Is posterior presentation...

an easier birth? My midwife told me that this presentation makes it easier for bubs to turn during labour so that its back is against my belly. My Ob told me that it can make for a longer labour or that it takes longer for labour to start? And also that the baby's head was looking towards my right side so that it wasn't ready for labour to start yet, but that it was 3/5 engaged.....

Just a little confused, has anyone been given advice about the 'presentation' of their baby and whether or not that affects how soon labour can start? I dont have another appointment until Monday, but was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on this.....

FYI, I was due on the 11th so that makes me currently 3 days over my edd.

Hmmm, sorry I don't know... I had thought that posterior presentation means longer labour... and lots of back pain. But I'd trust your hp over me :)

Hi Hun,

Generally a posterior baby makes for a longer labour, your pain will be in your back and its not fantastic. But in saying that. My second baby was posterior and while I did have a shocking back labour I did it in just over 1 and a half hours. So I'd hate to see what short would have been for me.

Have a look at the spinningbabies website hun. I thas heaps of stuff on there for optimal foetal postioning. That could be what is holding you up.

same as snacks.. altho some woman dont notice any difference, my bub was posterior and the back pain was hideous, all up labour for three days... and my back has never been the same.. my friend didnt even notice and had 5 hr labour... check out the info on ultimate positioning in the labour pages.. id post the link but im terrible with things like that...good luck with ur birth, how exciting...

Oh you should definitely try to get bub into anterior position. Posterior is generally longer and with a lot more back pain. I ONLY remember back pain with my labour. It was excruciating. As far as labour time goes my 'true' labour was 6 hours. That whole time he was turning. Once he had turned I went from 5cm dilated to 10cm in 10mins!!! Then three pushes and he was out. Oh if only he had been anterior.
I got through just with gas but from what I have heard that is great for a posterior birth and many women need to go for more.
Having said that, maybe yours will be different.

I have had 2 posteriers babies. One was vag birth - and a labour I will never ever forget due to the back pain. He was born within 8hrs though.
Other resulted in C section as his head was flexed backwards aswell, so after 25hr labour, I had emergency C Section.

My back has not been the same since the first one. I would definately be trying to turn bubs.

I hope your birth is quick and relatively painless.

Don't want to scare you...
my baby was posterier... and it was the most excrutiating pain I have ever experienced. Doctors recommended epidural as soon as they saw me (I was only 3cm dialated). The epidural was the most wonderful thing - but apparantly that slows down delivery.

Baby was starting to move, but extremely slowly - and when we got to 7cm dialated - he just stopped turning... and I stopped dialating. Then the monitors picked up that baby and me were becoming distressed. Reluctantly, the doctor said I needed a ceasar. After 13 hours of waiting for my baby to come out - I was more then happy to have a c/s. Especially as my baby was just over 4kg/9lb... so he was a big boy. The c/s went really well, and I had a great recovery.

I hope that your baby turns, or the doctors are able to reach inside and turn him/her.

And best wishes for a happy birth!!!!

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I think I might have gotten it wrong.

My baby has its back to my left side with its head facing across to the right. From the spinning babies website it seems that's a relativel good possy for baby to be in. Maybe I should open my ears a little more & perhaps ask a few more questions. Now I remember the midwife saying to make sure I sleep on my left side to stop baby from going posterior!! Talk about having baby brain! When I saw all the comments it made me think 'no wonder baby doesn't want to come yet'!!

I think I will be having a good chat to my OB on Monday morning unless things start to happen before then.

Thank you all very kindly for your feedback.

It sort of sound's like your Mid and OB are both referring to different positions so no wonder you are confused!

Posterior is spine to spine, with babys limbs at the front. Can you feel knees like golf ball sized poking out and little scratching feelings like hands? No obvious round squishy bottom?

Anterior is opposite, bubs facing your spine with his bum in the air. Do you get that big side to side movement and its harder down that side of your belly? This big wobbly movement is him shifting is bottom from side to side and the harder bit is his back.

My bubs turned turned head down at 28 weeks, then just last week he was breech for a few days and now he is back to dorso anterior (had ultrasound this week). For awhile there my baby was sitting with his head towards my left hip but he has straightened up (for now anyway)!

To encourage a baby into an anterior position spend some time on all fours each day. Also, rotating your hips will help the baby to descend, you can do this standing up or leaning against the wall or with your partner. Both are great for labour and the all fours is especially good for delivery for both posterior and anterior presentations.

All the best to you and your little one!!

August x