What Is It Like Giving Birth To A Baby In The Posterior Position?
Dec.08, 2009 in
Baby
My midwife told me today that the baby is facing towards my front instead of my back.
Has anyone else been through a birth with a baby in this position? What was it like and were there any complications?
December 8th, 2009 at 3:51 am
My second was like that up until right before I gave birth, while I was in labor I got on my hands and knees because that’s what the nurse told me to do and when he was born he wasn’t “sunny side up” as they call it. I heard that if they are actually born face they may have some bruising on their face just from going under the pelvic bone, I do know for sure that it did cause me to have sever back labor.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Its harder to push out a posterior facing baby as the wider part of their head is the presenting part vs. the narrower part.
You most likely will experience back labor too…nasty.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I pushed for 3+ hours with my son in that position. We had no luck turning him and he was eventually a c-section. I had horrible back labor with him.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Are you absolutely SURE that you want to know dear, lol?
Ok, I will tell you as my first birth was a posterior one.It was an unbelievably long, painful unfruitful labor.Nurses are reluctant to give you any pain medicine until the very end or until you are at least opened up to 5 centimeters which can take forever with a posterior baby.Thankfully after some 40 hours of labor I was finally given a c section which you might think was a bad idea but it saved my & my baby’s life. Now, how to endure( survive) a posterior birth…
Depending on how close you are to having the baby if it were me I’d start doing some easy yoga & walking to add flexibility and strength. You will need all the stamina you can muster up for this event. Try and eat small protein filled meals up to the time you actually start labor. Hydrate yourself with sports drinks that have vitamins.You’ll be thirsty and the hospital won’t give you anything except ice chips to suck on. They claim that you’ll puke it up so they only give you ice.Ice barely ever quenches your intense thirst. When labor starts don’t be in such a big hurry to go to the hospital because these types of births often take longer than than the other ones. Hang out at home as long as you can until the squeezing sensation comes closer and closer together time wise.
During labor pain breathing through the pain didn’t do a damn thing for me but rolling over onto all fours and crawling into doggie postion helped take the pressure off of my lower back. So please use this position even if you are hooked up to monitors.Don’t allow the hospital personell to intimidate you by telling you to lie down on your back. If the pain gets too bad get on all fours . This position is great & gently rock and sway your body to ease pain.You can stay in this position for several hours if nessacary as long as you take a break every now and then to rest your knees and hands. If you have money you can also hire a doula( birthing helper) to be there for you. There are some theories that they can help massage you & the baby and get the baby to roll back into the correct position. Also if you beleive in alternative medicine for Gods sake get acupuncture or have an acupuncture doc come to the hospital to help with pain relief during labor.The problem with me is that I was a small person with a posterior baby & his large head. Not a good combination to add a posterior birth position to.My baby and I both suffered a lot and it was needless pain due to a worldwide ridiculous obession at the time ( 1991)that everyone must “must have a natural” birth. What a pile of manure, seriously. When men and insurance companies start having babies then they can tell me what to do. Until then I say STFU. Anyway,listen, if they offer you a c section take it. It will be easier on you in the long run and can save your baby’s life especially if they get a high fever or experience distress due to their position.
It’s essential for you to have an advocate( friend, or family member with a big mouth) there at the hospital to intervene in youir behalf. You need someone who’s not afraid of doctors & nurses and who will demand that you be treated well asap.Otherwise medical personel do what (they) think is best and that is often not whats best for the mother or child.Sorry to scare you but do everything that you can to save yourself and your child.I know I would if it were me .