Like an egg
Today we had our last –wishful thinking, haha- midwife appointment.
It went really well as usual, and the midwife talked with us about some concerns. We were asking about skipping the eye gel, which she ok’ed as she skipped it with both of her children, and her thoughts on the vitamin K shot, which we’ll be getting. The good news is that the hospital is baby-friendly, and most of the afterbirth care and testing will be done while she’s in my arms.
When she went to check the baby, she discovered that the baby’s position is now like that of my least favorite egg:
Apparently, she wants to see the world as soon as she comes out 😉
I was wondering what was going on, because her movements have seemed so different than usual. She’ll move, and instead of confidently knowing what part I’m feeling sticking out of my belly, I’ll have no idea. And it totally explains the debilitating back pain I’ve been having- baby and I are spine to spine right now.
The back pain has been going on since Wednesday night, and pretty much nothing has been able to make it feel better. (Back rubs from my madre have certainly helped, though) On Wednesday night, I laid on the couch, with Bella curled next to me, tears streaming down, and this morning, I had to hold onto the countertop in the kitchen before I writhed to the floor. I sat on the floor laughing because it shocked me how much it hurt –I was cracking up- and at the same time, I had tears falling down my face. It was definitely intense. Tom was laughing because he said I’m going to be the girl that the nurses are talking about because I’ll be cracking up the entire time I’m in labor. My mom said I could be in labor right now and have no idea since I’m only feeling it in my back, but the midwife thinks I still have a couple of weeks to go.
Baby has plenty of time to flip back to her side, could even turn during labor, and the midwife gave us an exercise to encourage her. I’ll lay on my back with a blanket under my hips, and Tom will grab each side of the blanket and lift my hips off the floor. He’ll rock my hips from side to side, and then quickly raise the right side of the blanket, tipping the right side of my hips up. She suggested doing this two times per day. The good news is that she’s head down, but I’m definitely hoping she flips back over before go time.
Because, as usual, Babycenter is a pro at scaring me:
If my baby is posterior at birth, how will it affect my delivery?
Mothers whose babies are face-up at birth tend to push longer, more commonly need Pitocin to stimulate contractions, and have a significantly higher risk of having an assisted vaginal delivery or a c-section.
Those who do give birth vaginally to a baby who is posterior are more likely to have anepisiotomy and severe perineal tears than moms whose babies are in the more favorable face-down position, even after you account for the higher rate of forceps and vacuum-assisted delivery.
There are a few tips I’ve found online:
-Pelvic tilts on hands and knees
-Hip movements while sitting on a stability ball
-Hot shower on my back
-No reclining
-Prenatal yoga
Did anyone else have a sunny-side up baby? Did he/she turn? Anything that you found to help with pain, or turning the baby?
Friends sans kids: favorite type of egg? I’m more of a scrambled, steamed or over-medium girl 😉
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Oh, yah, girl. Feeling those back pains. I’ve heard back labor is pretty rough. (((HUGS))) However, you’re a fit gal so, if anyone can handle it and bounce back, it’s you! Hope you get some good advice. Take it easy!
You will rock it! Plus the little lady has time to turn, however all the tips you mentioned I have heard too.
My baby was posterior, I ended up with a c-section lol. But hear me out. I think it was because I had an internal exam before my baby was ready to come out, and the poking can get things moving before its time. (have a farm, and we sometimes do an internal on the cows that are overdue to get labour going…tmi?). So just avoid the temptation of an internal, and let nature do its thing, your baby is MEANT to be born vaginally, and will if you let her do it on her own terms! Hang in there, every day that passes is one day closer to holding your beautiful baby! You are already an amazing Mom!!!
I like mine scrambled and my yolks need to be hard. I was born face up my mom said a lot of people came rushing in as she was pushing and they would not tell her what was going on and she thought something was wrong with me. I was perfectly healthy, I think my mom said she tore but was able to avoid a c-sec, I hope she flips back for you so you don’t have to work any harder, Good Luck!
I know a few women who have had sunny-side up babies and it wasn’t THAT bad. Don’t let it scare you!
Have you read the Spinning Babies site (http://spinningbabies.com)? It’s a great resource for that kind of stuff (my daughter was breech for a little bit – I was flipping out and it helped calm me down – she ended up flipping and not wanting to come out, so I was induced almost 2 weeks after her due date. Be careful what you wish for!).
Oh I just mentioned this in my comment below. I went back and re-read comments now…and yes, spinningbabies…great resource!!!
