There's a book in there

There is a subject that needs to have a book written about it.

I read messages from the ICAN board about back labor and asynclitic heads and just know that we are missing something of the puzzle here. Babies who are positioned before birth looking up rather than down, or better yet sideways, can cause some hellacious back labor and then they get stuck coming through the birth canal. I think most moms could handle the long, slow labor, but it's the back pain that just wears them out.
Babies whose heads are crooked (asynclitic) coming through the pelvis also take longer, cause back pain, and frequently get stuck (AKA failure to descend). Both of these problems frequently result in a Cesarean delivery.

Most midwives seem to have at least some idea of how to help the mom, as do doulas. However, from comments I have read from other midwives, and mostly from the women who have had Cesareans, the knowledge and skills are far from comprehensive. Everyone seems to have a trick or two that they have some luck with, or a technique that they have heard works really well. I just think that it would be most helpful if all these things were put into a book so there was a reference guide with all the techniques in it.

What I'd really like to see happen is for that book to be widely distributed in hospital labor and delivery units and become required reading. If hospitals are truly concerned about reducing their Cesarean rates and providing quality care, then wouldn't you think that they would want to be sure their staff knows these things. Like having the nursing staff well versed in breastfeeding techniques and lactation management.

I suppose if I were feeling really cynical, I would mention the high induction rates, the "big baby" card, and the effect that hospital economics has on the quality of maternity care. I am just not feeling that cynical tonight.

I am more puzzled by the problems caused by malpositioned babies and am asking how do we solve them.