PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for July, 2001: Re: Baby's position/ Palpating your baby (Taye)

Re: Baby's position/ Palpating your baby (Taye)

From: Sandra (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 31 Jul 2001 21:28:30 -0500 (CDT)

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Next message: Sandra: "Re: Baby's position/ Palpating, Part 2 (Taye)"
Previous message: Jesse: "Pain/Etopic"
In reply to: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: Baby's position (or change of ) at 37 weeks"
Next in thread: Sandra: "Re: Baby's position/ Palpating, Part 2 (Taye)"

The following is the first half of a post from a VBAC group I belong to. It tells you how to determine the baby's position yourself (palpating.) I will complete the message in a second part. It's too long to fit in one post! __________________________________________________________ To palpate your baby, first empty your bladder, and then lie down in a __________________________________________________________ comfortable position.

Feel above the pubic bone with the thumb and fingers of one hand, or using both hands. The head will feel harder, rounder and smoother than the buttocks and if it is not engaged as in later pregnancy, it is easier to move from side to side and the body will not move with it. You may even feel a groove where the neck is.

Visualize a little newborn baby as you do the palpating and it will help you to understand more of what you are feeling. If at first you're not sure at all about what you are feeling, keep trying each day and as the baby grows you will get better and better at it.

Next, try to locate the back. Use your hands on each side of the baby feeling for a smooth, firm curve. Move your hands across your belly as you go until they meet in the center. If the baby is anterior (facing your back), you'll feel the broad curved back. Your abdominal surface on the opposite side of the baby's back will feel more irregular. You may even feel the baby's arms and legs. Notice where you generally feel a lot of kicking. Does it coincide with where you are feeling the smaller parts? If the baby is posterior, it will be more difficult to feel the back and you will mostly feel arms and legs. When the baby kicks, it feels like the arms and legs are all out front... (Continued in Part 2)

Next message: Sandra: "Re: Baby's position/ Palpating, Part 2 (Taye)"
Previous message: Jesse: "Pain/Etopic"
In reply to: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: Baby's position (or change of ) at 37 weeks"
Next in thread: Sandra: "Re: Baby's position/ Palpating, Part 2 (Taye)"

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