Creating Space for Sunny-Side Up Babies: The Gentle Power of Spinning Babies® to Turn Occiput Posterior (OP) Presenting Babies

Finding out your baby is in the occiput posterior (OP), or "sunny-side up," position can bring a mix of emotions. While many babies will naturally rotate during labor, an OP presentation can sometimes lead to a longer birth, back pain during labor, and a more challenging pushing phase. But don't stress! There are gentle and effective techniques you can explore to encourage your baby to find a more optimal anterior (OA) position, and Spinning Babies® offers a fantastic toolkit to help.

Spinning Babies® isn't about forceful manipulations; it's about understanding your baby's anatomy and the anatomy of your pelvis, and then using specific movements and postures to create space and encourage your baby to naturally rotate. Think of it as guiding your little one through a dance rather than trying to wrestle them into place.

So, if you've been told your baby is OP, or you suspect they might be based on your symptoms (think intense back labor!), here's a look at some key Spinning Babies® techniques you can try:

Understanding the Goal: Creating Space and Encouraging Movement

The core principle of Spinning Babies® is to balance the muscles and ligaments around your pelvis. When these are balanced, your pelvis can open and adapt more effectively, giving your baby the room they need to maneuver. For an OP baby, we want to encourage them to tuck their chin and rotate their back towards your front.

Key Spinning Babies® Techniques for OP Babies:

Here are some powerful techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine and during early labor:

• Forward-Leaning Inversions (with supervision): This is often considered a cornerstone technique for encouraging an OP baby to disengage from the pelvis and potentially flip.

  • How to do it: Kneel with your knees wide and feet together on the edge of a couch, bed, or sturdy wide chair. Place your hands then your forearms on the floor, you can also rest them on a pillow. Lower your chest towards the floor, creating an inverted position. Hold for three sets of 30 seconds, breathing deeply.

  • Why it helps: It temporarily lifts your baby's head out of the pelvis and uses gravity to give them more space to rotate to the front

Forward Leaning Inversion

• Open-Knee Chest: Similar to the forward-leaning inversion but can be more accessible for some.

  • How to do it: Start on your hands and knees. Widen your knees as far apart as comfortable while keeping your feet together. Lower your chest towards the floor, resting on your forearms if comfortable.

  • Why it helps: Opens the mid and lower pelvis, encouraging baby to tuck and rotate.

Open Knee Chest

• Sidelying Release (with support): This gentle technique aims to release tension in the ligaments supporting the uterus.

  • How to do it: Lie on your side at the edge of the bed, with your belly almost hanging off the edge. Have your bottom leg straight and let your top leg to bend slightly and hang off of the bed. Relax completely in this position for 5 minutes on each side until you see/feel the top leg drop lower, showing the ligaments have relaxed.

  • Why it helps: Balanced ligaments can allow the uterus to function more effectively and create more space for baby to move.

Sidelying Release

Important Considerations:

• Timing is Key: While you can start incorporating some of these techniques at 34 weeks, listen to your body and don't overdo it. During early labor, focus on the techniques that feel most intuitive.

• Listen to Your Body: If any of these positions cause pain or discomfort, stop immediately.

• Work with Your Care Provider: Always discuss your plans and any concerns with your doctor or midwife. They can help monitor your baby's position and provide guidance.

• Be Patient: Babies move on their own timelines. While these techniques can be incredibly helpful, there's no guarantee of a specific outcome. Focus on creating an optimal environment for your baby to move.

• Find Support: Having a supportive partner or doula who understands Spinning Babies® techniques can be invaluable during labor. Schedule a consultation with me at Www.bluebonnetbirthservices.com/contact

  
  

Empower Yourself for Birth:

Discovering your baby is OP doesn't have to be a source of anxiety. By understanding the principles of Spinning Babies® and incorporating these gentle techniques, you can actively participate in creating more space and encouraging your baby to find a more favorable position for birth. Remember to be patient, listen to your body, and trust the amazing journey of labor. You've got this!

Have you tried any Spinning Babies® techniques for an OP baby? Share your experiences in the comments below!