38 1/2 weeks and posterior

[Robinna]

I'm scared now. We realized about 10 days ago that the baby is most likely posterior, i've been doing hands & knees or knees & birthing ball, w/ pelvic tilts, for at least 15-20 minutes/day ever since and s/he has not moved, in fact think may actually be WORSE - I'm getting belted in the belly button today. I've contacted my hypnobirthing instructor and will be getting together with her for a turning session (and anxiety release for me!) on Sunday but I'm really scared of back labour. This is my 1st baby and I've been trying so hard to do everything right, but I'm terrified that I won't be able to deal with back labour or that the baby won't be able to get through and we'll end up in the hospital. I was so confident and now I just feel like I'm losing it. The baby's head is really deep in my pelvis, I don't know if s/he even CAN turn.

Trying really hard to stay calm and finding it really difficult. anybody know anything else I can try?

[grian]

Try doing a web search for Optimum Foetal Positioning, you will find some good information. Try this site for a quick start. Hang in there and I'm sure you will get some more advice from this community.

[Cathi]

Try doing hands and knees for a lot longer than 20 minute intervals. The point is for the baby's heaviest part to swing around, so long periods of that position will more likely work than short periods. I mop my kitchen floor by hand which takes about an hour. Also, if you have access to a swimming pool floating with your belly down in the water for a long time, like 30 minutes, may work. It relaxes all your muscles and feels better than being on your knees. Try using some pool noodles to hold onto in the water. Make sure you're sleeping on your left side at night too and never reclining during the day. Avoid car rides as lots of seats don't promote the best position.

Good luck!!

[rockymtnmama]

Hi, I haven't posted in the homebirth forum in a looong time but when I saw your post I had to respond. I had both of my babies at home and like you, my first was posterior. I was very concerned about it having heard horror stories of back labor and did everything I knew of to help the baby turn. Well, he stayed posterior until literally seconds before he was born and then the little booger did some quick manuvering and turned himself around right as I started pushing. I did not have horrible back labor. My labor was actually wonderful and intense and challenging and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I did most of my laboring in a birthing tub and then sat on a birthing stool when I was pushing. I just wanted you to know that a posterior baby doesn't necessarily mean your labor will be miserable. Hope you have a great experience!

[Carolinamidwife]

http://www.spinningbabies.com/

and homeopathic Pulsitilla.

HTH,

Amy

[laurashanley]

My third child was posterior and I didn't have any back labor at all. The anxiety you're feeling about this can actually cause more problems for you than the position of the baby. My first child was born face first, my second was born feet first, and Joy was posterior. All the births were easy (and unassisted). It's just a matter of truly relaxing and trusting your body. Good luck!
Laura

[bfbabygirl]

Originally posted by Sheena
and homeopathic Pulsitilla.

HTH,

Amy [/B]

Can anyone explain to ignorant me why my Pulsatilla Nig. 30 C says for 'Colds with Runny Nose'? Is this the same or is the spelling really 'Pulsitilla'?

Thank you.

I'd like to think that back labor isn't necessary with posterior but I too am scared of posterior presentation!

[somemama]

You CAN get through back labor naturally, with supportive people there to help you (perhaps partner or doula). Believe me, I've been there!

My dh applied a LOT of pressure to my lower back while the doula applied a hot compress there at the same time.

[pamamidwife]

Pulsatilla is used for many things - including turning babies that are breech or posterior. What is says on the label is the most common use for it.

Sometimes, just the early labor contractions are enough to turn baby into a better position. Check out the spinning babies, site. Keep your knees level with your hips (NOT higher!) - and relax.

The good news is that most women (first timers) that have posterior babies rarely go earlier than their due date - so there is still time to turn your baby!

And, yes - too much worry about it won't help. It is what it is. Surrendering is sometimes the first lesson in parenting. Just work with what you can without making it an obsession or anxiety- producing.

[MaWhit]

I personally don't see posterior as being a big deal... About the only position that makes me nervous is a footling breech.

My first was posterior and I didn't even know it until after she was born. My second wasn't , but both labors hurt a lot.

Don't worry too much about it. If baby doesn't turn, there may be a good reason for it (cord too short, etc) that we couldn't possibly know about. Baby will come out just fine either way. And babies still change position in labor, too.

[Spark]

Hi, I just wanted to chime in, too. I've given birth one time, did HypnoBirthing to prepare and had a very posterior baby that never turned. I pushed him out sunnyside up. It wasn't bad at all. I loved giving birth to him. I never had back labor. I never feared it either.

That fear you have tied up in back labor sounds like it's the most harmful thing you have going on right now. Having a HyB sessions sounds like a great idea. Self exploration would really help, too. Birthing From Within has some great practices to turn inward & explore. (I'm thinking specifically of the artwork exercises).

Best of luck. The suggestions here sound great!

[kerikadi]

I agree with many of the other posters here that it's not that big of a deal. My third was not posterior until the day before she was born. I felt she had turned and my MW confirmed it but told me not to worry and everything would be fine. I spent most of my labor on an exercise ball and was very active throughout. I did have some back labor but it wasn't as bad as all the horror stories I had heard. My labor was only six hours and when my water ruptured on it's own I felt my baby rotate 180 - I felt her head spin against my cervix - pretty cool & weird feeling. She was born less than 10 minutes later and was not posterior upon presentation but was a compound presentation. I would take posterior over compound any day of the week!
Try not to worry your baby could rotate at any time between now and birth and if he or she is determined to come out posterior that's ok too.

Keri

[applejuice]

My first two were posterior. OUCH! The second was far worse because he had a deflexed head...and it was big...I am only five feet tall and weighed 140 pounds at both deliveries, so it was pure mind over matter...!

...getting through those two extremely difficult labors has helped me face anything in life...I am wonderwoman!

But I got through it! The third was EASY! I deserved it! The fourth was ... o.k.

They are all here and healthy.

Organically grown, born at home!

Good luck to you!

[ldsapmom]

I, too, birthed a posterior baby and I did not have one bit of back labor -- and he was 9.5 pounds. It was not easy, mind you, but it did not seem unusually hard -- having babies can be hard work! But our bodies are inherently designed to do this, and they can.

I came across this at the ICAN website -- it is about turning breech babies but I was impressed by the different ways to connect and communicate the author touched on, some I would have never thought of. http://www.ican-online.org/resources/wp_breech2.htm

Prayers and Blessings,
Stacie

[Robinna]

Thank you everybody for all the support and encouragement. I'm feeling a lot more philosophical about it, still doing everything I can to get shim to turn but not so panicked as I was. My mum arrived yesterday and she's just a calming presence for me and her attitude is great - the baby will do what the baby will do and I can get through it anyway. My brother (her 1st) was posterior too through labour but turned for delivery - the way she puts it, he made her "extremely uncomfortable" but it was fine, and fast (my mum had amazing precipitous labour - brother in 12 contractions, me in 6, my sister in 6). I'm just going to try to focus on telling this baby how much I love shim and s/he'll do whatever s/he needs to do, right?

Did a neat mental exercise in bed last night, turning my negative thoughts into mental "photographs" then tearing the pictures up and burning the pieces. Very liberating, that.

thanks again everybody.

[tanjarine]

My second baby was HBAC and he was posterior which I realized when my water broke.. the midwife actually rotated him while I was in early labour. I was on my hands and knees and she manipulated his head slowly and gently while a student midwife rolled the baby while massaging my belly in one direction.. They did it very slowly over about 30 minutes but it worked. Maybe this is an option when in labour?

[tanjarine]

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