Pregnancy advice

[UKDEB]

Elder dd is 37 weeks. The baby's head engaged this week - she knew straight away because she immediately felt more comfortable than of late and we both noticed a change in the shape and position of her bump.

She had an appointment with the midwife today. Apparently the baby is in the posterior position and she's panicking. The midwife gave her a list of tips for encouraging the baby to adopt the anterior position, but they all seem to relate to pre-engagement. In her notes, the midwife has written "Ceph 2/5". From memory, that's well and truly engaged, isn't it?

I've been trying to reassure her by telling her that the baby could still move into the anterior position, even during labour. Is that actually true, LOL? I'd be grateful for any advice from recent mums, especially anyone who's experienced the same thing.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Its been a while for me but i did remember most of the following Deb

More details from Babyworld website FAQ:
"'Ceph' is short for 'cephalic', a Latin word meaning 'head'. If this is written in your notes, it means that your baby is lying with his or her head above your ******. In other words, he is likely to be born head first (as opposed to bottom first - 'breech', or 'br' for short). Some midwives write 'vertex' or ('vx' for short) instead of 'ceph'. This is a more specific word meaning the 'top of the head'. The abbreviations '5/5' or '3/5' (plus '4/5', '2/5', and '1/5') refers to how low down your baby's head is in relation to the bones of your pelvis. Think -of your pelvis as a large egg cup, and your baby's head as a small egg. Imagine the egg divided horizontally into five equal portions. In your mind, hold the egg just above the egg cup so all of the five portions are visible. If this was your baby's head, you could say that '5/5' of the head could be felt or was 'palpable' - or 'palp', for short. (Some midwives may just put a little arrow pointing up to indicate that this is the proportion of the baby's head that can be felt above the pelvis.) Now lower the egg half-way into the egg cup. You could now say that it is '3/5' or '2/5' palpable. '2/5' would mean that your baby was nicely tucked into the pelvis or 'engaged' ('eng', for short). This does not necessarily mean that labour is about to start, but it does mean that there is plenty of room for your baby to pass through the pelvis and out the other side -unlike the egg that is stopped half-way!"

hope your dd isn't too worried x x x

 

[CustardTart]

This isn't recent experience by any means but two of my three offspring (1st and 3rd) were posterior presentation from about 36 weeks. Neither shifted to anterior before the birth. They definitely can move but I was told this lack of movement in my case was because they were both large babies - especially the third! Both were delivered with forceps but TBH that's about the worst thing that happened as I recall...

 

[wilma-bride]

Deb, tell George not to panick too much. With the first, it's unlikely that the baby is 'engaged' this early. Nat has given a better explanation than I could of what the notes mean but both Rhiannon and Daniel were posterior-presenting (Rea right up until week 39) so chances are he could still turn.

Hope you can put her mind at rest.

On a happier note, not long to go now - bet she is relieved

 

[T16GEM]

Hi Deb
No Advice but just wanted to send lots of "baby turning dust" your dd's way!
Gems

 

[fizz13]

Hi Deb,
yes the baby can still turn! but heres some tips for her, get her on a birth ball or exercise ball and leant over it, leaning on it, it just encourages the baby to turn. Also resting on all fours can do it, I spent a lot of time with my ball and it worked for me. Having said that, the baby could turn itself in labour too, it would be a bit more work and obviously you are risking back ache labour (poor DD) but it can turn. But they will advise her to be on all fours or leaning front ways to encourage it, so similar to what I wrote above really

Hope it all goes well and that baby gets itself sorted

 

[Netty]

Ceph (means cephalic -refering to the head) palpable (means can be felt).

means the baby's head is 2 fifths engaged - so 3 fifths (3/5) can be felt by the midwife
found this bit of info for you
sorry i cant help with your original question

 

[Netty]

Just found this for you

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/planningyourbabysbirth/babyinpositionforbirth/

 

[T16GEM]

Should have said actually that my DD was in the anterior position when I went into labour, then as labour progressed she turned round and we ended up with a back labour - the midwife tried to turn her back but she was having none of it. TBH it was very painful but the epidural sorted that out, hopefully the baby will turn then you won't have to worry about that.

 

[Haworthfamily]

Hello Deb
My two twins born 12 weeks ago and were in posterior position but Cephallic - head down.
I was told to scrub the kitchen floor alot! basically get on my hands and knees and rock alot.
It slightly worked, one moved to a slightly more favourable position, but then there was two in there squashed in.

I hope she doesn't panic, it's always a stressful time as you don't have much controll over babes in tums.

Sending lots of lovely baby vibes.
Oh and also Netty gave you a link to Baby centre, they are really useful for searching advice and forums.

Sarah X

 

[saratogagirl]

I have no advice, but I am sending turning vibes

 

[mandymouse]

I have no advice, but I am sending turning vibes

Me too

 

[carolfoy]

am also sending turning vibes Deb, although Callum was a back to front baby, he had been breach but had turned the day i was due to be ceseareaned. he still hadn't quite got the hang of it though. the midwifes assured me it was pretty common and the only main difference was that i carried my labour up my back which meant basically back pains on contractions rather than pains round the tummy. apart from the fact the little beggar got lazy and decided to leave me in labour for 48 hours before he made an appearance there was no problems at all.
just thank the lord for pethadine and epidurals

 

[Snowy-girls]

Sorry no advice from me-but good luck to dd and hope baby turns+all goes well.x.

 

[Netty]

Deb, Totallyangelic (Sarah) is a midwife, may be an idea to speak to her to put your mind at rest

 

[jtlover]

Although in my case it was a long time ago - Lauren kept moving position in the last few weeks and literally the last week she engaged in the right position.

So you are going to be a Grandma - Grandma Debs and Grampy Matt

 

[florida sun]

No advice from me either hon, its been a long time since I was pregnant, however I am sending loads of hugs for you and George

 

[UKDEB]

Thanks for all your help and encouragement, guys. I've emailed this thread to dd, so you never know, she might join in (she did have an account here way back when). She's pretty clued-up which is why I think this has freaked her out. She knows that a posterior presentation can mean a difficult birth. She's had a text-book pregnancy up until now.

As for me, I'm surprised I still remember all the jargon. I look at her notes and can automatically decipher all the shorthand. I was aware that "Ceph" means cephalic (i.e. head down), but I couldn't remember whether or not 2/5 was more or less engaged. I was pretty sure it was more (i.e. that only 2/5 is palpable) and that seems to be borne out by what's been posted here.

Oh and, Rachel - shhh! Don't let Matt hear you say that!

 

[UKDEB]

I was told to scrub the kitchen floor alot!

Matt wants to know if the advice extends to ironing, loading the dishwasher and mowing the lawn!

 

[Tammy Stringer]

Now I'm glad you asked this one Deb because ....... oh drat! .... it's already been answered fully. And just as I was going to give you my expert opinion on the subject too.

Best wishes to Georgina. Hope all goes smoothly.

Kev