Due date today-midwife says baby in lateral position-what does it mean?

[caroline345]

Question is pretty much as title thread says. I am due today-no signs and when i saw busy midwife who wanted a cup of tea more than talking to me (she was running more than 30 mins late and 'gasping for a cuppa'-not my problem) she felt baby and said the position was lateral. Is this as bad as it sounds -i thought the baby could move around to the optinum position for birth anyway? Today she has just made me feel worried and more uncomfortable-been having every sign of labour for days but no developments-getting me down. She was quite patronising aswell and i just came out of there and cried. Its not a midwife bashing thread because i know they do a good job with too many patients to see, but i thought i'd come out knowing more and now im more worried about what might happen? Moan over.

I am not 100% sure, but I think what she might mean is that rather than the baby's spine running up the front of your tummy, his/her spine will be lying to one side.

My ds was like this, but he turned during labour and I managed a natural birth with just gas and air.

Try not to worry - enjoy relaxing before the baby comes (if you can)!

She'll have probably said it was left or right lateral, meaning to which side of your body the babies spine is lying. Either side is absolutely fine.

Sorry you felt so upset after your appointment. My baby is in a lateral position and I've been advised that this is a completely normal position from which to start labour, so don't worry! Left Occiput Lateral is slightly better than Right Occiput Lateral, not really sure why - I think babies on the right side are slightly more likely to turn back to back in labour - but a normal birth is quite possible in either case. Good luck, hopefully won't be long now! :)

It simply means that baby is lying with their back halfway between your front and your back. It baby has their back to your back they are posterior, if their back is to your front it is anterior and lateral is somewhere in between! No problem at all, perfectly acceptable position for baby to be in.
Btw, you cannot have had 'every sign of labour' surely. Contractions lasting 60 seconds, 3 minutes apart, coming regularly? Cervix 4cm dilated? Don't mean to sound awful but you must have perspective on 'early labour' and how it can stop/start for several days or you will become demoralised and tired.
Just as a side from a tired midwife (and this is not a pregnant woman bashing thread ) Have you considered why she was running late? In my experience it is because a major problem has arisen with one of the women I've been caring for (fetal death, signs of serious illness in mum) and has to be sorted. You are having a normal pregnancy (brilliant).
No, the fact that midwives work entire days/shifts without food/drink/breaks is not your problem but it would be nice to think the women we cared for gave a shit about someone other than themselves (rant over).

caroline, try to relax a bit. A normal pregnancy lasts between 37-42 weeks. Your baby is due some time in the next couple of weeks.

And your midwife is entitled to be thirsty. As reikizen points out, if they're running late you have to spare a thought for why. They work so very hard and without food and drink for long periods.

My dd was always in a lateral position. It's fine.

Thanks for your replies-not a go at the midwife at all just a hormonal pregnant woman who was anxious and not sure at what she meant by the position of baby. I know the midwifes work very hard so please dont think i dont! Im relieved everything is normal and thnks for the info.

If I'm pregnant again I hope I'm not "cared for" by Reikizen. Great facts presented but the one thing that is important about a midwife is the ability to care. One who appears wrapped up in being half an hour late and needing tea or one who begrudges having to work hard (many people in many jobs do, it's just how their job "is") does not appear to care enough - whether that is actually the case or not.

A worried mother who could give birth in a matter of days being confused by terminology that she is not familiar with should not be the one cutting the slack in that scenario.

Caroline345, glad you got the reassurance you need (shame about the telling off) I hope you have a lovely speedy straightforward birth.

Caroline, if it helps at all I was especially tearful / hormonal the day before I went into labour with all four of mine. It got so bad with the last baby that I confined myself to bed for the good of the rest of the family!

Good luck for your birth :)