I give to you, the speshulist of sneauxflake questions

[Deleted]

I'm sure I'm over reacting to this but a friend, who is pretty educated  about child birth and doesn't typically  spew random crap that she hasn't researched, just suggested to me that my labor won't get going fully and I am having starts and stops because maybe baby in brow presentation position (head tipped back instead of forward and positioned to come out forehead/face first) because I spend so much time reclining and reclining will make that happen.   She said I need to get on an exercise ball and bounce straight up and down to get him straightened out properly before next week. 

HUH?  Yeah, I've googled the crap out of this since she told me that and am not finding anything at all that makes me think this would legitimately have any validity to it.  I'm still fairly sure my labor is pseudo starting and then stopping because I'm only 38+3 and baby just  isn't quite ready, despite the fact that I'm almost half way dilated and nearly completely effaced.   And yet, here I am asking if anyone has ever heard of this and wondering if she's right.



And if this is just too speshul to wrap your brain around, then by all means, gif party!

[bendherova]

It certainly can't hurt to try the exercise ball, but, I lean more towards he's just not ready? But, I don't have any real clue.

[dogmama22]

I just heard something about reclining causing baby to turn the wrong way, but I don't remember where. I have not heard anything about this impeding labor.

[bruunk]

Uh... I'm with you on this one - sounds like LO is just not quite ready (I'm sorry you're getting starts and stops). I mean, the ball can't hurt but I don't see how the ball can fix the brow position. I keep imagining baby floating up and down while you're bouncing and I'm pretty sure that's not exactly what happens -I'm also a FTM so I'm new to this, I could be very wrong.

[Deleted]

Jun 3, 2015 16:14:12 GMT -5 @jemomma said:

From what I've read, brow position is very rare. And even if that is the position LO is in there are some things your OB can do to help him change positions so you can still deliver vaginally.

Honestly, I think it is more likely you are just experiencing prodromal labor. There have been a couple ladies on this board who have also had a similar experience - maddib for example.

All of this is exactly where my head is at.   It was the fact that it came from this particular person that stopped me from saying "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!"

[Girlymama79]

I had prodromal labor for days with dd2. Drove me nuts. She was born sunny side up. Coincidence? Probably.

[honeybunches101]

How on earth could she possibly know which position your baby's face is in?? Lots and lots of pregnant women have contractions that come and go in the last weeks of pregnancy, we can't all have babies in the brow position.

DS was born face up and pushing was tough, so this time around I am trying not to recline quite as much, but eh. Bouncing on a ball couldn't hurt, but I would focus more on positions you can get in during labor based on what your doctors/midwives say about his position then.

[Deleted]

Jun 3, 2015 16:47:18 GMT -5 @hazeldublin said:

SQ what is prodromal labour?

@jimbobcooter there's no harm in bouncing on the ball anyway, or even crawling I've heard that can get baby lower. But I honestly think baby's just come when they come.

The only way this baby can get any lower at this point is to actually start emerging from my vagina.   LOL He's already lower than zero station.

[lunalovegood]

Not gonna lie, I was googling that exact thing last week. I then proceeded to shake my ass while on all four and bounce on the yoga ball for about two days straight. I can't say that it helped but it certainly doesn't hurt.

[ladymouse]

There may be validity to malposition delaying labor, but at 38 weeks, you're probably just not ready (weren't you 4 cm dilated? How on EARTH is that delayed?) However, doing exercises to correct malposition can't hurt. There aren't really any large studies looking into malposition, though. The validity of the theories are up for debate.

What she's likely talking about...
spinningbabies.com/start/in-pregnancy/38-weeks-is-baby-engaged-yet/

[ladymouse]

Jun 3, 2015 16:51:26 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

Jun 3, 2015 16:47:18 GMT -5 @hazeldublin said:

SQ what is prodromal labour?

@jimbobcooter there's no harm in bouncing on the ball anyway, or even crawling I've heard that can get baby lower. But I honestly think baby's just come when they come.

The only way this baby can get any lower at this point is to actually start emerging from my vagina.   LOL He's already lower than zero station.

OK, reading that...  Is your friend taking hallucinogens or something?  'Cause... Even if you're not in labor, that's progress.

[Deleted]

Jun 3, 2015 17:25:09 GMT -5 ladymouse said:

Jun 3, 2015 16:51:26 GMT -5 @jimbobcooter said:

The only way this baby can get any lower at this point is to actually start emerging from my vagina.   LOL He's already lower than zero station.

OK, reading that...  Is your friend taking hallucinogens or something?  'Cause... Even if you're not in labor, that's progress.

