[ADVICE] How can I avoid a posterior birth 2nd time around??

[Heaven]

Yep, get onto the Spinning Babies website ASAP!!

Acupuncture and Chiro can also help

[Shanti]

Thanks everyone! I have heard of the spinning babies website when pregnant last time but I never really looked into it as I had no reason to, DD was, the whole time in the pregnancy, in ideal positions!!

She was never posterior UNTIL labour started I believe!! so wasn't much I could do to prepare kwim?

I've started reading about this more this time so I'll be prepared for it.....I'm not scared of having another posterior birth, pain doesn't scare me, it's just that I'd PREFER to avoid it!! (obviously!!). I'm aware that sometimes these babies just won't budge no matter what we do!

I'm pretty confident labour and therefore pushing stage in general will be much shorter, or at least 'easier' this time around being my 2nd birth too although I was pretty lucky last time as labour was only 9.5hrs all up too.

Thanks so much everyone. I had an awesome birth last time considering the OP position of DD and the tearing.....just hoping to avoid that this time around so it will be even better!!

Heaven - yep gonna see my AP alot more closer to labour!!

[Arcadia]

My midwife encourages crawling along the hallway, playing on the floor on all fours etc from 34 weeks. Before then, they just summersault around a lot (well 2nd babies do anyway). She also encourages leaning forward while watching tv and relaxing, sitting backwards on chairs etc...basically avoiding reclining on your back.

I did this religiously when pg with DD and if nothing else, it helped me feel I was doing something!

[human bean]

I was told to imagine a beam of light shining out of my belly button, and to try and make sure at some point it would make contact with the floor, hence, not slouching, sitting just a bit forward rather than leaning back. Meant I could still lay down on the couch, just turned slightly on my side shooting that beam into the ground

[Shanti]

I was told to imagine a beam of light shining out of my belly button, and to try and make sure at some point it would make contact with the floor, hence, not slouching, sitting just a bit forward rather than leaning back. Meant I could still lay down on the couch, just turned slightly on my side shooting that beam into the ground

HB, that's not a bad suggestion! Thanks, will try! Now DH will see me doing these positions and trying to shine my light beam on the ground and he'll be wondering what on earth I'm doing haha

I'm such a huge sloucher!! That's half my problem!

[skybie]

hey hun,just letting u know Jack was a well behaved baby and was born anterior. i'm a major sloucher too

[Shanti]

hey hun,just letting u know Jack was a well behaved baby and was born anterior. i'm a major sloucher too

hey Skybie. I'm glad to hear he was well behaved for you and was anterior....gives me hope. Glad I'm not the only sloucher xx Thinking of you.

[Yeddi]

There's quite a lot of evidence to suggest that babies who adopt the possy position do so either because they have to (i.e like mine who did it every time the monitor pads were put on) or because of immature vestibular systems. The vestibular system starts to develop around 14 weeks, and the best way mum can help bub develop this system is by walking, particularly up and down gentle slopes.

[Soph28]

Hi Shanti, I know exactly where youre coming from! My DD was posterior and I had a week of pre labour, 16 hours of labour all up with 3 hours of pushing. I had 4th degree tears. No drugs!! I think the shape of your pelvis or uterus can play a big part in it from what I have been told. ALso, I did EVERYTHING to change my DDs position leading up to the birth (she was posterior for 6 weeks and engaged for 4) and it didnt do anything. Might be pelvis shape, might be because she was extremely squashed in there because I didnt seem to grow very big even though she was 3.5kg and 52cm long, who knows. Her head was the hardest bit - it was in the 90th percentile. Extremely painful.

[water_lily80]

hey there, my 1st was posterior too, he turned during labour when i laid on my side....the all 4's possie also helps.

Having said that, #2 & #3 were anterior...yay!! So it doesn't definately mean your next bub will be posterior as well

xxx

[sneakysparkle]

When I was pg with DD#1 one of my midwives was adamant that I do everything possible from 34wks onwards to avoid my baby being posterior. She gave me a handout (alot of the stuff is the same on spinning babies) and insisted I always sit with my knees lower than my hips and not to recline - if on the couch lie on your side!
I ended up sitting on the floor alot, or backwards on a chair.
All the best darl!

[Junglemum]

A midwife told me yesterday it is unusual for subsequent labors to be posterior. My second was which is why she commented.

Like Persephone said I think it's luck of the draw my girl was in the perfect position leading in and then turned posterior when I was in labour. I had an active labour, no lying down, on the ball or leaning forward over a chair but i think A posterior labour is just unlucky. Fingers crossed for third time around.

Optimal positing using all the techniques described gives you the best chance but no guarantees. I honestly think the power of the mind is an amazing tool, so focus on a good anterior position rather than worrying about a posterior one. Good luck!

[Isadora]

My first was posterior and I was petrified that my second would be too. I was always on my Dr's case at each check up, wanting to know baby's position. Was sooo anxious lol. BUT in the end, we avoided it the second time around. I really didnt do much to avoid it, just hoped for the best haha! GL!

[Shanti]

Thanks everyone!! I am nearly 30 weeks so will be starting to focus more on my OFP and the spinning babies website to try and keep bub anterior It's hard to say at this stage as bub is moving around so much in there!

You're right, focusing on having an 'anterior' labour/birth this time around is more important than stressing about not having a posterior labour/birth!