07/15/2021
These are such great tips!
📸PhotoCred: Create Anomaly📸
👶🏽 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐘-𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘 👶🏽
OP(occiput posterior) or more commonly known as sunny-side up baby, is a position where the baby is facing the birthers abdomen instead of facing their spine. The back of the baby’s head, which is the hardest part, rests on the birthers lower back. This position should NOT automatically warrant a cesarean.
MANY BABIES ARE BORN JUST FINE VAGINALLY IN THIS POSITION BUT CAN CAUSE THE FOLLOWING:
⭕️longer pregnancy
⭕️premature rupture of membranes
⭕️slowing of labor which can lead to use of Pitocin
⭕️back of baby’s head is applying pressure to birthers lower back/spine and causes more pain
⭕️pushing baby out can be harder and longer
⭕️vacuum/forcep assistance
⭕️vaginal tearing
⭕️cesarean
WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING PREGNANCY TO POSSIBLY AVOID AN OP BABY?
❇️SIT UP STRAIGHT! THE BACK OF THE BABYS HEAD IS THE HEAVIEST, SLOUCHING ALLOWS GRAVITY TO PULL THE BACK OF HIS HEAD TOWARDS YOUR SPINE!
❇️Spend time everyday sitting on a birthball
❇️Get into a hands and knees position twice a day for 10 minutes
❇️When sitting make sure your knees are always lower than your hips and lean forward instead of leaning back
❇️If you sit a lot for work, take regular breaks to get up and move around. ditch the office chair for a birth ball
❇️See a chiropractor
WHAT CAN YOU DO DURING BIRTH:
✅Keep active during labor
✅Utilize positions that open your pelvis and allows your baby room to rotate
✅PATIENCE! Lots of babies will rotate out of this position during labor with just using patience
✅Use of epidural can often lead to an OP baby(from less mobility), but sometimes if baby is ALREADY in an OP position for an extended amount of time, an epidural can help relax the pelvic floor and allow baby to turn.
✅HIRE A DOULA! They can help you with exercises to turn your baby naturally(like lunge positions, knees to chest, forward leaning, etc etc) or they might have skills with a rebozo to turn your baby!
Some babies are born OP with ease and some require help to navigate ❤️