He is seriously locked and loaded down there. I don't know how he could possibly change out of his current position, regardless of what that is, with his head that far down. 

[lc1158]

I remember them saying in our birth class that the heaviest part of baby's head is the back of it so being on all fours can help because of gravity...which would make sense kind of, with what your friend is saying (reclining has gravity working towards your spine) but sure don't quote me.
+1 vote for thinking that baby just isn't quite ready yet

[maddib]

Jun 3, 2015 16:14:12 GMT -5 @jemomma said:

From what I've read, brow position is very rare. And even if that is the position LO is in there are some things your OB can do to help him change positions so you can still deliver vaginally.

Honestly, I think it is more likely you are just experiencing prodromal labor. There have been a couple ladies on this board who have also had a similar experience - maddib for example.

Yep it lasted for weeks! I did dilate to a five so labor was shorter well that's from the pitocin I imagine. It sucked but I made myself feel better by saying "hey I am halfway there before labor even starts!" Stop and go bad contractions for weeks. My LO was in the right position. The nurse did manually pull my cervix down and rotate it. I didn't know they could do that but she wasn't moving baby.

[dmoney]

Jun 3, 2015 18:37:59 GMT -5 maddib said:

Jun 3, 2015 16:14:12 GMT -5 @jemomma said:

From what I've read, brow position is very rare. And even if that is the position LO is in there are some things your OB can do to help him change positions so you can still deliver vaginally.

Honestly, I think it is more likely you are just experiencing prodromal labor. There have been a couple ladies on this board who have also had a similar experience - maddib for example.

Yep it lasted for weeks! I did dilate to a five so labor was shorter well that's from the pitocin I imagine. It sucked but I made myself feel better by saying "hey I am halfway there before labor even starts!" Stop and go bad contractions for weeks. My LO was in the right position. The nurse did manually pull my cervix down and rotate it. I didn't know they could do that but she wasn't moving baby.

That just sounds extremely painful!! I was checked for the 3rd time in a week last night (ive going to the hospital twice now for lack of baby movement and we thought I was in labor) and just the last time being checked yesterday hurt the most... I cant imagine having your cervix being pulled down manually and rotated... Please tell me you had some sort of pain meds when this happened. 

[maddib]

Jun 4, 2015 11:16:43 GMT -5 dmoney said:

Jun 3, 2015 18:37:59 GMT -5 maddib said:

Yep it lasted for weeks! I did dilate to a five so labor was shorter well that's from the pitocin I imagine. It sucked but I made myself feel better by saying "hey I am halfway there before labor even starts!" Stop and go bad contractions for weeks. My LO was in the right position. The nurse did manually pull my cervix down and rotate it. I didn't know they could do that but she wasn't moving baby.

That just sounds extremely painful!! I was checked for the 3rd time in a week last night (ive going to the hospital twice now for lack of baby movement and we thought I was in labor) and just the last time being checked yesterday hurt the most... I cant imagine having your cervix being pulled down manually and rotated... Please tell me you had some sort of pain meds when this happened. 

Nope no pain meds at all. My white blood count was extremely high so even though I was being induced with pitocin I couldn't have the epidural. I thought it was the worst pain ever until after delivery I hemorrhaged and they had to pound on my stomach for an hour and a half and then the doctor stuck his whole hand up inside me while pushing on my stomach and scooped out two handfuls if clots. I was still bleeding and I guess almost died so I had the emergency D&C. The upside to the D&C is that I have pretty much zero bleeding. Normally it's like a six to eight week period after birth but not for me. They scraped everything out. So I guess that's pretty nice. But ya the pounding on the stomach (I have huge bruises all over my abdomen) and the hand up my vagina was the worst pain I have ever felt. Ever. My voice was gone the next day from all the screaming. And I guess I scared the shit out if every patient that heard me. Needless to say I can't ever have anymore kids as this would happen again. I was really close to a hysterectomy if they couldn't get the bleeding to stop. We weren't planning on anymore children anyway but now DH is even more adamant about it. It was quite the horror scene with blood everywhere. Poor guy thought I was dying and kept waking me up when I would pass out due to blood loss. Sorry this ended up being long winded and probably frightening to you! Thank God for modern medicine !!!!

[txngrl31]

I say baby is not ready yet!

[carolyngrace]

My DB was born face up and I did spinning babies and avoided reclining. Also had a fast labor. I really doubt the position is "making" that happen. But posterior babies can be more painful to push out, so doing those exercises while you wait can't hurt.

Also, shit I wish your body would get on with it!! That sounds so hard. Come on baby!!

