[Submitted Question]

What happens if the baby is face up in the birth canal?

[WombToBloom]

If the baby is “sunny side up” or face up in the birth canal, it makes for longer pushing, in general. The head normally flexes and then extends as it passes through the normal contours of the birth canal. A baby who is face up, isn’t going by the normal contours of the birth canal and needs to extend and then flex so it fits through the birth canal. This is more difficult for a baby to do and it often gets stuck under the pubic bone, unable to pass through easily.

Sometimes, the baby spontaneously spins around to be face down and then everything goes much quicker after that but other times, it does not and the pushing phase is that much harder. It doesn’t mean you have to have a Cesarean section, but if the fit is already tight, it might end up that way. Usually, however, the baby is delivered vaginally but is delivered slowly and the mom will be very tired pushing the baby out that way.

[Chesapeake Birth]

do lots of hands and knees positions to encourage your baby to spin into the easier delivery position. when laying down do so on your left side. have a partner wrap a sheet around your bottom when your in a kands and knees position and wag your bottom like a dog. gently visit the spinning babies website.

[WombToBloom]

I'm not sure what you mean by "gently visit the spinning babies website".

[Knoxville Doula]

About Spinning Babies. it is a website for techniques to turn breech babies.

remember the rule with back labor should you experience it also: assume any position but being on your back!! Hands and knees, squatting, etc. Pushing can last longer, but utilizing gravity will serve you well. Ask if you can use a squatting bar attached to the bed, or push on your hands and knees for a bit.

[Chesapeake Birth]

oops I ment wag like a dog gently. full steam ahead to the spinning babies site.

[WombToBloom]

Ah! Ok, that makes sense. Good info, thank you!

[Doula Jenny]

Ugh... my 1st was in the posterior position/ sunny side up. there's ways to get the baby in a better position (check out the spinning babies website) or if you end up like my and have your baby turned internally when completely dilated. posterior babies make for a longer harder labor but, if you skip the chairs and opt to sit on a birth ball for the last trimester as much as possible it helps settle the baby into the pelvis easier. a birth ball costs around $10 and you can buy it at wal*mart I LOVED mine during my 3rd trimester,in labor, and still use it after nearly everyday.

[bones206]

For doulas, try using a rebozo, a long piece of cloth, for reducing the pain of back labor. Have the mom sit on a chair and pull the rebozo around her hips. Push in on her knees towards the back of the chair and pull the ends of the rebozo. This has worked really well for me to give counter pressure. I get good responses from all laboring moms that I use it on but especially during back labor!

[WombToBloom]

Wow. I feel so out of touch, lol. I have never heard of one of these! And welcome bones206! If you are a doula we highly value your expertise and I know moms will appreciate it as well.