Hey Gina,
I have been reading your blog for a while now , but have not left a comment until now.
My baby girl was also sunny side up and I had very bad back labour, with no pain what so ever in my belly.
What helped me was the shower at the hospital, I pretty much spent the whole time sitting in a chair with the shower aimed at my lower back and after I had my hubby press his fist into my lower back and that also helped alot. I pushed her out naturally no assistence needed and honestly pushing her out was nothing compared to the intensity of back labour. I also did not need an episiotomy but I did tear.
Two more weeks? Noooooo…we’re leaving on our Honeymoon Jan 2-12 and I kinda-need-you to have the peanut by then because I’ll be completely unplugged for almost 2 weeks, k? Thanks. Haha 🙂
Hope the back pain gets better! Y’ouch.
I’ll be envisioning your little girl turning the right way! Don’t worry, they move so often, I am sure she will be in the right place by labor time!
Hope everything goes smoothly! I am sure everything will fall into place when the time comes 🙂
At one point, my midwife thought that my girl was sunny-side up. So she told me to do this a few times a day: Get down on a fours (yes, like a dog..lol) and rock your hips side to side. It will open up your hips and with gravity, it will encourage her to turn over. It will probably be uncomfortable (I had much of the same pain you’re having). But, it worked, cause she flipped, and I had no back labor. Didn’t have to use any drugs besides the laughing gas!
All the best!!!
My first daughter was born face up. I did have a little bit of tearing (but I had the same with my 2nd and 3rd daughter and they came out the “right” way). Babycenter makes some things a lot scarier than they should be.
(* correction) all fours 😉
I’ve seen doula clients have a lot of luck turning their babies doing the things your midwife suggested. Be careful about not slouching or reclining! You don’t want to create a little hammock on your back for her to rest in. Lots of hands and knees, sitting on a birth ball, and I agree that the Spinning Babies website has great info. Some moms also think “duck walking” up and down stairs helps (big, hip swinging strides).
Why does babycenter feel the need to make everything seem so frightening? My baby wasn’t sunny side up, but the doctor did tell me he was head down the night before i had a c-section for him being transverse. So, things can change… and fast.
I have to say I agree with the madre! You are in my thoughts and prayers!
I had one sunnyside up and 2 not. Do whatever you can to get her to her to flip.
I assisted one of my girlfriends have her baby and her little girl was sunny side up. She definitely said the back labor was the worst but she pushed her out in less than an hour. Besides the pain of back labor, she had no complications when pushing and was actually quite relieved to push bc as she came out, the back pain went away (obviously 🙂 ) The good thing, is your still (hopefully!) a couple weeks away so yes, your little nugget has time to switch vs my gf baby didn’t switch til right close to when her labor began 🙂 Good luck!!!
My mom told me I was, they had to use the vacuum thing, but that was 23 years ago. Not to scare you! My mom had an all natural delivery and I’m sure they could of done something if she asked, but she says everything was fine and the pushing was normal, deliveries are quick in my family so she was only in labor for 6 1/2 hours.
Ugh poor you. I hope those exercises work and that your back feels better soon!
There’s a website, Spinning Babies, google it, it should pop up if you havent found it already.
One thing I know is that you want to do things that encourage space in the pelvic area as well as sort of forward leaning things.. Gosh this is hard to type and verbalize…get on your stability ball. Sit on the very edge/tip of it with your feet wide and hips wide…just splayed open legs and sort of let your stomach hang in between your legs as much as you can..that forward gravity pull could help Her turn and spin.
You’re having back labor, Braxton Hicks, whatever you want to call it, you’re having it.
Hang in there!
Poached is my fave!
My baby girl was face up. And I know EXACTLY the back pain you’re talking about! Unfortunately my doctors never discovered it. I had all back labor for 10 hours before I was whimpering for an epidural. I also didn’t know she was sunny side up until after I started pushing! The doctor actually turned her by hand during a push. Two hours & an episiotomy later – she was born!
I’ve heard a good Ob can turn on the way out if you can get it that far on your own. But other friends have ended up with c sections. Just being honest!
My daughter was sunny side up, but my wonderful nurse was able to get her to turn during the labor process by having me lie in different positions. My husband was born face up, and his mom’s labor went too quickly to even think about an epidural or pain medications.
So sorry you’re in such pain!! Hang in there. Everything will happen as it should.
OH dear – hope the pain lessons and you get her to do that flip!
