Tips to prevent the Occiput Posterior Baby

The occiput posterior baby is a that is facing the mother's spine. It's also known as sunny-side up. Otherwise known as OP, or the OP position. There are a few tricks to avoid this position at the end of pregnancy.

• Avoid the semi reclined position. Like that lounger you love.
• Do pelvic rocking 10-15 min three times a day
• Cat and cow yoga poses
• Walk on hands and knees 
• Yogic sun salutations and downward facing dog yoga poses
• Walk

Despite positioning, exercising and yoga, some babies persist in the OP position. The majority of these babies will turn in labor.  Those babies that don't turn, may have a very good reason for maintaining the OP position that is unclear to us. It may be the shape of the mother's pelvis or the position of her spine. It could also be the position of the baby's own cord, shoulder, placenta etc, that makes them favor the OP position and makes this is the optimum position for labor and birth.

Occiput Posterior

The occiput posterior position, otherwise known as "OP" or "the baby is posterior" is when the baby head down but the face is looking up or facing the mother's pubis symphsis.  Another common term to describe the occiput posterior position is: the baby is "sunny-side up"
More commonly, when labor begins and the baby descends into the pelvis, the baby is facing the mother's spine and has his face looking at the mother's back.  This position is known as occiput anterior or OA.
These pictures to the right are examples of the baby descending in the occiput posterior position.
When a baby is posterior, this may envoke anxiety in a mother as she has heard stories about the difficulties this can bring on in labor.  However, often when the baby is posterior, there may be a reason: either the shape of the mother's pelvis, position of the placenta or umbilical cord, or size and gestation of the baby. This position may be the prefered position for some babies.

Turning a baby that is occiput posterior
Most babies that begin labor in the posterior postion will roate on their own to the favorable anterior position.  For some labors it can be advantageous to attempt to assist this rotation before labor begins or in early labor by:

• Remaining upright and walking/hiking
• Climbing stairs
• Doing squats and lunges
• Avoid recliner chairs or an excessively reclined position
• Do the cat/cow yoga pose 
• Acupuncture can assist in rotating the baby and getting the baby to engage into the pelvis
• Consult your OB provider about homeopathic remedies to ready the cervix & uterus
• Ask a provider to determine if the baby is right, left or center posterior and try different side-lying positions accordingly.

 
CAT COW POSITION
Always consult with your OB provider before attempting any exercise routine in pregnancy or labor.