The Other Side of the Glass


The trailer

Friday, January 12, 2007

Shoulder dystocia and spinning babies

From the website: Click below to go to pdf file showing how to resolve shoulder dystocia.

Often the words "failure to progress," "lack of progress" or "the baby's too big" are said when the baby's head is simply not in the best angle to fit the pelvis. There can be other reasons, too, slow labor is not always from the baby's position. But fetal position is one of the most common reasons for a slow or stalled labor. Too often, there is a misunderstanding of what is needed in birth. Changing positions randomly isn't always enough when the baby needs help to reposition the angle of the head in the pelvis. Sometimes specific help is needed at the brim, the midpelvis and/or the pelvic outlet. Sometimes it is the ligaments, not the size of the bones that lengthens labor. Often when we suddenly find the right thing to do the baby comes quickly.

A "sunny-side up baby," one facing the front (occiput posterior), fits less easily than a baby in the occiput anterior position (facing mother's back). The posterior position makes the baby's head seem bigger when moving through the pelvis. If a baby starts labor with his or her back on the right, or along the mother's own spine, labor may be longer and might even need a doctor's intervention to finish the birth with Pitocin IV, a vacuum and/or by cesarean. There may be some things you can do that reduces the chance of these medical interventions. Other posterior babies come out with less fuss. Read why this happens by clicking on Labor and Birth in the left margin and seeing "Myths about Posterior Labors" right at the top.

Gravity works 24/7. The positions a woman rests in through pregnancy, her posture and her choices in movement interact with the condition of her muscles, ligaments and pelvic joints have much influence on the course of labor--sometimes as early as the end of the first trimester. But, patience, nurturing support and belief are so important in labor, too.

What makes Spinning Babies unique is the step by step approach to the topic of Optimal Fetal Positioning. The techniques can be found around the world, but "what to do when" is found right here. Your labor can be shorter and less painful, easier in other words, than if you don't prepare your body with these easy to do activities.

Resolving Shoulder Dystocia

Resolving Shoulder Dystocia in the Active, Mobile Woman

Many women being attended by midwives, and all women having home birth, are alert and active while giving birth. They can move freely and adapt positions, if needed, to complete the birth. Midwives are mostly women and women have different upper body strength than men. Midwives, and also doctors who are helping a non-drugged birthing women, have the option to put the mother's mobile pelvis to work for them should the head be born and the shoulders get stuck in the pelvis.

It's a good idea if mothers know these things (especially women planning an unassisted birth) as well as midwives. It helps them to be knowledgeable, to trust, and to be confident in the caregiver.


Housefairy said...

As a woman who has had homebirth, hospital vaginal birth, and 2 c-sections, I can tell you, the idea that women can/should possibly labor in a BED just blows my mind. Blows it away.

You have to move, you must move. During my VBAC homebirth of my 11 pound son, I was on hands and knees almost the entire time---it didnt even occur to me that I was doing it, but Im sure glad I did, and was able to crawl around my house like a crazy cat-mama! Can you imagine doing that in a hospital? I dont think it would have even occured to me to do so, embarassment, fear, "protocol", would have certainly hampered everything, not to mention touching that nasty pathogenic floor...

Baby Keeper said...

You are the person I would listen to if I were a pregnant woman. You have had it all. WOW.

No, I can't imagine doing that in a hospital. Even if society began to see the dire consequences of using drugs in birth and "allowed" women to move freely, I can't imagine you being able to do that. There is just something about being in your own space.

Gosh, even a beloved family mama cat will find the spot she feels safe and comfortable in -- away from the family.

Sometimes, I think the biggest miracle of birth these days is that a woman can actually do it in a hospital.

I love the imagine of you as a mama cat laboring. Yes, I think it would have occured to you in your body --- it's called "biolgical impulse." You would have been blocked and "stuffed" or "drugged" to keep your impulses controlled. This is what I believe is the deep, unnamed source of anger and powerlessness for many women.

Thanks for your email.



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