A baby is usually in the head-down (vertex) position, with the head facing your back. However, it is not the only position. The fetus might be in various other positions, including occiput posterior (OP). MomJunction tells you about this fetal position, its causes, and complications.
What Does Occiput Posterior Position Mean?
A head-down position of the baby facing your abdomen (and not the back) is called an occiput posterior (OP) position.
The vertex presentation wherein the occiput (back of the baby’s head) is anteriorly (to the front) positioned is called occiput anterior and is considered the optimal position for birthing (1).
There are two OP positions:
Right occiput posterior: ROP has the baby’s back facing towards the right side of the mother and the back of the head facing towards the mother’s back.
Left occiput posterior: LOP has the baby’s back facing the left side of the mother and back of the head towards the mother’s back (1).
The baby could also be in a straight OP position:
OP occurs due to certain physical and lifestyle reasons.
[ Read: Stages Of Childbirth ]
Can An OP Position Affect Labor?
Here is what could happen in the case of posterior labor:
- Most babies, who are in the occiput posterior position before labor, tend to rotate to the occiput anterior (OA) position after the labor sets in.
- Some posterior babies may get delivered without any slowdown in labor, while some may take time but require no obstetric interventions.
- When the posterior baby might not turn, or the possibility of vaginal delivery is low, then the mother may have to undergo a C-section.
- Deliveries with babies in the OP position usually need assisted methods such as a C-section or use of vacuum and forceps.
In some cases, the babies may not turn and could make the labor difficult (2).
[ Read: Baby Crowning ]
What Could Be The Complications Of A Posterior Labor?
- Possible risk of postpartum hemorrhage (more than 500ml of blood loss), and infections
- Delivery done using forceps and vacuum may cause third and fourth-degree perineal tears
- A longer lasting pre-labor (first and second stage), with a backache
- Needs frequent induction to start the labor, and its failure may necessitate a C section.
- Chorioamnionitis, also called intra-amniotic infection (IAI), is the inflammation of the fetal membrane due to bacterial infection
- A baby delivered in the OP position might have chances of a low APGAR score (less than 7), meconium-stained amniotic fluid, meconium aspiration birth trauma, NICU admissions, and longer neonatal stay (5)
These complications could make labor difficult in OP cases. Some women are likely to have a tougher time than others.
Posterior labor is likely to be less difficult if:
- The baby is smaller or average in size
- The posterior baby engages during labor.
Your OB/GYN would do everything possible to manage the OP position and avoid any complications.
[ Read: Position Of Baby In Pregnancy ]
What Causes A Baby To Get Into Occiput Position?
Some factors that could lead to an occiput posterior baby are (6):
- The shape of the pelvis: Anthropoid and android-shaped pelvises could lead to OP. Women with a heart-shaped pelvis (android) may have the baby in this position because of the narrower front.
A pelvis with an oval-shaped inlet, with a large anterior-posterior diameter (anthropoid) and a narrow pelvic cavity, may also lead to OP.
- Maternal kyphosis: The mother’s kyphosis or hunchback (excessive curvature of the spinal cord) could make the fetal back fit into the curve. Multiple pregnancies (twins or more) may also be a reason for this position. These causes might increase the chances of OP during delivery if you belong to the high-risk group.
The Risk Factors That Might Increase The Chances Of OP
Here are the factors that may influence your chances of having an OP position during the delivery (7).
- Your age is more than 35 years
- Nulliparity – you haven’t given birth before
- Previous OP delivery
- Decreased pelvic outlet capacity
- African-American ethnicity
- Birth weight of more than 4,000g
- Gestational age of more than 41 weeks
An OP position might complicate the labor by prolonging it. Timely diagnosis and management could help minimize the implications.
Diagnosis And Management Of Occiput Posterior Position
The OP position could be diagnosed through an ultrasound scanning, and its management is done only if the fetal heart rate is reassuring.
An OP may be managed through:
- Operative vaginal delivery
Operative vaginal delivery from the OP position: It could be done if there is sufficient room between the occiput and the sacrum, allowing the baby to turn. Forceps or a vacuum extractor may be used to bring the baby out (8).
C-section: This is done when the above methods do not help you deliver the baby through the vagina.
Occiput posterior may not be as serious as a breech position, but it not as easy as the occiput anterior either. Therefore, you may try preventing OP and get the baby to the easier OA position.
How To Prevent An Occiput Posterior Position?
Following the below postures and exercises might help keep the fetus in an appropriate position and facilitate delivery (9).
- Postures: Avoid reclining positions and sit with your pelvis tilted. You could use a birth ball to maintain this posture. Sleep towards the left side, keeping left leg straight and right leg at 90 degrees, supported with pillows between the legs.
- Exercises: You may perform exercises that involve pelvic rocking, walking, and swimming. Here is what you could do:
i. During pre-labor: Pelvic rocking for ten times for 2-5 times a day is likely to help in rotating the hips in a circular motion. Get down on your hands and knees, and lean forward as much as you can comfortably. Repeat this during the early stages of labor.
[ Read: How To Push During Delivery ]
ii. Towards the end of the first stage of labor: If the baby is moving towards an OA position, then squatting could help relax the pelvic floor muscles, creating more room for the baby to rotate.
iii. During the pushing stage: Doing double hip squeeze during the contractions may help the pelvis spread, providing more room for the baby to move back to the right position.
- Therapies: Chiropractic and acupuncture techniques may help fix the improper alignment of your body and turn the baby to the OA position.
Note: Ensure that the exercises and therapies that you consider are approved by your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How to deal with posterior labor pain?
During posterior labor, the process may get prolonged, making you feel tired. In such a case, you may want to go for an epidural to get relief from the pain. However, an epidural might decrease the chances of your baby’s rotation to the anterior position. This, in turn, could prolong the second stage of labor or increase the chances of forceps delivery.
- You may also try breathing techniques.
- Try to lean forward during the labor as it helps in relieving the back pain to some extent.
- Use a hot or cold compress.
- Get your lower back massaged.
2. If my baby is posterior during labor, does that mean I’ll have back labor?
It is not necessary, but there could a high chance. A study has found that one in four women experienced back labor, but not all of them had a posterior baby (10).
3. What is the OP C-section rate?
Around 18% of the OP cases are were found to result in emergency C-section or assisted delivery in a randomized controlled study (4).
[ Read: Back Labor: How To Get Relief ]
Having a posterior baby could make the delivery process tough. But, with medical techniques, it has become possible to ease the process of posterior labor. Talk to your doctor, ask them questions, and clarify all your doubts. Take special care, as suggested by the doctor, and your lovely baby will be out soon.
Do you have something to say about posterior labor? Share it with us in the comment section.
2. Delivery presentations; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health (2019)
3. Senécal J et al.; Effect of fetal position on second-stage duration and labor outcome; Obstet Gynecol (2005)
4. Hala Phipps et al.; Persistent Occiput Posterior position – OUTcomes following manual rotation (POP-OUT): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial; Trials (2015)
5. Cheng YW et al.; The association between persistent occiput posterior position and neonatal outcomes; Obstet Gynecol (2006)
6. Diaa M. EI-Mowafi; Malposition and Malpresentations; Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2019)
7. Cheng YW et al.; Associated factors and outcomes of persistent occiput posterior position: A retrospective cohort study from 1976 to 2001; Birth (2010)
8. Pearl M et al.; Vaginal delivery from the persistent occiput posterior position. Influence on maternal and neonatal morbidity; J Reprod Med (1993)
9. Posterior Babies; The Midwifery Group, Vancouver
10. Back Labor; Women’s Birth & Wellness Center, North Carolina