Asynclitism

At 3 cm, when the nurse checks the cervix, she’ll notice that the baby’s head is closer to the mother’s front (usually). There is space between the baby’s head and the mother’s sacrum in back. We are reassured, as long as the forehead doesn’t overlap the pubic bone (in which case, we help the baby engage in labor).

By 4-5 cm, the head has usually filled in the space in the pelvis evenly.  There will be more room in the back, but the side to side angles of the head match. The head has become symmetrical inside the pelvic canal. The head is synclitic.

Asynclitism becomes a problem when the head is still tipped at, and after, 5 cm dilation.

Normal asynclitism helps baby engage by navigating the sacral promontory.

Normal posterior asynclitism – this just means baby’s head now tips below the sacral promontory.

Now baby is synclitic and about to rotate on the pelvic floor (not shown) See the “seam” or suture of baby’s skull bones in the transverse diameter. First time mom is about 5 cm now.

Discovering asynclitism in labor

The baby’s head is asynclitic. On one side there is more head coming down, and less cervix. On the other side there is more cervix but less head. I’m not talking front to back, but rather, side-to-side.

The nurse, doctor, or midwife may notice the asynclitism during a vaginal exam. The cervix will be thicker on one side and thinner on the other side

NOTE: thicker in front is normal, in my experience, and I don’t worry too much about that). The baby’s head will seem a little lower and closer to the bones on the thin side. The baby’s head will seem to angle away, deeper into the pelvis and less close to the mother’s bones on the thick side. The nurse will have to think about it, so ask her to check for this before or during the vaginal exam.

Labor with an asynclitic baby

If the bag of water releases suddenly with a strong contraction, there is a possibility that the baby’s head comes down to the mid-pelvis while still asynclitic. Asynclitism may be caused by a hand near the face, or if muscles are imbalanced,  a twist in the lower uterine segment, causing the baby to twist to fit the area. More typically, the pelvic floor is asymmetrical and so the head gets tipped as it is pressed down with strong contractions on the uneven edges of the opening to the pelvic floor.

Labor is often longer. Sometimes the labor pattern is a fast dilation to about 8 cm and then slow to get to 10 cm. Other times, when a hand is up, things may be slow throughout dilation. Pushing tends to go very slow – the baby can’t help get born in this position. The head is angled wide and the baby can’t wiggle down because the neck isn’t lined up with the spine. Mom has to do the work. Dilation often takes longer and there can be a delay in progress at about 8-9 cm or 9 1/2 centimeters for many hours. A mother may feel pain to one side. She may have significant pain in one hip. Hip pain may also be from one of the baby’s arms being up along the head or a spasm in the muscles within the broad ligament. Contractions are often strong throughout, unlike the ebb and surge of posterior labor (though that can happen, too).

Longer second stages

It not unusual for the second stage to last 3-6 hours when the head is tipped. I’ve also attended first-time mothers with second stages 2 and 3 times longer than this. The baby can develop a caput. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the baby won’t fit. Often, the baby requires the mother to change position frequently (maternal positioning) to open the pelvis. Spinning Babies pays attention to the “soft tissue” anatomy (muscles, fascia, ligaments) in the mid-pelvis and muscles to the pelvis.

What should I do for Asynclitism?

• Do the Pelvic Floor Release (Side-lying Release)
• Follow with the lunge (the lunge will work better after the pelvic floor/side-lying release)
• Doing the Dangle should follow the Pelvic Floor Release and the lunge.
• Sometimes resting and not pushing at all through 2-5 contractions helps to mold. Rest in a Rest Smart^™ position.
• Vertical positions, such as standing and slightly bending the knees during a surge
• Stand with one foot on a stool
• Sit on the toilet with one foot on a stool and the other foot on the floor
• Pulling on a towel or rebozo during pushing contractions
• “Shake the apple tree” by shaking the mother’s buttocks in the same speed you would shake a branch to make a ripe apple fall
• Keep moving during a contraction (it’s ok to rest, but don’t “freeze” your body with tension)

Eating small amounts and drinking warm honey tea helps keep labor contractions strong enough to keep moving the baby. Lying down in one position is not likely to allow the baby to descend further downward. Very specific and persistent techniques are often necessary. As long as we are talking about what to do, please look into craniosacral therapy and pediatric chiropractic for the baby after birth. They should know the special techniques for babies. This can be very helpful with the breastfeeding latch.

Medically-assisted birth

Sometimes the doctor will want to use a vacuum (ventouse) or forceps during a contraction to pull the head out. There are some risks, of course, but if the head is low enough, attempting to continue with a vaginal birth avoids the risks of major surgery to the woman herself. Sometimes, a birthing woman simply needs more time to let the baby come down. An attendant with the unique skills of supporting the long labor naturally is becoming a rare bird. More than just postponing a cesarean, skills for natural labor includes knowing how to help a mother continue to labor without physical or emotional trauma. Of course, one of those skills is knowing when enough is enough. A cesarean is meant to be a lifesaver, not a lifestyle.  

Supporting asynclitic labor

There is a dance the midwife does between forces of inertia and forces of birth. Knowing when to eat, when to rest and when to work the pelvis is vitally important when labor is long and the second stage even longer. A doula, or two, can mean the difference between vaginal birth and surgery. Her talents in emotional support may find themselves calming the nurses and providers. The mother needs to want to continue the birth. After a particularly difficult birth, we want to know that she is joyous and not second-guessing herself. The birth team may need to get together to discuss the birth.

In labor, if the mother decides enough is enough, the support team must seriously consider their options for finishing the birth. With a birth team that works well together and a willing mother, many mothers will persevere to finish the birth themselves. They will feel proud and maybe a bit confused as to why their labor was so difficult. What we don’t want is to have the mother feel like she was suffering. Listen to the mother and let her lead. Give encouragement while leaving an opening for her to lay down her hand. There is a story of asynclitic posterior labor at the end of our page called Side-lying Release. The baby in this story had its chin extended, but was born at home in good health. Asynclitism might repeat in a future birth, but often it does not.