Optimal position in weeks up to birth

[JuneMammy]

Hi girls,

Im wondering about whether there are specific exercises you can do in the few weeks before the birth to maximise the chance of a Left Occipital Anterior (LOA) positioning during labour.

Im in week 37 now (first baby). Up until very recently all the little movements i felt were on my right side, and my left side was pretty solid, so i felt there was a good chance that my baby was in the nice LOA position. Over the past couple of days the movements have been more concentrated in the centre of my belly and i am now wondering if my little baby is turning towards the front (i.e. into a less desirable Occipital posterior position). My midwives haven't been able to advise on the position as the placenta is at the front, so these are only my thoughts on it.

I read on the spinning babies website (www.spinningbabies.com/) that many babies have their hands to the front in the short time leading up to labour, and their backs are more to the mums back, so maybe this is no problem and the baby will turn towards the LOA without much trouble. Im just wondering if there is anything that can be done in advance to increase the liklihood of this. Or maybe this is something that i should not really be worrying about til the labour itself?!

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated !

My baby was OP at my appointment this week (I'm 35 weeks tomorrow). Midwife suggested kneeling over gym ball and rocking backwards and forwards, and if I go swimming to hold onto a float or similar so that belly is pointing down (if that makes sense). Getting on all fours is also supposed to encourage a good position.

Thanks a lot Imkeepingmum - i'll get on the ball right away! Hope it works for you too -you have a few weeks yet anyway .

Sleeping on left side, and
any posture/position that involves being leant forward. As my mother likes to point out - washing the floor, hoovering, ironing....haha mum. But yes, keeping active is the best thing.

For rest times, if you're on the couch rather be lying as flat as possible on your left, not sort of reclined...

i bounced on the ball, was on my hands and knees, slept on my left, walking all day etc etc.
every midwife appointment said baby was in good position.

to cut a long story short i had emcs as ds was stuck in OP position.

some babies just don't want to come out the 'normal' way.

try not to worry and just be prepared to go with the flow when it comes to labour!