Maternal position in labor with one sided cervix

[Chapsi]

Say you have a mom in labor with an epidural and she is has no cervix on the left side but has a thick lip on the right. What position would you put her in to reduce the right sided cervix?

I was was told by a mentor that putting the thick cervix side up (so in this case a left lateral position with a peanut ball or pillows to prop up the upper leg) would be helpful because there would be no resistance from the bed on the pelvis and fetal head on the affected side. Last night at a birth, a well respected physician told me to do the opposite-- put the thick side down (so in this case a right lateral position).

What at do you find more effective for that stubborn one sided cervix?

[quazar]

I usually put thick side down, and peanut ball, with the top side of the torso rotated forward and lower torso rotated backward if I can. Lots of pillow positioning and peanut ball takes it down for me when the body is willing and able.

[quazar]

I usually put thick side down, and peanut ball, with the top side of the torso rotated forward and lower torso rotated backward if I can. Lots of pillow positioning and peanut ball takes it down for me when the body is willing and able.

Ack, wait, reverse that, top side of torso back, bottom side forward. Ugh. Brain not working.

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

What quazar said. Putting the thick side up makes no sense. You want pressure on that lip to make it skidaddle so you can get to the baby-havin' part! The only time I might consider putting the thick side "up" is if I felt increased swelling in the lip with it down.

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

Pretzel her with thick side down so it stretches out. You can rotate her pretzel position too every 20 minutes.

[ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN]

pretzel position? not a term I've heard before.

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

It's a comfortable technique many midwives use. It works and helps speed up cervical effacement and dilation! Learned it on my L&D unit.