During pregnancy, the developing babe moves into several different positions. As labor approaches, some positions are safer than others.

The ideal position for a fetus merely before labor is the inductive position. In this position, the fetus'south head points toward the ground and they are facing the woman's back.

Most fetuses settle into this position by the last calendar month of pregnancy. The anterior position is as well known equally a vertex, cephalic, or occiput anterior position.

The inductive position may reduce the chances of complications during pregnancy. Acquire more nigh this and other fetal positions in the womb in this commodity.

Possible positions of a developing baby in the womb include:

Anterior position

The all-time position for the fetus to exist in before childbirth is the inductive position. The majority of fetuses get into this position earlier labor begins.

This position means the fetus'south head is downwards in the pelvis, facing the adult female's back. The fetus's back will be facing the woman'southward abdomen.

This position means the fetus'southward caput tin be tucked in, assuasive the pinnacle of it to press down on the neck, which encourages information technology to open up during labor.

A md or midwife may depict a fetus that lies slightly to the left as left occiput anterior or LOA, and one that lies slightly to the right equally right occiput anterior or ROA.

Posterior position

The posterior position is also known every bit the back-to-back position. This is where the fetus'southward head is pointing down, and their back is resting against the woman's back.

In this position, it can be hard for the fetus to tuck their caput in, which can make passing through the smallest function of the pelvis more challenging. This tin lead to a slower and longer labor than the anterior position, and may also cause a backache.

A fetus may be more probable to end upwardly in this position if the mother spends a long time sitting or laying downwardly, such as if she is on bed rest.

The dorsum of a fetus's body is heavier than the front, so a pregnant woman can encourage the fetus to scroll into the ideal position by leaning in the direction they want them to move.

Transverse lie position

A transverse prevarication position is when the fetus is lying horizontally in the uterus. Most fetuses volition not remain in this position in the weeks and days leading up to labor.

If a fetus is still in the transverse prevarication position simply earlier birth, a cesarean delivery volition be necessary.

Without a cesarean delivery, there is a run a risk of a medical emergency known as an umbilical cord prolapse.

When an umbilical cord prolapse occurs, the woman delivers the umbilical cord in the birth canal before the baby.

Breech position

The breech position is when the fetus remains with the head upward instead of down in the woman's pelvis. There are different types of breech position, including:

  • Frank breech: In this position, the fetus'southward legs prevarication directly upward in front of their body, and then the feet are near the face.
  • Complete breech: In this position, the fetus "sits" with their legs crossed in front of the body, and so the anxiety are virtually their buttocks.
  • Petty breech: In this position, the fetus has either one or both feet hanging below their bottom. If a woman gave birth vaginally, 1 or both feet would come out first.

Breech

Reasons why a fetus may remain in the breech position include:

  • also much or also little amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus
  • uterine fibroids
  • an irregularly shaped uterus
  • multiple fetuses in the womb

If a adult female is conveying twins, i fetus may be in an anterior or posterior position while the other fetus is in a breech position.

It is safe for a fetus to be in any of the in a higher place breech positions while they are in the womb. Notwithstanding, in that location are some risks if the fetus is still in a breech position when labor begins.

The best fashion of finding out which position the fetus is in is by talking to a doctor or midwife.

At each date during the second and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, a doc or midwife should experience the adult female's belly to bank check the position of the fetus.

At the 35–36 week date, they volition check to ensure that the fetus has moved into an inductive or posterior position. If the physician is unsure almost whether the fetus is in the correct position after a physical examination, they may request an ultrasound scan.

It may also be possible for the adult female to tell which position the fetus is in at dwelling.

When the fetus is in the back-to-back or posterior position, the pregnancy bump may experience squishy. A woman may also find kicks around the middle of the belly, and some people may too see an indentation around their belly button.

When the fetus is in the anterior position, a woman may feel more kicks under the ribs. Their belly push may as well "popular out."

Most fetuses turn into the head-down position past 36 weeks. If a fetus is in a breech position at 36 weeks, a medico or midwife may suggest an external cephalic version (ECV).

An ECV is a process where a doctor or midwife will effort to plow the fetus manually.

For this procedure, they will offset insert a small needle into the woman's hand to relax the uterus.

Using their hands on the outside of the significant adult female'south abdomen, a doctor or midwife will then gently manipulate the fetus from a breech position into a transverse prevarication position, and so into a head-down position.

Some fetuses turn by themselves later on 36 weeks, and some even turn during labor.

Some people recommend moving into certain positions, taking herbal medicines, and doing particular exercises to help babies in breech turn to the more than favorable birthing position. However, at that place is no reliable testify to prove that any of these methods work.

If a person does wish to effort these medicines or techniques, it is vital to consult a md offset.

A baby volition motion into many unlike positions throughout pregnancy. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, about babies move into an anterior position, which is the all-time position for vaginal birth.

If a baby is still in a transverse lie or breech position only before labor, a doctor or midwife volition make medical interventions to ensure the safety of the woman and baby during childbirth.