Spin baby

At my last midwife appointment, they palpated my belly to feel which way little Riley was chilling out in my uterus. They used a Doppler and fetoscope to determine where baby’s head was positioned and felt around for the rest of baby. Right now, baby is most likely in the oblique position. This is very similar to the transverse (or “sideways”) position in that it is not favorable for a vaginal delivery.

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According to SpinningBabies.com:

The baby is oblique when baby’s head is in the mother’s hip. The baby’s body and head are diagonal, not vertical and not horizontal (transverse lie). This is fine for a second twin. But oblique is not an optimal fetal position for a singleton baby after 30 weeks gestation.

I had my suspicions about Riley’s positioning. Most of the movements I feel are concentrated in my lower abdomen. Many nights it feels as though she is tickling my bladder or stretching her legs out towards my right hip. Usually when she “steps” on my hip I notice a round protrusion on my left side.

I know I’m only between weeks 31 and 32, but her positioning freaks me out a little. Sure, Riley has plenty of time to wiggle her way into a more favorable position, but if she doesn’t that almost certainly means the end result will be a cesarean section because you cannot deliver a baby shoulder first.

Since I’m planning for an unmedicated birth at a birth center, a cesarean would be the least ideal birth situation in my mind. Even though I know a cesarean isn’t the end of the world, I can’t help but panic a little. I know the only thing that matters is a healthy baby and mom, but I’m totally freaked about the possibility of major abdominal surgery.

In an attempt to encourage Miss Priss to turn her tail upwards, I spent some time perusing SpinningBabies.com. One of the things the site suggests doing on a daily basis is an inversion. You basically position yourself head down, stick your rump in the air and rest yourself on your arms in a rather silly looking position for 30 seconds 1-2 times a day (with your partner’s assistance, of course).

I gave it a shot tonight, so we shall see if it helps spin little Riley right ’round.