What is the optimal position for a woman experiencing posterior arrest?

The optimal position for a woman experiencing posterior arrest is the forward leaning position. This positioning can help facilitate the descent of the baby's head through the birth canal, particularly in cases where the baby is positioned in a posterior position, meaning the back of the baby's head is against the mother's back.

By leaning forward, gravity assists in encouraging the baby to rotate into a more favorable position, which can alleviate pressure on the mother's pelvis and promote cervical dilation. It also allows for better pelvic opening and can help the baby move into an anterior position where delivery is typically easier.

The other positions, such as supine, side-lying, and sitting upright, may not provide the same advantages in terms of utilizing gravity and facilitating optimal fetal positioning during labor, making the forward leaning position the most beneficial in this scenario.