Does a posterior cervix mean that baby isn't in a "good" position?

[huskermommy]

I've been wondering, with this start/stop labor and being 5cm dialated with a posterior cervix means that the baby is in an unfavorable position.

I know baby is head down... I can definitely feel the head right there. I know that the baby is laying on my right side as most of my babies do. The placenta is up on the left side. When baby gets the hiccups, I feel it pointing towards my left hip sorta.

Any thoughts? Ideas?

[Spark]

One of the first signs of impeding labor or early labor is an anterior cervix. It's one of the very first things that happens. So, your cervix being posterior has nothing to do with fetal positioning. It just means you're not in labor right now this second. Some people find their cervix moves to mid-point and then to anterior the day or two before labor. Others don't move forward to anterior position until labor has been underway for a little while.

Now, a baby on the right side, is most likely posterior. Right Occiput Posterior (ROP) is the 2nd most common vertex position ( www.spinningbabies.com ) with optimal fetal positioning being Left Occiput Anterior (LOA).

Some women's bodies just naturally encourage ROP. I'd make sure to study up at Spinning Babies to see if you can encourage LOA. If not now, then certainly to use their techniques in early labor. See if you're drawn to their info or if you just intuitively feel that your babe is right where he/she should be.

And, sheesh, way to dilate, woman!

[huskermommy]

OK. I feel REALLY REALLY stupid here... I think I made a mistake... My cervix is pointing towards my stomach... So that's the opposite of posterior, right?

ETA: Claire, I haven't read your entire response yet. I just started really thinking about it! Now I'm going back to read the whole thing!

[huskermommy]

Ok, so my cervix would be anterior then?

I have checked out spinning babies several times but I am still having a really hard time determining positioning even with their help. I can feel the fairly hard smooth back along my right side. Sometimes baby will rotate to the left side, too. Hmmm....

[Spark]

Oh, good, it's anterior. See, that makes more sense, because usually it has to go anterior before it ever starts to dilate. Usually we see labor progress as:
1. Cervix moves from posterior to anterior.
2. Cervix thins.
3. Cervix dilates.

Well, what I take from Spinning Babies is what works for me. I make sure to not recline anymore (esp important in car seats). I taylor sit. I try to lay just on my left side (or I'll start out on my left, switch right & then lay left the rest of the night). I do lots of hands/knees positions. That's what works for me & helps my baby stay LOA. (birthing one posterior compound positioned baby convinced me to PRACTICE spinning babies in future pregnancies)

When your baby is posterior, you usually feel SO much more movement in the front of your belly than when he/she is anterior. When anterior, you usually just feel movement down low & to the far side. Feeling the hard smooth back is a good landmark for sure.

[huskermommy]

Ok. Good. After I wrote posterior I got to thinking that didn't make sense. Sorry for the confusion!

As far as movement goes I'm thinking this lo is facing my back. When I do get kicks and such it's always on my side and occasionally up on top. I always try to sleep on my left side too. I pretty much do what you do... Start on the left, rotate to right, and then come back to left.

Well, looks like all things are go! Just have to wait for this lo to be ready!

[huskermommy]

: Ok... So obviously I'm having issues. I decided to check my cervix just to make sure it was really anterior. Uh, NO! It's NOT! It is VERY posterior.

I am so out of sorts about everything now. I wonder, is the baby posterior? Why is it's head soooooo low? I can literally stick my finger in 2-3" and feel it's head. Am I ever going to go into labor? My dd was at 36wks and ds at 38. Is labor going to be awful because of the baby's position? Am I going to tear again w/another posterior birth like w/my dd?

I just feel like CRAP! I am so sorry!! I hope I feel better tomorrow. I'm wondering if I should make an apt w/my doctor. But that's $50 in gas alone. Ugh. I mean, its not like he could tell me much anyway. I'm just scared labor is a long ways off now and I don't know why it's bothering me so much.

[Emily12581]

Don't worry about it Tabitha. Your cervix will go anterior before birth Some people don't go int he "right order" of things I have been anterior for 3 days now, not thinning out at all and am only a "stretchy 1cm." My midwives said anterior is a good sign that things are happening, but not a sure bet it'll happen anytime soon, so you are probably fine.

