How Do I Know if My Baby Is Sunny-Side Up?

The term "sunny-side up" refers to a baby's posterior position inside the womb. This occurs when the baby turns in utero until the back of her head is pressing against the back of the mother's pelvis. The posterior position can make labor more difficult and may lead to the need for a caesarean section if the baby's face is in the incorrect position. Luckily, there are ways for a woman to know if her baby is sunny-side up.

Instructions

    • 1

      Feel whether you have pain in the lower back around 34 weeks of pregnancy, although it may occur earlier. The pain is an indication that the baby's head is pressing on the lower back. This pain also continues into labor and results in more intense "back labor."

    • 2

      Note any pain in the pubic bone region around 34 weeks of pregnancy, although it may occur earlier. This is also an indication that the baby is in the posterior position.

    • 3

      Pay attention to any false, or Braxton-Hicks, contractions during the later stages of pregnancy. Many women who have a baby in the sunny-side-up position experience an increase in false contractions.

    • 4

      Feel and watch for movement of the baby's hands around your midsection near the navel. A baby in a posterior position has his hands free to move around in this area. The movement of the hands might also be seen when your abdomen is examined.

    • 5

      Note whether you are experiencing a feeling of constant pressure on the bladder during the later stages of pregnancy. Many women feel a frequent need to urinate during the end of the gestational period, but a woman with a baby in the posterior position feels a constant burning and uncomfortable feeling around the bladder. This is caused by the baby's head resting near the bladder.

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