My girl was sunny side up for the week before labor and she stayed that way. I ended up with a c-section (which was the result of an issue with my body more than her position) but my doc and a midwife both told me that even though sunny side up isn’t preferable it is definitely manageable. The midwife said that she makes her momma do many different laboring positions to get the baby to work its way out.
At least the discovered it before your delivery! They didnt realize our little guy was posterior until 2.5 hours into pushing when he was stuck hitting my pubic bone… But the good news is he came out with 3.5 hours of pushing and some creative tactics/maneuvers by the nurses and doctors to keep us out of a c-section (I can elaborate on what they did via email if youre interested, but prob TMI for everyone). Only harm was temporary… A 3 inch cone head and some bruising on his head that went away in a few days. Having that knowledge of his position going into labor can only help!!!
Never had kids, but in terms of eggs, unfortunately for you, my fave is sunny-side up!! 🙂 Good luck on turning the baby! Regardless of what way she’s facing now she will be born happy and healthy, so don’t stress.
My boy was posterior and wouldn’t turn, however it was partially my fault as I was so knackered I spent a lot of time reclining 🙂 . Anyway, someone else suggested and I’ve heard it too, get down on all fours and swing your hips. As for labour, I was induced due to IUGR (in the end, he was a perfectly healthy size, growth scans aren’t 100% accurate!), the pain wasn’t too bad, manageable if you know what I mean, but I did have an episiotomy and a forceps assisted delivery. It wasn’t anything to worry about though, we were all healthy and ok at the end of it all, and that’s all that matters in the end 🙂
Wow I hope the pain subsides for you and she turns over.
I like veggie and goat cheese omelets the best!
I love how much laughter and wonder you approach this all with!
I was a ‘sunnyside’ up baby as was my second child and everything went fine. Thanks to a tilted uterus I had back labour with all three of my kids but managed to have drug free and complication free births. Not going to lie, back labour is intense but having heat and pressure applied to the lower back really, really helps. (and I mean a lot of pressure) I also found that using a birthing stool and being able to lean forward, bent from the waist a bit, really helped with the back pain during labor.
i don’t comment a lot but i’m a long time faithful reader and i’ve been thinking about you lately when i don’t see a post wondering if it’s time. been praying for you and that sweet baby. no matter what, you never know how the birth will end up. i went into labor knowing 100% i wouldn’t do the epidural but my water broke and i wasn’t progressing at all so they gave me pitocin (which i heard makes the contractions way worse, they felt way worse. lol!). they also wouldn’t let me out of bed so all the techniques i learned went out the window. i made it to a 6 and i just couldn’t get a break, i hadn’t slept and i was miserable because i couldn’t move. i ended up, after a lot of thinking and self-inflicted guild, getting the epidural and i never looked back. i was able to be in the moment and actually enjoy the rest of labor. i would definitely do the exercises to encourage your sweet baby girl to turn but also just accept that it’s out of your control (which i’m sure you know). once you do that, you are able to enjoy it all so much more. it will all work out in the end and you will have a beautiful baby girl. i’m so excited to read the “it’s time” post!! take care mama 🙂
Can we start taking bets.. I give u a week
My 2nd was sunny side up and I was able to push her out. It took a while and I did have a vacuum assist. The vacuum was my idea (I had seen it on a Baby Story lol, I really didn’t want a c-section) and they used it very briefly. I did have an epidural while dilating but it had worn off when I was pushing. I really think the fact that I didn’t have the epidural during the pushing was key. Granted I really wanted the epidural at the time but in hindsight my being able to feel everything helped me push more deliberately. Best of luck to you, the most important thing is a healthy baby and Mommy.
My sister had her baby posterior. She gave birth au natural in a bath tub with no interventions. She had total back labor and even though it did seem to be painful (from what I could tell :)) she really liked someone pressing on the back of her hip bones or pushing her hips together (like have the Pilot grab the sides of your waist and press the tops of the hip bones towards each other). Her daughter even had her hand up in front of her face and she still was able to do it and came out with only one (maybe 2) stitches. Even if your baby doesn’t turn, you can do it!!
I feel for you! But you know what, everything happens and goes by so fast (of course in the mist of it all, it doesn’t feel that way) but before you know it, you’ll be celebrating her first birthday! I hope you feel better soon 🙂
I am so sorry to hear that you are in such pain!! I am glad that for the most part, you have had a pretty pain free pregnancy. Here is hoping the little one decides to turn!!
