Most babies presenting in a posterior position will rotate to either occiput anterior or occiput transverse. The cesarean rate is higher for OP babies than OA babies (but not OT babies as a group).
Why a Posterior Baby Stays Posterior
Studies show there are often specific reasons a posterior baby stays posterior. Certain causes listed below are associated by literature or by myself for reducing the chance baby will turn on their own. There is usually a range of whether each of these things will stop the rotation or not, or whether they lead to a cesarean or not. So this is not a list of absolutes.
1. Maternal position
Birth positions are commonly called “maternal positions” in the literature. There is little understanding in published studies for opening pelvic diameters. Spinning Babies is a leading voice in birth positioning.
Closed brim
Are they semi-sitting? Curled? Try straightening the back, in upright positions or laying down on the side with a straight back…Abdominal lift and tuck…
Closed outlet – Knees apart? Instead try Are the knees together
Lithotomy? Roll to the side or hands and knees
2. Fetal head position or location
There are plenty of studies showing posterior presentation as a challenge to labor progress. But lack of progress is not as simple as either or… either baby is anterior or isn’t moving. Nope. Not that simple. Flexion or extension, and relationship to the pelvic diameter are also factors.
Stuck at the brim?
Try Abdominal lift and tuck!
Extended head
Stuck at -2
Face presentation
Asynclitism
Deep arrest of the extended head
Try inversion and shake the apples
3. Pelvic characteristics
Not all pelvic characteristics are genetic. Many are results of what I call, “Living in gravity.” Torsion or tension determines the amount of traveling space available to a baby as much or more than size. We love to put body balancing before assumption that the pelvis is too small.
Locked sacrum (a bodywork phrase)
Try Standing Sacral
Narrow pubic arch
Narrow ischial tuberosities
Try sacrotuberous ligament release
4. Management or labor pattern
How we support birth from the birth giver to the one being given birth to has a dramatic impact on the outcome of labor. Definitely not the only factor, labor management does however determine whether support for birth is focuses on the birthing duo – birth giver and baby – or strategizes for business benefits or provider scheduling, for instance. Hospitals must function, but the best outcomes are repeatedly shown when the family needs for social and medical support are both honored in care routines.
The labor pattern may slow down due to arrival at the hospital or another family members need. For instance, the experienced mother who waits for the children to be asleep before labor switches to high gear is one labor pattern that is practical, not pathological! Another labor pattern may reflect a lack of engagement and another reflect posterior presentation or a similar extended head position.
Some of the factors around Labor may be:
Arrival at a new setting or a new person arriving to the birth
Symmetrical or asymmetrical labor patterns
Strength of pushing
Try standing, honey, and waiting for the surge to peak before pushing
Time limits to pushing
Try laboring down
Consider environment and birth positioning, privacy and calm.
See our references for these and other statements here.
Further Reading:
- OP Truths & Myths
- Posterior
- Birth Detective: Why Didn’t My OP Baby Come Down? Part 1 of 3
- Where OP Babies Get Stuck in Labor and What to Do
Upcoming Workshops
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