I've been irritated that labor is probably way far off for me too, it's also normal One thing tot hink of is that your carvix could go anterior hours before giving birth and it is just one more of those "signs" that thrwos us out of whack and makes us obsess

[huskermommy]

You're so right, Emily. Thanks for the level headed post! I know I'm just being over emotional! Last night I think I came to the realization that just because I had my other babies early, certainly does not mean this lo will be. I am now expecting to go to at least my edd. That way I won't feel so disappointed every night it doesn't happen.

Sometimes, I wish I didn't know so much about my body so I could live in fairy tale land and be completely oblivious. So now instead of being a downer I'm going to think of it like this... "I've never been THIS pg before!! How exciting!! :"

Maybe if I put a spin on it, I can get thru the days!

Thanks again for your support everyone!

[hyz]

Can you actually feel your cervix at all? I don't know a ton about this, but if you can feel it, I'd venture to say that you're not WAY posterior, and that maybe your cervix has already started moving back to the middle position. I haven't been able to find my cervix for weeks now, no matter how far in I try to reach, and it's not like I have stubby fingers or anything (sorry if TMI), but I can definitely feel baby's hard little head through the vaginal wall. Last week, my OB said that was all normal. I'm 37 weeks today, and I'll have my first internal exam on Thursday--I'm looking forward to hearing if there are any changes yet....

p.s. my baby seems to prefer the LOA position--she has been that way for months now, although last week she did switch to ROA for a couple days, including the day I was at the doctor's--it was very odd for me, all the sensations I'd been feeling consistently were suddenly the mirror image of themselves. But she's back to LOA now. Don't know if any of that makes a difference, just FYI.

[Tenk]

I'm so glad this thread is here. Even tho I've read thru spinning babies, I still didn't toally understand. My LO is just like Tabitha's. His behind, and back are on my right side MOST of the time, and the kicks are way far out to the side of me or close to my spine. He does switch to the left side some, but always goes back to my right side. I CAN reach my cervix, just only the outside "lips" if you will, and not the whole thing. So that must mean that it's not 100% posterier (thank you epo) and the fact that is feels all mushy to me has to be good too.....right?

Taibtha, I'm glad that you are looking at this from a calm perspective now, I woke up yesterday freaking out that I was going to itch from the rash for the rest of my life and baby would never come. I'm some what calm now too. We're here for you mama!!!

[aprilibarra]

my babe's head is realy low as well, but i can't get up by my cervix. I'm not very aggressive either though, butits around the head and can't get around it.
dh offered to check but my cervix hides and it makes exams really uncomfortable. i hate not knowing, even though i walked around a week at 3-4 with my 1st and it just didn't mean anything.

[aprilibarra]

husker, i know what you mean. i'm only 37 and 1 day, though baby is showing all signs of term and i cook them quick, i just assume that i'll go early, and i'm sooo uncomfortable...having contrx since 20 wks and now i'm here and they suck but not knowing....ugh! I can feel your pain, sister. Hang in there.

[huskermommy]

Thanks mamas

FWIW, NOTHING is ever TMI for me

Teneal- I totally understand you on the spinningbabies thing. I've gone thru that thing so many times and my head just spins LOL! Being mushy is a good thing! Mine's really soft too. It's almost like I could just push it away, like it could just melt. If that makes any sense! I am so sorry you are still dealing with that rash! I hope you find some relief. It would be nice if the end of pregnancy was the most comfortable part, uh?

April- That's such a good point about being dialated and still being pg for awhile. It's been roughly a week here at 4-5cms for me and nothing. And WOW! Ctx since 20wks!! You are such a trooper! It's silly isn't it? It's not like we're only half way thru our pg's... We're all so close to the end, yet it seems so far away!

hyz- Yeah, I can get to my cervix. BUT, when I first go "in" (sorry!) to find it, all I feel is baby head. I have to reach around the back of the head (or front) to feel my cervix. Does that make sense? I guess I've never had it where I couldn't reach my cervix. Granted, my fingers are very short so it's even more of a challenge to check for dialation. Now, when ppl say they can feel the head thru the vaginal wall, what exactly do you mean? When I reach in, the first thing I feel is the baby's hard head. It's not to the front or the back, it's right in the center. Is this what everyone is referring to? Sorry if I sound ignorant!

I've really just decided to relax and just let nature do its thing. I started thinking about it and if I expect to "trust birth" than I need to start trusting the baby and my body. For some reason I've lost that focus during this pregnancy. I think part of it is that I feel like the baby and I have not had a chance to "connect". I feel like I just found out I was pg and now here I am, so close to delivery and I don't even feel like I "know" my baby. Sorry for the rambling!