountability thread.

Really big of me since I have decided to toss my list right out the window.

[Curlita]

Originally Posted by Jojo

Really big of me since I have decided to toss my list right out the window.

Hey, just keep me entertained and you'll be providing a service! I have 500 fundraising letters to sign today. :