Position of baby

[Rachael200694]

I've recently been to a class about active labour and the midwife was talking about foetal positioning. When you go into labour do they check if the baby is facing the right way or back to back? If so, do they just do it using their hands to feel if they think they're positioned in the best way possible? Thanks!

you get a decent idea from feeling your tummy really. if and when they do a vaginal examination then they may confirm that depending on how dilated you are. by and large though as long as baby isn't totally misbehaving then he will come out. it is more about different positions than right or wrong ones.

I'm not sure about in labour but if you're in the uk they should be checking by feeling your tummy at your later antenatal appointments. I'm 35+5 and baby was lying transverse (sideways) at 34 week appointment so have a scan to check his position on Friday.

If he hasn't moved ill be offered an ECV where they try to manually move the baby (not sure if I'll accept that yet). If I refuse that or it is unsuccessful I will be booked in for ELCS as that is safer for baby than trying to deliver him transverse.

I'm a first-timer so no expert - I'm assuming they will double check when you're in labour that baby is in correct position. Hope that helps.

They check at your ante natal appointmemts and some positions they will offer a c section for is transverse you have to have a section. Breech you can try for a normal birth depending on what type of breech, if tos footling breech then you need a section. Or they will offer ecv where they try and turn baby, this is normally done at hospital/in theater just in case of any problems which mean they need to do c section.

Other than that they will see of baby is back to back, this can make labour longer/harder.

Or if this lying on left side or right side, either is fine.

Google optimal feotal positioning and you can find ways of encouraging baby into a good position.

They will check in lab our as well by palpating tummy and can also check with a vaginal examination.

They feel your tummy at your midwife appointments. My baby was back to back until yesterday, I was advised to lean forward a lot over a birthing ball, and try to spend time each day on all fours. Seems to have worked, in due next week and she's on her side which is fine. I wasn't happy about having a long labour which apparently often happens when baby is back to back!

Think they check for back to back but no one picked up my DD shoulder dysoicia, I was pretty sure I was feeling her elbow in my lower groin.

They feel your tummy and I also had an internal by the midwife when I was in labour.

At least 5 midwives in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and when I was in labour had said that the baby's head was engaged and the midwife doing the internal said she could feel the baby's head.

They were all wrong. Dd was breech. I never truly believed them (dd had been transverse for a long time and I had never really felt kicks at the top of my bump). It took the dr doing her rounds to do a double take and ask for a scan to find out her true position.

I honestly wish I had had the courage to trust my instincts and be more forceful.