Baby sunny side up is commonly known as posterior position or face up position. Posterior position is also known as OP (occiput posterior fetal position). It is the position occurs when the back of the baby is against the mother’s back. Here the baby’s head seems larger than the anterior one as the baby keeps his/her chin up. The baby tries to entry his head through the pelvis first, thus the baby seems to be larger than the mother’s measurement. The circumference in both head position varies in labor pattern also. In anterior presentation, the baby’s head enters the pelvis first. And the posterior presentation represents the opposite.
When the baby sunny side up mean ?
The percentage of babies having sunny side up position or posterior position is much higher among first-time mothers. And it totally depends upon the time of delivery. Thus it is very unpredictable about a baby’s position during delivery. It is natural that baby have different positions during labor until birth. As many babies remain at posterior position in the beginning of labor, until birth. While as many take the posterior position when labor starts. Studies show that baby’s position during labor doesn’t predict his position at birth.
Symptoms of Posterior position
Ultra-sound test done before pregnancy may or may not show the symptoms of baby’s sunny-side up position. Many mothers have confusion regarding her baby’s position. Comfortable pregnancy doesn’t mean baby is not in posterior position. Again if woman’s back doesn’t get hurted during pregnancy doesn’t clarifies baby being posterior. Earlier it was thought that back labor (intense lower back pain) is a cause of baby’s facing up. But research says that this common assumption is probably wrong. Many examples are there where moms having posterior positioned babies during birth had no back pain than those babies were facing down or sideways.
Types of posterior position
- Direct OP- It is the classic posterior position where the baby facing straight forward.
- Right Occiput Transverse- Here the baby has a tendency to rotate to posterior than to anterior during labor.
- Right Occiput Posterior- In case of first time mothers babies involves a straight back with a lifted chin.
- Left Occiput Posterior- For a better birth baby’s back placed opposite the maternal liver leaving the baby curl(flex) behind in the back.
Effects of posterior delivery
Many possible effects women face due to posterior delivery. Those are-
- Start & stop labor pattern.
- Longer early & active labor.
- In some cases back labor occurs.
- Longer pushing stage.
- In most cases forceps or vacuum( ventose) needed.
- More likely to have an episiotomy and severe perineal tears.
- Higher risk of c-section & postpartum hemorrhage.
- May be a longer pregnancy.
- In many cases before labor amniotic sac breaking( water breaks, membrances open, rupture of membranes) occur.
- Sometimes baby doesn’t engage even during pushing stage.
Thus posterior position or baby’s sunny side-up position is not fruitful for mothers though the risks are short-term.