You have probably heard the term sunny-side up when someone describes their labor. Often, this labor will be described as long and difficult, and that is because many times when babies are in this position, it does take time and difficulty to labor.
The Sunny-Side Up Position
Sunny-side up refers to the position otherwise known as posterior, which means that rather than your baby's back hammocking into your belly and facing your back, your baby is hammocking in and facing your belly.
This position is not a make-it-or-break-it when it comes to vaginal births and unmedicated births; in fact, most babies will work their way out of this position and into a position that is easier on them when coming through the birth canal. Only about 5% of babies are born posterior, which means that a LOT of these kiddos figure it out, whether that occurs in pregnancy or, like in my case, in labor itself.
How Common Is It?
Some circumstances make sunny-side-up babies more common; these include first-time laboring parents, older age of the birthing parent, and more obese birthing parents, as well as larger babies. That being said, many sunny-side-up babies seem to find themselves in this position, whether that is because it gives them a better view of their anterior located placenta, due to the birthing parent's anatomy, or random chance.
What Can You Do?
If your baby is discovered to be in a posterior position during late pregnancy, there are things that you can do to encourage them to move and hopefully avoid laboring with a sunny-side-up baby. These include acupuncture, chiropractic care, moxibustion, swimming, rebozo sifting of the belly, forward-leaning positions, Spinning Babies techniques, and circuits like the Mile's Circuit. These techniques will help turn the baby into a more optimal position for many individuals. There are circumstances where nothing you do, and no matter how hard you try, your baby loves being posterior. Do not fret; as I stated above, only about 5% of babies stay this way throughout labor, and many turn during labor. And most babies who are in a posterior position will not cause an issue with birth or labor.
How Does It Affect Labor?
In some cases, individuals will feel more of their contractions in their back rather than their front when dealing with a sunny-side-up baby. These are referred to frequently as back labor, and many people hate them. Back labor can happen to anyone, and in some cases, individuals with posterior babies will not experience them at all. Other things that are more common for babies being born sunny-side up are an increased chance of tearing and excess bleeding. This is because the broader part of the baby's head leads through the birth canal, putting more pressure on the tissues.
Words of Encouragement
Whether your baby is in the more typical anterior or the less familiar position of posterior or sunny-side up, you can birth your baby beautifully and powerfully. It is a great idea to talk to your care provider about how to encourage your baby to change positions in safe ways for you and your body. As with any intervention, remember to ask about all the risks and benefits to ensure that your choices feel aligned and from a place of education. Remember that you are the professional of your body and your baby.
As someone who worked diligently to turn my posterior baby with my first and turned them successfully, then tried just as hard with my second, who refused to budge until labor, and finally went into my third pregnancy not wanting to try anything and knowing it would all work out, I can personally say that you honestly do know what is best for you and your baby, even if it looks different than you would typically think. Remember that a sunny-side-up baby is not a death sentence; it is simply a variation of regular and one that generally fixes itself on its own.
