Remind me... does baby come face down?

[GinaRae]

When a "normal" positioned baby's head is born... remind me, is it face down and then turns??

[A&A]

Well, if you're on your back, then "normal" position is baby face-down. But if you're laboring/birthing on all fours, which is actually a much more natural position, then your baby will be face-up, normally.

[GinaRae]

I ask because I am trying to think of reasons his face was so bruised and I am wondering if it was a natural thing or my fault. I was having a hard time during pushing...

[Undercover Hippie]

I've seen other babies with bruised faces, usually when they were in a wonky position for a while in labor, when it was a very tight squeeze, or when pushing was hard (usually due to a slightly odd position of baby). I don't think it's your fault though!

[GinaRae]

Maybe it was the wonky labor position then. He was my first with back labor but luckily after a while on hands and knees and then standing up, he found a better position.

[Isaac'sMa]

I'd bet it was not your fault, but that his position wasn't optimal. With Isaac he was OP and had a lot of broken blood vessels in his eyes and a bruise on his forehead. He also had a serious one sided conehead/hematoma from me pushing for so long with him in not the best position. No lasting impact. Good thing babies are so hearty!
How long did Lach's bruising last? I never noticed any in your pics...and like I said, I'd bet it wasn;t your fault.

[chrysalis]

certainly NOT your fault gina! i'm glad lachlan made it out vaginally. yahhoooo! and sheamas too...apparently he had turned OP and my MW said she felt he was still not exactly as anterior as the OB made him out to be upon being born. it was amazing to me that he eventually made that turn up and out w/ me on my back. i think flipping from side to side really helped a lot to get him into position. he didn't have a bruise though. it sounds like your babe was OP if you ask me...face bruised from tight squeeze past the sacrum or something? hmmm. man, my bum is still bruised externally from birthing sheamas...yow!

[lisarussell]

baby's face should be toward your tailbone if you're lucky.

[GinaRae]

Hate to admit it but while pushing was quick, I wasn't keeping my legs open (one MW was struggling with me) and thought maybe I pushed his face into the pool floor. But the bruising showed immediately and so I think its cause was during the labor???

He was bruised and quite swollen... his lips are no where near the size they were at birth, his nose was swollen, and his eyes are round now instead of almond slits.

Big lips http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...ach-vernix.jpg
Bruises cheeks/nose/upper lip http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...h-bruising.jpg
Another shot of bruising/swollen eyes http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...niners-hat.jpg
How he looks now http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/a...ks-papasan.jpg