What is Occiput Posterior Presentation at Birth?

When a doctor tells you your baby is “sunny-side up,” it may not mean what you think it does. This actually means that your baby is in occiput posterior presentation. Now you’re probably wondering what that means, but don’t worry, the skilled team of Louisville birth injury lawyers at Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway, PSC has you covered.

Occiput Posterior Presentation

When a baby is in occiput posterior presentation, it means a baby’s head is down but facing their mother’s front rather than back. This is actually one of the most common abnormal positions a baby can be in, but it does present some dangers for both the baby and its mother.

In order to reduce the risk of hemorrhages and prolonged birth, a doctor will attempt to put the baby into the proper position manually. This can only be done once the mother is fully dilated. After being rotated, the doctor will wait for a few more contractions to determine if the baby is able to move into a face-down position. However, this doesn’t work for every mother, but it is important to note that this method has reduced the need for a c-section.

Dangers

If a baby is presenting face-up at birth, a mother can face many dangers. Not only are they required to push longer, but they are at higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage. On top of that, mothers whose babies are in occiput posterior presentation are at higher risk of having an emergency c-section.

Contact Our Birth Injury Team

In cases where a doctor delays an emergency c-section, you may be able to hold them liable for you and your baby’s injuries. If that’s the case in your situation, give our office a call at (502) 244-7772 . Birth injury lawsuits can be complex, which is why our specialized medical malpractice attorneys in Louisville want to take the stress off your hands. You deserve to spend this time recovering with your family. Let us do the heavy lifting for you.

Contact us to get started on a consultation with one of our lawyers.

Categories