Trying something new
Efforts to help the baby flip from posterior position to LOA (facing my right side, how she was until a week ago) have gone from pretty simple:
(using my stability ball as a chair and to bounce and rotate my hips whenever possible)
to a little crazy:
I spent 10 minutes the other night with an ice pack on my back, a warm heating pad on my stomach (since they face their backs towards warmth), crawling around on my hands and knees.
I’ve spent a lot of time walking
and walking around on all fours lately, since the change in gravity is supposed to help lift her out of the pelvis and rotate. Lots of pelvic rocking, on forearms, Kindle in hand. Tom laughs at me because I’ll make a lap around the master bedroom on my hands and knees, read a page on the Kindle (my incentive), lather rinse and repeat.
Sitting tailor-style with the bottoms of my feet together,
keeping my torso always leaning forward or upright. Laying back creates a hammock for the baby and encourages them to stay where they are, which means
I’ve also had to stop reclining on the couch –my favorite position was propped up with pillows behind me- to solely on my left side in an effort to get the little one to flip, which also means sleeping on my left side only. No more changing sides in the middle of the night, and last night I was so uncomfortable, I couldn’t sleep anyway, so I just sat upright in bed with the soles of my feet together.
We stopped doing the blanket trick because it didn’t feel right to me, and one of the things I’ve been worried about it where the baby’s umbilical cord is relative to all of this.
There are a ton of great tips on *this page*
And tomorrow, I’m trying something new: seeing a chiropractor.
I’ve never been to a chiropractor before because the thought of it freaks me out a little bit. The idea of snapping bones and joints into place doesn’t jibe with me –I always pictured a big dude jumping on my back for some reason- and since I work closely with exercise physiologists and physical therapists, it’s been easy for me to refer clients with medical considerations or injuries to their care. However, there is a woman here in Tucson who specializes in prenatal and infant chiropractic care, and is supposed to be a ninja at helping ease babies into a proper position for birth. She doesn’t touch the baby (unless the baby is breech) -just makes small adjustments with the mom- and was referred to me by our Bradley instructor. Our instructor assures me that she’s incredibly gentle- no bone-popping or anything like that.
Apparently the reason why the baby is flipped could have something to do with misalignment in my hips, which would make sense since they were extremely sore last week, and a small adjustment with my hips might be able to give the baby more room for birth and to flip back over. I’ll know all the deets tomorrow after our appointment, and I’m thankful that Tom is going to be able to go with me. If for any reason I don’t like what she says or get a bad vibe, I’m not going to do the adjustment, but I’m comforted to know that she sees pregnant women and babies every single day.
I don’t intend for this post to turn into a “chiropractors are the devil” debate, but I’d love to hear your experiences or tips if you’ve seen one before. Some people swear by it, other people aren’t a fan, and that’s totally cool. Different things work for different people, and it’s up to us to research and determine what methods are right for our own bodies.
Before I found out that she was sunny-side up, I was SO ready to rock out this birth, ready for labor to begin at any second. And now, I’m nervous. While I’ve heard a lot of positive things about sunny-side up deliveries, I’ve also read a lot of horror stories about babies getting stuck, coming out with nerve damage, unusually grueling labors…. so there’s really no telling how it’s going to go. While I’m still ready to rock it out, I’m feeling a lot more patient. She can stay in there as long as she needs to, until she’s in the best position for her birth. Another thing the midwife suggested was talking to the baby and asking her to flip back over. So my mom, nana and I have been talking to the baby, and I’ve been asking her to get in her own best position… and who knows? Maybe it’s for her to be face-up.
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I’m 35 weeks today and guess what, my babe is sunny side up as well! Ahhhhhhhhhhh. My first child was breach and the chiropractor helped put my hips in place and she flipped head down! I’m willing to try it again, PLUS it really does feel amazing when they are done pushing around and manipulating. My midwife spoke again of back labor and I was so ready to rock this baby out but NOT with excrutiating back labor!!! Grrrrrr, turn babies turn!
I was due the same time as you but had my baby at 36.5 weeks – he was sunny side up but I didn’t even know at the time that it wasn’t normal. I had a super fast labor and only pushed for 15 minutes, so maybe that will give you some comfort 🙂 I wouldn’t worry too much about it – I’ve also read that most babies will move after labor starts.
