"sunny side up"

All this talk about birth, reminds me of a question I'm always meaning to ask...

I had a c-section. When DS was delivered as the Dr. was taking him out he turned to me and said "good thing we took him this way because he was "sunny side up."

WTH does this mean???

We had no idea he was in this position, for my reasons for my c-section were not related to this at all..

Had we not had a c-section would've this effected him at all? Would it of prevented me from delivering vaginally???

I hear this term alot, and never really understand what it means... (I mean obviously that the baby is facing up instead of down- but why does it make a difference?

Message edited 7/2/2008 10:12:32 AM.

Re: "sunny side up"

I think the baby has to be facing your butt, head down. And the the baby turns while coming out.

So if the baby's face was towards your front, I think it is not a good thing, the baby can get caught or something, hence sunny side up.

Message edited 7/2/2008 10:03:48 AM.

Re: "sunny side up"

Babies can be born sunny side up (my brother was), but sometimes it prolongs labor and is more painful because the baby is malpositioned.

It would not have prevented you from delivering vaginally. Most babies who start out sunny side up actually turn into position when coming down the birth canal.

ETA: It is one of the causes of back labor because the baby's spine is rubbing against your spine. Not a great thing, but not the worst either.

Message edited 7/2/2008 10:13:37 AM.

Re: "sunny side up"

I thought you were talking about eggs, and Now I want them.

Re: "sunny side up"

Ali was sunny side up.

When they opened me for my c-section - she was looking right at them.
Most babies are facing down or to the side.

My doctor said - she probably would have never came out vaginally.

Re: "sunny side up"

James was sunny side up. Due to that and his size, doctor said he probably wouldn't have come out vaginally. However, it can be done. My nephew was born sunny side up. My sister said she had back labor and her labor lasted a long time, but he came out vaginally.

Re: "sunny side up"

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From what I remember hearing- sunny side up= back labor

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Lurking over here but my DS was born sunnyside up. It was a vaginal delivery and he was stubborn about getting out!!!! I pushed for a long time but he finally came out naturally.... My tailbone hurt me for nearly a year after having him but this is the only baby I have so I guess I dont know if would hurt if he would have been the other way too..
The doctor told me -in her experience, that sunny side up babies generally have very calm dispositions - we will see. DS is almost 14 months old and he isnt exactly calm!!!

Re: "sunny side up"

Posted by JennZ

I thought you were talking about eggs, and Now I want them.

Re: "sunny side up"

Posted by 1stimemom

Posted by JennZ

I thought you were talking about eggs, and Now I want them.

Yup, me too

Re: "sunny side up"

DD was sunny side up too and I had a vaginal birth. Took FOREVERRRR but it happened.

Re: "sunny side up"

That is the posterior position. A posterior baby is the cause for back labor.

Most of the time a woman can deliver a posterior baby with no problems. In most cases the baby will turn to be anterior.

Re: "sunny side up"

Both of mine were born naturally and they were both"sunny side up". I think they say it makes the labor a little harder. I had a lot of back labor with my second child because of this.

Re: "sunny side up"

Posted by FranB

Lurking over here but my DS was born sunnyside up. It was a vaginal delivery and he was stubborn about getting out!!!! I pushed for a long time but he finally came out naturally.... My tailbone hurt me for nearly a year after having him but this is the only baby I have so I guess I dont know if would hurt if he would have been the other way too..
The doctor told me -in her experience, that sunny side up babies generally have very calm dispositions - we will see. DS is almost 14 months old and he isnt exactly calm!!!