What Are They Really Saying?

            You have been pregnant nearly ten months, you have heard the expression, efface and dilate, and you have a pretty good understanding of those words? First you must efface before you can dilate; which when translated in our language means that our cervix must flatten out, and then slowly open up. Lets try imagery, take a 10 centimeter cylinder shape piece of ice about 3 inches long; place it over the sink drain without allowing the water to actually go down the drain; imagine a stopper that would allow you to open it slowly. As the ice it melts, or effaces it creates a puddle around the drain; then slowly you allow the drain to open or dilate from a hole 1 centimeter to it full cylinder shape, in the case of labor it is 10 centimeters. Now this is pretty much what you will hear from other moms, your doctor or midwife, or your doula. The discomfort that you will feel is natural, but even so it does not make it better, your cervix has a lot of work to do before your able to do your job, and push the baby out.

            What about when the doctor says to the nurse the baby is high, not yet engaged and is OP, or OA? Now you are really confused! Believe me your have every right to be, since you were never informed of these terms.

So let me try to explain, what some of these terms mean, occiput transverse (OT) and anterior position (OA) mean that one side of the babies head is in position, and with the proper doula or nurse on hand she may be able to get the baby to shift so that that head is properly and evenly again the pelvis floor, contraction over a period of time may also help the baby’s head to engage properly. If the baby is still somewhat high in the womb, then there is plenty of time for the baby to get into proper position. Unfortunately if the mother is confined to her bed, the chances of the baby dropping into proper position using gravity becomes slim, if while she is bed ridden and seems to lie on one side then the changes of the baby getting into one position which will prolong labor.

How about LOA, ROP or LOT, now that is more than anyone can handle, but if your doctor says the baby is LOA with a lapsed cord around its neck; what he is saying it that the back of the baby’s head is on his mother left, and is in front of the pelvis with the umbilical cord around its neck.

Image via Wikipedia

See LOA, is telling us that the baby’s head is on his mothers left, while in front of the pelvis. ROP means the back of the baby’s head is on the right and is behind the pelvis; and LOT mean the back of the baby’s head is on the left side, in between her front and back.

There is a lot to know if you want to go into labor well informed and that is why the Internet is so great, it is full of information, for us all to use wisely.

Image via Wikipedia

A few words for your vocabulary is occiput means the back of the baby’s head, so when you hear this word you know that is what they are talking about. If they mention Anterior they are speaking about the baby’s location, which in this case is in front of the pelvis, with posterior being in back of her pelvis. Basically you want the baby to face directly toward your back, with his “occiput” at the base of your pelvis engaged, a baby in this position helps move labor along. A good way to get the baby in to position is walking, laying on your left side, onto your back to your right side and up again. Once the baby is engaged he or she is getting ready to come through the cervix, and before you know it you will be holding your baby in your arms.

Remember learn as many of the medical terms as possible, know what all those words mean; so that you will know what they are really saying.