What are the signs of an OP baby?

[makemineaginandtonic]

I am 39+4 and was just reading the spinningbabies website. Now I am worried that my baby is posterior!! I have seen a GP rather than midwife for my last few checkups and she hasn't been sure which way the baby was lying. Are there any obvious indications when a baby is posterior?

[Olihan]

All the kicks are at the front, rather than on one side or the other. Don't worry too much about OP lie though, it will rotate in labour (or before). Ds2 was OP (and unengaged) at 40+1, I went into labour 8 hours after that mw appt, had a 2.5 hour labour on G&A so it doesn't necessarily mean a tortuously long labour. YOu can also do something called Optimal Foetal Positioning (I think) that basically involves spending lots of time on your hands and knees. Google it, or I'm sure someone (Lulumama probably!) will link to a good site.

[makemineaginandtonic]

Thanks, all the kicks I feel are on one side, but I can't feel a bottom sticking up at all, which makes me think maybe it is lying posterior but over to one side.

I hear what you are saying about it not necessarily meaning a horrible labour. I will try not to worry!

[divastropwantstodrop]

my baby was LOP fron 32-36 weeks and i had really bad backache nearly all the time and felt like i was being kicked all the time.s/he turned to ROA after following some advice from here and the backache disappeared overnight.

[Clayhead]

My dd was OP - I had no idea beforehand and a relatively short labour.

HTH!

[SH27]

Hi my baby was OP and I experienced really bad backache for most of the time. I was also kicked really badly particularly under my ribs.

Unfortunately, my labour was extremley long and ended up with forceps as my baby was stuck and not going anywhere. But all ended well and I have the most gorgeous baby boy now.

I had an epidural and it certainly helped, but I would speak to your midwife about your concerns.

Best of luck.

[Twinklemegan]

My baby was right anterior and went OP during labour. Sometimes you can't win.

[funnypeculiar]

OFP - key things (as lulumama's not here yet) if I remember right ...:

lots of time on all fours
sit up and lean forwards rather than back (eg don't slump in a sofa as I am currently doing!)

If you think about constantly wanting the baby to be 'falling' forwards towards your tunny button you won't go far wrong.

My yoga teacher did stuff with getting people upside down or soemthing, but I can't remember that bit, sorry!

Good luck!

[Runninglate]

A classic sign that baby is OP is that your belly button is more dipped and soft in that area, rather than hard and pointy out! Imagine that there is nothing behind it pushing out.....

Exactly as advice already given - sit upright or slightly forwards (knees apart) as if tipping baby forwards. The weight of its spine will encourage it to rotate round so that it lies at the front etc etc.

Does your GP surgery have a drop in baby clinic? You could ask one of the midwives / health visitors to have a quick check for you?

[ricepudding]

My baby was OP - had classic signs, my tummy button never pushed out and was always squashy around and I had lots of little hands and feet kicking the front of my tummy. I went to a reflexologist who managed to spin him round about four days before labour (amazing but true), but he had spun back by the time labour started. Worth a go though, if you are in London I can give you her details, she specialises in maternity.

[Kaz33]

No one noticed that my two were OP, maybe they weren't - and maybe they turned during labour and I had two OP births - one emergency c-section and one VBAC (he's a fighter!!)

[serenity]

All three of mine were OP. With all of them I kept my belly button, had lots of lower back pain, and was constantly have to do weird contortions to unhook their feet from my right side ribs. I didn't have excessively long or tortuous labours with any of them (12, 4 and 5 hours) Sitting the wrong way round on a dining chair is supposed to help move the baby although nothing worked for me.

[serenity]

Oh, and avoid lying on your back during labour (it really hurts!) Squatting, hands and knees etc puts less pressure on your lower back and is far more comfortable.

[SHHHH]

ds was back to back and this was the case from around 30 ish weeks. I had classic signs like tummy button not pushed out and very fleshy down the bottom part of my tummy, back ache etc.

All I can say is if your baby is back to back then be open minded about pain relief in labour....I was willing to try anything as I was with dd BUT wanted (in order of preference) a water birth (Like with dd), g&a,pethadine and epi as a last option....obviously not all of the above but wanted it given in that order if needed....

When I went into labour I manged till 6cm's with a TENS, got into the pool and got out after 30 mins. The pain was UNBEARABLE. I got more relief out of the pool with g&a alone. I really couldn't cope so.........................I opted straight away for a epi. As you can see, totally the opposite of my birth plan.

I wish that I had been prepared by mw's about the possible pain I would experience as although people had said, it can be painful I was thinking: Oh I will be fine, I was with dd..!! (Did it all with g&a and water and never muttered a word) BUT I can honestly say it was hell.Im sure they could hear me miles away... BTW I ended up with diamorphine as well and nothing seemed to help.I can honestly say I felt little relief from the pain. Maybe the methods of pain relief failed me..who knows.NOTHING, not even the epi worked.

In fact dh & I wanted 5 children but this experience has put us both off, unless it can be documented that I am allowed a ecs next time.

I realy don't want to scare you but want to be truthful as if you are like me that this is what you will want to hear.

Just be prepared thats all.

BTW I gave birth 3 weeks ago so its all still very rememerable..!!

[sarahhal]

You know I never knew about the non poppy out belly button being a sign? Both mine were OP and had one very easy labour and one short but awful labour - and never had a poppy out belly button!!!