I remember tears of pain toward the end. I think it happens to make us not fear labor, but rather crave it!
I wouldn’t let Babycenter scare you. There’s really nothing wrong with assisted delivery, pitocin, episiotomies, tearing, epidurals and (while it’s a big incision and a big recovery) even c-sections. Babies are born all the time with all of those things and they’re fine. I know it’s not your preference but don’t feel like pitocin=fail, or epidural or c-section even. Childbirth is insanely safe these days, and these are just tools. You’ll be fine, the baby will be fine, just relax and roll with it and use the tools you need or want with no regrets. There’s no grade at the end. No judges!
(Tearing/episiotomies are totally no big deal as it heals.)
I had two sunny side up babies, one twisted right before pushing and then one was born that way. Owie it hurts! It helps to keep moving, lots of lower back massage during contractions, and try keep off your back as much as possible. Both my labors were natural, no pain relief, no Pitocin, both under 3 hours so I back labor doesn’t always have to mean the end of your plans 🙂
that’s comforting to hear!
My first, my son, was a 9 lbs, 12 oz posterior baby! You will know the difference between back pain and back labor! After 23 hours of labor, I pushed him out in under 20 minutes. I did not have an episiotomy or assisted delivery, but did tear. Hopefully she turns before or during labor, but if not, you can do it!
no kiddos over here yet! sunny side up sounds so cute, but i hope she turns around for ya before the big day!!
i prefer my eggs in omelette form or scrambled with lots of veggies.
My son Jack was sunny side up and I tried exercises but couldn’t flip him. I agree- you’ll know the difference between back pain and back labor. I had back labor but definitely felt it in the front, too. I ended up with a c-section, not because of him being sunny side up alone, but I wasn’t dilating after my water broke and even after being given Pitocin. He ended up weighing 10 lbs 10 oz so there’s good reason he couldnt flip he right way- he had no room (I’m only 5 foot 1).
Don’t worry- everything will go fine, whether or not it’s the way you imagined. I never thought I’d be getting a c-section after 24 hours of labor (and really wished I paid attention when we talked about cesereans at birh class). And really, a c-section is a small price to pay for a healthy baby. It wasn’t really that bad.
My second baby was sunny side up most of his 3rd trimester. He turned two days before birth. My midwife told me to crawl around the house. Lol. She said it was a good time to clean under the beds, couches and tables;-)
Exactly the same as the person above me– water broke at 10:30 at night, 24 hours of labor and pitocin later, not dilated enough, baby turned sunny-side up, and baby’s heart rate went down, so emergency c-section it was. No shame in it, either! Do what you have to do for a healthy baby 🙂 we scheduled a c-section for our second, and he came was born ten days early just like his brother anyway 🙂 Good luck!!
Drs are used to this, you have awesome resources available, so don’t let it scare you:) 80 year olds live after heart surgery, you are golden!!
My last baby was face up and I didn’t even know until I started pushing. Lol! The labor pains were actually more tolerable to me than my pregnancy before that where my baby was facing the right way. Go figure. I did have a hard time pushing him out though. Every time I pushed his shoulders would hit my pelvic bone and go back up. They did end up having to use the “salad tongs” as I call them to help get him out. And I did have to have an episiotomy, but I did with all my babies. I have really big babies though. Overall it was a little bit harder to push him out, but they definitely got him out of there. 🙂
i don’t want to start a long discussion or fight with people who like to say you are less of a woman for taking pain medication or whatever
this is just a thought… what if being born is PAINFUL for the baby …wouldn’t trying to squeeze out of an area not quite exactly the size for you to come out of, or being stuck there for a while (conehead babies) hurt?
So maybe the drugs actually makes entering the world a not so horrible experience?
I guess no one will know bc you can’t ask a newborn if it hurt.. but just a thought
My first was posterior. Unfortunately nothing helped the pain in my back, but I lived. The wonderful thing is that he turned right before pushing started. Thank goodness! Good luck!
My middle child was a sunny side up child.
The only real problem I had with her was getting to active labor. I had contractions for two weeks (prolonged latent labor), but when it was time labor, she slid into the world and has been my sweet child ever since. (And she’s 11 now.)
I do believe that the birth of a child indicates some of their personality. My first was fast, and she is a serious go-getter. The middle is above — she is quirky and does her own thing. My youngest was a month early and induced. He is my Speedy Gonzales, and only slows down when he sleeps.