Optimal positioning for labour - getting there

[GreenwichB]

Any midwives out there ? Had 36 week apt today and was advised to keep feet up as much as possible due to ankles like footballs. But was also told to start sitting on a birthing ball / scrubbing the floor etc as baby back is curving nicely on the left hand side and needs to move into a more anterior position (?) or else I'll be having a back labour which sounds like it is best avoided.

So - which do I prioritise ? I've got another 2.5 weeks at work so that's lots of sitting at a desk. How much time to spend on all fours versus with my feet up? Wish I'd thought about it more and asked more questions and as I don't see my midwife team again for two weeks, slightly concerned that it will be a more difficult process by then with the baby growing.

bumping as in same position- 39 weeks though. Greenwichb does your baby move to the right side every now and then. Mine does just wish he would stay there. my mw did say baby would probably move in labour with some strong contractions.
I dont know how long to spend on the ball one or two hours a day?

Yes - every so often but usually when I've been asleep on my right side for a long period of time. Shifts right back as soon as I turn over and I thought that was fine as everything I read says to sleep on your left side as much as possible.... so basically I need to spend time lying on my left hand side, with my feet elevated and somehow in a face down direction to give a gravity bump to the munchkin. Any yogic experts out there ? Should I just buy a hammock, cut a hole in it and have done with it ?

I would say (not as a midwife)
that I would spend time doing both. when you don't have your feet up - get your bum in the air and scrub some floors.

Hi! I'm also 39 weeks, but my baby won't move over to the left side, he's just sitting there all curved up on the right, which my midwife's said isn't ideal for birth, so now I'm confused . I was told not to lie flat on my back, sit forward all the time, and no lounging on the sofa Does any of this sound normal?

same boat here girls! 38 weeks and a back to back baby, been told to rest due to oedema in feet yet when not resting to spend as much time as possible on hands and knees, difficult when the sofa is soooo comfortable,

think the neighbours have had a good giggle aswell this week seeing me bounce in the garden on a bright blue birth ball

so far no luck, think i have a stubborn little madam in there lol!

Just had a brainwave as also have same problem. why don't you lie on your front on sofa, with pillows under bump and pillows under your feet, so they are raised in the air? i'm going to try this tomorrow - I am lucky in that I have a long sofa and loads of cushions and pillows. Will also set it up so I can see TV and read comfortably..!

My little man moves to the left when it suits him. I think its going to be crawling about and bouncing for me then. I think there might be something on spinning babies about back to back. I also read that if you sit on the sofa with legs up as long as your pelvis is higher than your knees it will help. Also sit on cushion in car for same reason. Like we dont have to worry about. Is anyone else a tad scared about their baby staying back to back? I am due exactly a wk today and worried... More worried I could have to wait 2 more weeks.

sorry that should read- like we dont have enough to worry about. Darn phone

Try not to worry too much. My baby was back to back right up until the day I went into labour but she must have turned during the whole process, so it can happen!

You could take a 'birth ball' into work and sit on that at your desk. Can do circles on the ball which is great for positionging.
There is good info on resting positions and ideas for positioning in labour hhere-
www.spinningbabies.com/

Selina x

From what I can gather, the majority of babies are actually back to back when women go into labour, but the vast majority of them turn during labour. it just means labour is longer and more painful (great!). I am trying not to worry about it too much.

Just to say that I had a back to back birth with first.I didn't know until after he was born.But I managed to do it with pethedine only,although it hurt like crazy getting to 10 cms,after that though it was fine...managed to stand for the pushing and delivery,to be honest I couldn't have lain down,the pain was all in my back,when I had expected it to be "down there",so try to stay positive,I'm sure all will go well.

Am 40+ with a baby who prefers hanging out on the left my midwife said hands and knees would help, started sleeping on the right and today it appears to be central again, not too positive as it moves a lot still