What is an OP birth?
An OP birth is when the baby’s back is spine-to-spine with the mother.
Why Should I Avoid This:
If your baby is in the posterior position, you may be in for a longer labor and more intense pushing.
5 Ways To Prevent an OP Birth:
- Avoid all reclining positions. You should always sit with your pelvis tilted forward. Try sitting on a birth ball or sitting backwards on a kitchen chair.
- Do pelvic rocks 10 times in a row 2-5 times a day. Go on your hands and knees and rock your pelvis up and down
- Sleep on your left side, with your left leg straight and your right leg at a 90-degree angle supported by a pillow or two.
- Babies like to have their backs warm. If you are pregnant in the winter and are not wearing a jackets that goes over your tummy, your baby may decide to turn his/her back towards yours to stay warm and cozy. So try to keep your tummy covered in the winter.
- If your water hasn’t broken, Don’t artificially rupture the water bag. Most babies, who are in an OP position before labor, tend to rotate to the occiput anterior (OA) position after the labor sets in. Having the extra cushion of the amniotic fluid will help your baby rotate.
Giving Birth to an OP baby:
I delivered an OP baby in 4 hours silently. I pushed for longer but it's definitely possible. My tips for giving birth to OP babies are:
- Pull your knees to your chest when your pushing to create as much space as possible.
- Try Anterior pelvic tilts with raised arms to make room for your baby during the pushing stage. Lifting the arms helps raise the rib cage for the posterior baby.
- Upright birthing positions allows gravity to assist in bringing the baby down.