I replied to your tweet about this, but there’s only so much you can say in 140 characters! I started seeing a chiropractor in October this year and he has actually changed my life. I’ve suffered from migraines since I was five years old, but in the last year or so they had increased in frequency to at least once a week and had become more tension-style headaches that then turned into migraines. I had a lump in the right side of my neck, which is known as subluxation. The nerves were not communicating properly to my spine, which was causing the vertebrae to slowly fuse together. Because of my desk job, I had developed forward head posture, which meant I was holding my head too far forward and adding about 10 kilos of extra pressure on to my shoulders and neck.
Within 6 weeks the chiropractor had completely realigned my spine. I no longer have a lump in my neck, my hips are now aligned (the right side was slightly elevated) and my migraines have almost disappeared. When I first went to the chiro, a lot of my friends (and blog readers!) suggested seeing a physiotherapist instead, and even I was skeptical about bone cracking. But it turned out to be the best investment ever!
I have suffered from really bad bloating for the past two years and nothing has fixed it. I have tried so many different elimination diets, drinking heaps of water, etc yet 2-3 times a week I would look about 6 months pregnant. What I never knew (and neither do most people) is that subluxation in the lumbar vertebrae can cause bloating when the nerve responses are not being sent through properly. My chiro and I haven’t even focused on fixing this at all, but all the adjustments he’s made have indirectly helped and I’ve only been bloated once since October. He uses a painless instrument called an indicator and doesn’t do any cracking at all. So while I was doubtful in the beginning, I’m so thankful to have gone to a chiropractor! I hope yours helps with the baby 🙂
I say go for the chiro! I have been adjusted for my whole life actually, and I think it has always been of benefit. But you are right, follow your intuition, if it feels wrong, walk away! I am sending you all my baby flipping energy vibes love! <3
Good luck! Sounds like you’re doing everything you possibly can. Already signs of an amazing mom to be. 🙂
I SWEAR by my chiropractor! I’ve been going for over three years now & I’d go crazy w/o my adjustments! He helped my bad posture, aligned my pelvis (I was struggling w/fertility & I was preg the next month!) and I went almost weekly during my last trimester. I just wish I had known my girl was sunny side up so he could’ve helped with that!
But as I mentioned before, the doctor turned her manually when I started pushing so dont freak out if none of your efforts work. It was surprisingly simple & everything went smoothly after that.
I think your idea of chiro is great; or even acupuncture. I have some pregnancy stories about acupuncture that are really mind-blowing. Too much to go into here but suffice to say, 100% firm believer, forever, in that ancient Chinese practice.
Good luck with the chiro and I know you are doing everything you can with the ball, walking, bouncing, hips, etc…and talking to her and asking her to get into HER own best position…I love that. It’s so embodying of what birth, motherhood, this whole miracle and whole unconditional acceptance stuff is all about…hugs to you, sweetie!
Love my chiropractor. I hope yours is able to help the baby find a more comfortable position for you both. Acupuncture is another practice I used during pregnancy that really helped me out. Sending out *please flip over* vibes to you and the little one.
i definitely think i’m going to see my acupuncturist this week
I really like my chiropractor so I’m glad to hear you are willing to give it a try. I am 18 weeks and plan on taking my baby to get adjusted soon after birth, as their necks can get very out of alignment during birth which can lead to lots of issues including reflux. My husband has seen a chiro for years due to sports and i just started going recently along with our 18 month old son. I really love his approach to nutrition and medical treatment. It’s a breath of fresh air. I was hesitant at first as well. I didn’t like the idea of him pulling my neck around, but it hasn’t been to bad and it feels so good on my back and hips now! I really believe it will help me to have a great delivery if I’m properly aligned. Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
I have only been to a chiro for non-baby related things, but I think he is the BEST! I too suffer from lots of headaches, and he has helped me so much. Yes, the cracking (again, non-baby related) is a bit freaky, but the great “noodley” feeling that comes afterwards is fabulous. Good idea to have Tom there, in case either of you aren’t sure… you can just say “this isn’t for me!”
Good luck at the chiropractor! I hope it all works out well. My baby girl is currently breech at 35.5 weeks and it has also made me more patient about labor and I’m just hoping I go late enough to allow her time to turn. I’m sure all will be fine!
My first child was facing up and to the left. I never heard about it til labor so not sure when it happened. Anyway. I pushed for an hour and a half and she never descended. I was given the option to keep pushing, but told it wasn’t a good chance of delivering her that way. I ended up with a c section. At one of my first appts for my second, I was told my hips weren’t wide enough from front to back and that probably no baby of mine would be able to drop into the right position. I assume by now your midwife would’ve said if that was an issue for you, but that’s ny story. Best of luck to you! Anyway they arrive is a miracle!
