Re: [ozmidwifery] OP babies

[elizabeth mcalpine]

One response I heard recently......"if we tell the mothers that their baby is OP,  we will cause anxiety".   Personally, I think it is important to avoid this position, and tell them, and believe that women should be told.  It does indeed cause many problems as you mentioned. I also tell them what to do to try to correct it, prior to labour, from 34 weeks primip, 37 - 38 multi as Sutton & Scott advise.  They suggest that the following happens; early SROM, inco-ordinate contractions, post maturity, induction, augmentation, increased pain, longer labour, medical complications etc.    If its during labour, its off the bed, upright, movement - rocking, climbing, birth ball, hands and knees etc.    Liz ----- Original Message ----- From: Jo & Dean Bainbridge To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:03 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] OP babies I have a question that will probably be seen as a silly one to some (but remember I am a consumer so it is my right to ask silly questions!)  If one of the main reasons for cs is failure to progress and fetal malpresentation AND a common factor with both these 'reasons' is a baby that is persistently in OP ... why doesn't anyone do anything to correct this before labour?  I know a large portion of bubs are OP then turn during labour; but it seems like we have found that it is easier to deal with it by cs or forceps rotation...why is it we don't try to avoid the situation altogether? Very few women I have encountered were even aware of the term OP or what the whole OP presentation involves (longer labours more interventions etc). Why do we pregnant mums not get told during ante-natal check ups what position bubs in?  Why doesn't anyone check when labour commences?  I am aware of the optimal presentation booklet and now try to encourage all women I come across to be aware of their posture and to try swimming and sitting in positions as well as vertical positioning during labour that will encourage bub to be OA ....but this is AFTER I had a cs for failure to progress (8cm and stalled for 2 hours no fetal distress- due to having a monitor on and being made to be supine...no wonder bub did not turn himself!) I am curious why this seems to be something that is ignored by mainstream but something that plays a major role in how birth results as cs or ivd?? can anyone shed some light??   Jo Bainbridge founding member CARES SA email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 08 8388 6918 birth with trust, faith & love...