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

The ideal position for a fetus just before labor is the anterior position. In this position, the fetus's head points toward the footing and they are facing the adult female'southward dorsum.

Near fetuses settle into this position past the terminal calendar month of pregnancy. The anterior position is also known equally a vertex, cephalic, or occiput anterior position.

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

Possible positions of a developing baby in the womb include:

Inductive position

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

This position means the fetus'south caput is downward in the pelvis, facing the woman'south back. The fetus'south back will be facing the woman's belly.

This position means the fetus's caput can exist tucked in, allowing the top of it to press downwards on the cervix, which encourages it to open up during labor.

A doctor or midwife may depict a fetus that lies slightly to the left as left occiput anterior or LOA, and i that lies slightly to the right every bit right occiput anterior or ROA.

Posterior position

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

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

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

The back of a fetus'southward body is heavier than the front, then a meaning woman tin encourage the fetus to curlicue into the ideal position by leaning in the direction they desire them to movement.

Transverse lie position

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

If a fetus is even so in the transverse prevarication position just before birth, a cesarean delivery will be necessary.

Without a cesarean delivery, at that place is a risk of a medical emergency known every bit an umbilical string prolapse.

When an umbilical string prolapse occurs, the woman delivers the umbilical string in the nascency canal before the infant.

Breech position

The breech position is when the fetus remains with the head up instead of downward in the woman'south pelvis. There are different 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, so the feet are near their buttocks.
  • Footling breech: In this position, the fetus has either i or both anxiety hanging below their bottom. If a adult female gave nascency vaginally, i or both feet would come out kickoff.

Breech

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

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

If a woman is carrying twins, one fetus may be in an anterior or posterior position while the other fetus is in a breech position.

It is rubber for a fetus to exist in any of the above breech positions while they are in the womb. Notwithstanding, there are some risks if the fetus is nonetheless in a breech position when labor begins.

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

At each appointment during the second and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, a doctor or midwife should feel the adult female'south abdomen to cheque the position of the fetus.

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

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

When the fetus is in the dorsum-to-dorsum or posterior position, the pregnancy crash-land may feel squishy. A woman may also detect kicks around the centre of the belly, and some people may also come across an indentation around their umbilicus.

When the fetus is in the anterior position, a woman may feel more than kicks nether the ribs. Their navel may too "popular out."

Most fetuses turn into the head-downwardly position by 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 physician or midwife will effort to turn the fetus manually.

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

Using their hands on the outside of the meaning woman's belly, a doctor or midwife volition then gently manipulate the fetus from a breech position into a transverse lie position, then into a caput-down position.

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

Some people recommend moving into sure positions, taking herbal medicines, and doing particular exercises to assist babies in breech turn to the more favorable birthing position. However, in that location is no reliable prove to prove that any of these methods piece of work.

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

A baby will motion into many dissimilar positions throughout pregnancy. During the terminal few weeks of pregnancy, nigh babies motion into an inductive position, which is the all-time position for vaginal birth.

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