Best of luck at the chiro! I love mine, he has helped me with anything from general muscle strains or discomfort from running in my feet and given me lots of tips on the correct stretches to do all the way to “realigning” my neck to help with my allergies. All of my treatments have been very gentle and afterwards I always think, “That was it? Shouldn’t I see more action from him to see the results he is telling me I’ll see?” But, he has explained that the important thing is to come to the follow-up appointments to continue the “gentle” treatments to encourage a permanent change in my spine rather than just going once and having my spine go back to exactly where it was before the treatment. Hope that makes sense a little!
I’m 37 weeks pregnant and I’ve been seeing a chiropractor since I was 28 weeks along. The baby has been head down since then and usually ROA. I love my chiropractor and really think that she has helped with positioning as well as pregnancy aches and pains. Although the baby is in a good position right now, my midwife suggested I spend as much time in “hands and knees” position as possible just to keep baby from going to sunny side up. Just a personal story to kind of ease your mind……. I was facing up when my mom was in labor with me, and the nurses simply had her get on her hands and knees and labor like that. After an hour of hands and knees and other position changes, I flipped and was born with no problem. Try not to worry too much, you will do great!!!!
I work in L/D as a RN. There is a position we use to encourage babies to rotate out of the posterior position. If the baby CAN rotate, I have seen this postion do its job many times!! Note: It may only work in labor when you have the help of contractions pushing the baby downward.
To get in this position, start by lying on your side. PLace your top leg on a pillow. *This is the important part: The pillow needs to be place further out from your body than normal. The pillow should ALSO be placed upward towards your shoulder (you want your top leg hicked up a bit; slightly underneath your shoulder). You will be practically lying on your belly! Your bottom leg should be straight with your quad resting on the bed. Your arms should be resting on opposite sides of your body (not underneath your body). This position will create rotation of your hips/body and encourage the baby into an anterior position,that will make labor easier and faster! It usually takes about an hour, with adequate contractions, to see results. If it was unsucessful, we will try the opposite side. Sorry about the complicated description, but I have seen this position in action and it works! Good Luck and Blessing to you and your baby!!
amazing- thank you, christine 🙂
Gurl, dont even worry bout it. Both my babies were sunny side up, and turned right before I pushed them out. As in, I was in labor and they were still face up. Things have a way of working out. Have faith!
I’m a physical therapist, and while I definitely prefer massage, physical therapy, accupuncture and other “gentle” methods of moblization and facilitating change in the body, I also recognize there are times where a chiropractor can be of a huge help if the chiropractor is good.. I personally see a chiroprocator on occasion (I have a chronic rib and cervical spine dysfunction) as my body just hasn’t responded to the other methods in isolation. Instead I use chiropractic in conjunction. WHile I can see that chiropractic can help with adjusting ‘mom’ I don’t personaly agree with adjusting infants….Go with your gut though – if you don’t like what the chiro has to say, dont let her adjust you. I hope all goes well for you 🙂 HUGS
My son was sunny side up and ended up having a short cord. So he got stuck during labour and a c section was required (he couldn’t safely descend or really descend period). Don’t stress too much, sometimes baby is positioned a way for a reason and either way I am sure things will work out for you.
My chiropractor has saved my life on numerous occasions…so I am confident yours will help you too. Especially since she specializes with babies. That is such a bonus! Hope things go so well tomorrow 🙂
Chiropractors are great, I love mine!! I have major sciatica issues and my chiropractor has saved me in many occasions. I have only been pain free due to my chiropractor’s work and adjustments. It can be intimidating at first, but definitely be open minded and give it a try. It might help you out much more than you ever expected – It sure did help me!
Ana
I just deleted my own comment…ugh.
Take 2
So happy you did this and went and tried what you could to encourage her to turn, and that YOU are feeling better about things in general afterward. That’s awesome and I am happy for you 🙂
You might want to look into an osteopathic physician who practices OMT. They can do many of the same manipulations, and they are licensed physicias, so it can be easier to get treatment/visits covered by insurance! I also think many of the Osteopathic doctors i have met have great bed side manner, something that is very important for me.
I recently started seeing a chiropractor for debilitating neck pain- within 2 visits my posture was fixed ( I had slumping/rounded shoulders and could stand up perfectly straight ), the neck pain has reduced by about 50 percent- but I also have trigger points so that’s more of an issue. I agree with the previous comments finding someone you can trust is key- good luck with your visits!