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

The ideal position for a fetus merely earlier labor is the anterior position. In this position, the fetus'southward head points toward the ground and they are facing the woman's dorsum.

Almost fetuses settle into this position by the last month of pregnancy. The anterior position is besides known as a vertex, cephalic, or occiput anterior position.

The inductive position may reduce the chances of complications during pregnancy. Learn more than about this and other fetal positions in the womb in this article.

Possible positions of a developing baby in the womb include:

Anterior position

The best position for the fetus to be in earlier childbirth is the inductive position. The majority of fetuses get into this position before labor begins.

This position means the fetus's head is down in the pelvis, facing the woman's back. The fetus's back will be facing the woman's belly.

This position means the fetus's caput can be tucked in, allowing the top of information technology to press downwards on the neck, which encourages information technology to open during labor.

A medico or midwife may describe a fetus that lies slightly to the left as left occiput anterior or LOA, and one that lies slightly to the correct as right occiput anterior or ROA.

Posterior position

The posterior position is likewise known as the back-to-dorsum position. This is where the fetus's head is pointing down, and their back is resting confronting the adult female'south dorsum.

In this position, it can be difficult for the fetus to constrict their head in, which can make passing through the smallest part of the pelvis more challenging. This can lead to a slower and longer labor than the anterior position, and may too cause a backache.

A fetus may be more likely to end up in this position if the mother spends a long time sitting or laying down, such every bit if she is on bed residuum.

The back of a fetus's trunk is heavier than the front, so a meaning adult female can encourage the fetus to roll into the ideal position past leaning in the direction they desire them to move.

Transverse lie position

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

If a fetus is however in the transverse lie position simply before birth, a cesarean commitment will be necessary.

Without a cesarean delivery, there is a gamble of a medical emergency known as an umbilical string prolapse.

When an umbilical cord prolapse occurs, the woman delivers the umbilical cord in the birth canal earlier the babe.

Breech position

The breech position is when the fetus remains with the head up instead of downwards in the woman'southward pelvis. At that place are unlike types of breech position, including:

  • Frank breech: In this position, the fetus's legs lie straight upward in front of their body, so the feet are near the face.
  • Complete breech: In this position, the fetus "sits" with their legs crossed in front of the body, and then the feet are nigh their buttocks.
  • Footling breech: In this position, the fetus has either one or both feet hanging below their lesser. If a woman gave birth vaginally, one or both anxiety would come out start.

Breech

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

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

If a woman is conveying twins, one fetus may exist in an inductive or posterior position while the other fetus is in a breech position.

It is safe for a fetus to exist in whatever of the above breech positions while they are in the womb. However, there are some risks if the fetus is yet in a breech position when labor begins.

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

At each appointment during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, a doctor or midwife should feel the woman's abdomen to check the position of the fetus.

At the 35–36 week appointment, they will check to ensure that the fetus has moved into an anterior or posterior position. If the doctor is unsure about whether the fetus is in the correct position after a physical examination, they may asking an ultrasound scan.

It may also exist possible for the woman to tell which position the fetus is in at home.

When the fetus is in the back-to-back or posterior position, the pregnancy crash-land may feel squishy. A woman may also notice kicks around the middle of the abdomen, and some people may also run across an indentation around their abdomen button.

When the fetus is in the inductive position, a woman may experience more than kicks under the ribs. Their belly button may also "pop out."

Well-nigh fetuses turn into the caput-downwards position past 36 weeks. If a fetus is in a breech position at 36 weeks, a doctor or midwife may suggest an external cephalic version (ECV).

An ECV is a procedure where a medico or midwife will endeavor to turn the fetus manually.

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

Using their hands on the exterior of the pregnant woman's belly, a doctor or midwife will and so gently dispense the fetus from a breech position into a transverse lie position, then into a head-downward position.

Some fetuses turn by themselves after 36 weeks, and some fifty-fifty turn during labor.

Some people recommend moving into certain positions, taking herbal medicines, and doing item exercises to help babies in breech turn to the more favorable birthing position. Notwithstanding, there is no reliable evidence to prove that any of these methods piece of work.

If a person does wish to try these medicines or techniques, information technology is vital to consult a doctor first.

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

If a infant is still in a transverse lie or breech position but before labor, a dr. or midwife will make medical interventions to ensure the rubber of the woman and infant during childbirth.