Delivering a Baby in Occiput Posterior Position

Filed in archive Childbirth on March 7, 2008

During my last consultation, my doc casually said that it looks like I'm carrying a big baby. He quickly added that we'll know more during the next ultrasound, but that didn't erase my apprehension.

Today, I just returned from yet another consulatation, this time with a scan, and all is well. They estimate the baby to be about 2 kg now, just about the expected size for this stage (I'm on my 32nd week).




However, rather than the baby's weight, my doc was more concerned about my baby's position. The head's already down, and that's good. BUT, the baby seems to be facing towards my abdomen instead of my spine, a position called occiput posterior (OP) position or what some people call as "face-up", "stargazer" or "sunny-side up" position.

Why is that bad? Well, if this doesn't change until delivery time, then this means more pain and possibly more complications.

Mothers whose babies are face-up at birth tend to push longer, need oxytocin (Pitocin) more often, and have a significantly higher risk of having an assisted vaginal delivery or a c-section. Those who do give birth vaginally have a higher rate of episiotomy and severe perineal lacerations than women whose babies are in the more favorable face-down position, even after you account for the higher rate of forceps and vacuum-assisted delivery.

My first-born was the same. He was a stargazer, but I delivered him normally and unassisted, although I had epidural and an oxytocin drip. Dare I hope baby #2 turns before D-day and spare me all of those?

Image: baby ultrasound by macguys