[dmoney]

Jun 4, 2015 11:23:50 GMT -5 maddib said:

Jun 4, 2015 11:16:43 GMT -5 dmoney said:

That just sounds extremely painful!! I was checked for the 3rd time in a week last night (ive going to the hospital twice now for lack of baby movement and we thought I was in labor) and just the last time being checked yesterday hurt the most... I cant imagine having your cervix being pulled down manually and rotated... Please tell me you had some sort of pain meds when this happened. 

Nope no pain meds at all. My white blood count was extremely high so even though I was being induced with pitocin I couldn't have the epidural. I thought it was the worst pain ever until after delivery I hemorrhaged and they had to pound on my stomach for an hour and a half and then the doctor stuck his whole hand up inside me while pushing on my stomach and scooped out two handfuls if clots. I was still bleeding and I guess almost died so I had the emergency D&C. The upside to the D&C is that I have pretty much zero bleeding. Normally it's like a six to eight week period after birth but not for me. They scraped everything out. So I guess that's pretty nice. But ya the pounding on the stomach (I have huge bruises all over my abdomen) and the hand up my vagina was the worst pain I have ever felt. Ever. My voice was gone the next day from all the screaming. And I guess I scared the shit out if every patient that heard me. Needless to say I can't ever have anymore kids as this would happen again. I was really close to a hysterectomy if they couldn't get the bleeding to stop. We weren't planning on anymore children anyway but now DH is even more adamant about it. It was quite the horror scene with blood everywhere. Poor guy thought I was dying and kept waking me up when I would pass out due to blood loss. Sorry this ended up being long winded and probably frightening to you! Thank God for modern medicine !!!!

Not going to lie this made me tear up just  now.  I dont know what DH would do if he had to witness that scene.  You have a very strong Husband!

[keen]

I'm lurking from s15, but holy crap maddib. Just.....you poor thing!

[keen]

Hai, @jimbobcooter, lurking from s15...

I'm not convinced by your friends reasoning of why your labor is stalling, but I JUST read an article shared on the Natural Birth boards that specifically mentions how the mothers posture (specifically reclining) can affect baby's presentation at birth. Here's an excerpt:

Practical steps to avoid posterior positions

The baby's back is the heaviest side of its body. This means that the back will naturally gravitate towards the lowest side of the mother's abdomen. So if your tummy is lower than your back, eg you are sitting on a chair leaning forward, then the baby's back will tend to swing towards your tummy. If your back is lower than your tummy, eg you are lying on your back or leaning back in an armchair, then the baby's back may swing towards your back.

For more detailed discussions of positioning, some good diagrams, and lots of tips for turning babies, please see the sources listed at the end of this article.

Avoid positions which encourage your baby to face your tummy. The main culprits are said to be lolling back in armchairs, sitting in car seats where you are leaning back, or anything where your knees are higher than your pelvis.

The best way to do this is to spend lots of time kneeling upright, or sitting upright, or on hands and knees. When you sit on a chair, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk should be tilted slightly forwards.

Watch TV while kneeling on the floor, over a beanbag or cushions, or sit on a dining chair. Try sitting on a dining chair facing (leaning on) the back as well.

Use yoga positions while resting, reading or watching TV - for example, tailor pose (sitting with your back upright and soles of the feet together, knees out to the sides)[3]

Sit on a wedge cushion in the car, so that your pelvis is tilted forwards. Keep the seat back upright.[3]

Don't cross your legs! This reduces the space at the front of the pelvis, and opens it up at the back. For good positioning, the baby needs to have lots of space at the front

Don't put your feet up! Lying back with your feet up encourages posterior presentation.
Sleep on your side, not on your back.

Avoid deep squatting, which opens up the pelvis and encourages the baby to move down, until you know he/she is the right way round. Jean Sutton recommends squatting on a low stool instead, and keeping your spine upright, not leaning forwards.

Swimming with your belly downwards is said to be very good for positioning babies [1] - not backstroke, but lots of breaststroke and front crawl. Breaststroke in particular is thought to help with good positioning, because all those leg movements help open your pelvis and settle the baby downwards. [3]

A Birth Ball can encourage good positioning, both before and during labour. See Birth Balls article on the MomCare website for more details.

Various exercises done on all fours can help, eg wiggling your hips from side to side, or arching your back like a cat, followed by dropping the spine down. This is described in more detail in an article on www.wellmother.org - 'Exercise for relieving backache' by Suzanne Yates.

More ideas from a Shiatsu teacher specialising in pregnancy care: Shiatsu and Optimum Foetal Positioning, again by Suzanne Yates.