head down, but face up?

So I'm just about 36 weeks and had an appt today with a quick sono to see if the baby is head down, which it is, but they also told me baby is face up. there's still plenty of time for this to change right? the thought of back labor scares the heck out of me! is there anything i can to do encourage baby to flip around?

Re: head down, but face up?

DD was born sunny side up, and yes, the back labor was horrific. When I was in labor, they had me lay in different positions, but she never flipped over. I am not sure what else you can try.

www.spinningbabies.com

Message edited 4/25/2011 10:43:42 AM.

Re: head down, but face up?

Yes it can definitely change by the time you will give birth...did they tell you that you can still have a natural birth...or that you will have to have a c-section?

Re: head down, but face up?

When I did prenatal yoga during my last pregnancy, she taught us a great position to encourage the baby to go face down. Not sure if you know any yoga (if you do, it's cat and cow positions). Basically you go on your hands and knees, and alternate between face up towards the ceiling with butt up, back curved in and then tucking head down, butt down, with back arched. Try doing that several times a day! HTH!

ETA: My friend found out her baby was face up right around the same time in her pregnancy as you. We were in the yoga class together- she did this move a lot and the baby did end up flipping. Although her baby was a gymnast because she flipped AGAIN a few days before she was born, and then DURING LABOR, she flipped once more back to face down- crazy! But it just shows you- there is hope right down to the last minute!

Message edited 4/25/2011 11:38:34 AM.

Re: head down, but face up?

My DD was sunny side up until I was in labor - then she turned. They do a lot of changing positions in the final moments!

Re: head down, but face up?

DS was face up all through 27 plus hours of labor - I have to say that back labor was not as bad as I thought it would be - I did 24hrs with no pain relief. My mom massaged my lower back when contractions came - and it helped a lot - a nurse used a tennis ball to roll on my lower back and that helped too!

Re: head down, but face up?

Thanks ladies. I will definitely try the yoga position. I've been doing yoga classes once a week, so I'll just do that one at home on my own. The doctor didn't seem too worried at this point, but I just want to be proactive, because I'd really like to have a drug-free birth. LovingLife- you've definitely given me hope!!

Re: head down, but face up?

edited- oops, double post

Message edited 4/25/2011 1:26:27 PM.

Re: head down, but face up?

My DS was face up at 35 weeks and by the time I delivered him at 37 weeks he had turned.

Re: head down, but face up?

Your baby is in a posterior position which can cause back labor and that is no fun.

Check out Spinningbabies.com for some info.

Also Back Labor No More this is a great technique called the belly lift which is actually done during labor to encourage your baby to rotate.

Most babies will eventually rotate to a more favorable position during labor (a handful will be born "sunny side up"), but if you can get the baby to rotate ahead of time, you're doing yourself a favor. It takes time for the baby to rotate during labor, which slows things down and yeah, back labor is really much more difficult than normal labor, and occassionally a mother who is laboring in bed with an epidural will find that her baby is unable to rotate and labor becomes unproductive, so try to get that baby rotating now!