baby's back toward my right hand side - harder labour?

[beka277]

Im just a little confused. My doc said a week a go tht baby was lying on its side - with its back to my right hand side and its face looking toward my left hand side. He said it would worry him if it were my first baby (longer pushing time) but becoz was my 2nd baby would onky take abt 20 mins to push.

Does anyone know wht u call this position? I thought it would b referred to as posterior but now im not so sure...Ive been doing exercises recommended for posterior babies but not sure if i should be!!?

Anyone else have the same thing?

My baby was in the perfect position throughout my latter stages of pregnancy and then turned into a posterior position once I was in labour and screwed everything up! They can turn right up until the bitter end so I wouldn't worry too much!

beka - it makes absolutely no difference whether baby is on the right or the left as far as labour and pushing are concerned, the main ones to avoid if possible are the posterior positions which can make it more painful and difficult.

If I remember correctly about 60% babies are on the left, 30% on right and 10% posterior.

There isnt really a name for this, just the description of 'back to maternal R or L', on vaginal exam it would be any of the positions of Right Occipito Anterior (ROA) meaning the back of the head is on the right side facing downwards, or ROT(transverse) or ROP(posterior)

HTH

Be sure to keep mobile in labour and allow the baby to turn (which they all seem to do when we let them). And ditto Mintpurple.

This was the same situation as my labour. DS turned into this position and I couldnt seem to get him out of it before labour.

I had a very long latent phase - contractions every 5 - 10 minutes lasting 60 - 90 seconds which were in effect just turning him. These werent overly painful though - managed without gas and air but this stage did last about 18 hours (sorry!).

Good news was that he then turned and i went from 3 cm to him being born in 1.5 hours. There was no problem with pushing him out - 35 minutes - first baby.

You can try to get in positions which encourage them to look towards your spine - leaning forward rather than slouching - over a birth ball perhaps. In bed lie on your left hand side with your right knee over so you are kind of leaning towards your tummy - as much as that is possible at this stage lol!!

xxx

Sounds more like your baby is ROL or Right Occipito Lateral. Absolutely nothing to worry about! Sit on a dining chair or birth ball instead of the sofa when you can. The sofa is the modern day cause of OP (back to back) positioning.

Lisaxx

Sounds more like your baby is ROL or Right Occipito Lateral. Absolutely nothing to worry about! Sit on a dining chair or birth ball instead of the sofa when you can. The sofa is the modern day cause of OP (back to back) positioning.

Lisaxx

A ROA/ROL baby is statistically more likely to turn posterior. In my case, unfortunately, this is exactly what happened. DS was ROA and did a 270 degree turn and came out the right way around. Not a pleasant experience, but what labour is, ROA or not?

Optimum foetal positioning techniques are worth trying, but I must warn you they didn't work for me. However I think DS's position was also influenced by my placenta (anterior) and very tight abdominal muscles.

My DS was ROL, and I only ever sat on my bouncy ball while at home and did stints on my hands and knees in the last few weeks, but he was definetly wedged in there until just before labour started (was induced with a pessary).

The good news is that it was quite an "easy" birth, as they go, so I don't think he went back-to-back.

good luck!

Babies who are back to back usually turn at the last minute anyway, so yes labour will probably be longer and progress will be slower but you get there in the end. However, even if baby didn't turn they can deliver normally. They just look up instead of looking at mum's bum! I've delivered 2 in the past month (both uncomplicated and without a tear).

In general, optimum fetal positioning has good rates of success you just have to keep at it!

Lisaxx

I was just about to have my waters broken with dd2 (3rd child) when the mw commented she thought the baby was posterior (well first she said she thought she was breech but she just had a small bony bum that felt like a head thank goodness!!). Anyway it wasn't what I wanted to hear immediately prior to final stage labour esp. as I tore badly with the other 2. Anyway she gave me a small episiotomy during my 2nd push and I didn't even feel he head coming out. She was born in just 3 pushes, I hardly felt a thing and almost cried with relief. Deinitely the easiest of the 3. So basically- I wouldn't worry about it too much. IME the most important fator in having a good birth is a midwife who knows what she's doing (sadly lacking in my 2nd labour!) !

Don't panic. It's your second baby so you know the score. It will be fine. Both mine were back to back and they are the lights of my life. the birth is only the beginning. enjoy it,!!!!!