The position of the fetus in the womb: the most ideal and risky

The position or location of the fetus in the womb is an important thing to pay attention to before the D-day of delivery. This is because the position of the baby in the womb will determine the later labor procedure. So, what are the positions of the fetus in the womb like? The following is the review.

What is the ideal position of the fetus in the womb?

During pregnancy, the position of the fetus in the womb will usually rotate in different directions.

Just before the day of birth or in the last week of pregnancy, the baby in the womb begins to put in the best position so that it is easy to get out of the womb later.

In general, the doctor will give you the green light for a normal delivery if the head of the baby in the womb is down.

Ideally, the position of the baby's head is close to the birth canal, aka the mother's pelvis and the chin is against her chest.

This position of the fetus in the stomach or womb is known as cephalic presentation which allows the baby to come out headfirst.

After the head is successfully removed, the birth process of the baby is followed by the removal of the body, hands and feet.

In addition to facilitating the birth process, the position of the baby in the stomach or womb at the same time can reduce the risk of childbirth complications.

Anterior position (anterior position)

In order for the normal or vaginal delivery process to run smoothly and smoothly, the fetus in the womb should be in an anterior position.

The anterior position is one of the ideal or normal locations for the fetus in the womb before delivery.

The anterior position is also known by the name vertex , cephalic , and occiput anterior .

The anterior position is arguably the best position for the baby in the stomach or womb before birth.

Most babies in the stomach or womb will change to an anterior position before labor begins.

As an illustration, the fetus is said to be in a normal anterior position when its head has descended into the pelvic area of ​​the mother and is facing the back or back of the mother.

In other words, it means the part of the baby's back that will touch the mother's stomach.

If the position of the baby is slightly to the left, the obstetrician or midwife will describe it as an anterior left occiput (left occiput anterior).

Meanwhile, if the baby is in the anterior position, it tends to be slightly to the right, it is called the right occiput anterior (left occiput anterior).

If the baby in the womb is in the anterior position, the mother can choose to give birth in the hospital or give birth at home.

Immediately go to the hospital when the signs of childbirth begin to be felt, such as original contractions, rupture of the amniotic fluid, to the opening of the delivery.

Distinguish between the original contractions of labor and the often misleading false contractions.

Do not forget, make sure all the preparation for childbirth and delivery equipment is available properly.

The position of the fetus in the womb is less than ideal

Sometimes, the fetus in the womb is not always in the ideal position to be born.

This less than ideal fetal position is usually influenced by several factors, such as:

• The shape of the mother's pelvis
• The shape of the baby's head
• The ability of the baby's head to conform to the mother's pelvis
• The ability of the mother's pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax during childbirth.

Again, as explained earlier, the fetus in the womb should have started to change to an ideal position for normal delivery approaching the D-day of labor.

If the position of the baby in the womb does not change, the doctor will look for other ways so that the mother can still give birth normally.

In certain conditions that do not allow normal methods, the doctor may also advise the mother to undergo a cesarean section.

The following are various positions of the baby in the womb that are less than ideal for normal delivery:

1. Position of the posterior fetus (posterior position)

As opposed to the anterior position where the baby is facing the back of the mother, the posterior position is not like that.

Launching from the Cleveland Clinic, the posterior position is the position when the baby is in the womb facing the mother's stomach.

That is, the position of the baby's back in the womb is leaning on the back of the mother with her head downward.

That is why the posterior position is also called the position name back-to-back .

When the baby in the womb is in this position, it will be quite difficult for him to get his head past the mother's pelvis.

As a result, the delivery time can be longer than it should be.

In fact, you can also experience back pain when the baby in the womb is in the posterior position.

Usually, the baby in the womb can be in a posterior position if the mother often spends time sitting or lying down for too long.

In other cases, the size of the mother's pelvis which tends to be narrow will also place the baby in a posterior position in the stomach or womb, making childbirth difficult.

This condition is known as cephalopelvic disproportion.

Although this position usually causes problems in childbirth, in most cases no special intervention is required during the process of delivering the baby.

However, the doctor may help you by using forceps or rotating the baby's position manually if the labor process is hampered.

If obstacles still occur even though you have been assisted, the next option may require a caesarean section to deliver the baby.

2. Position brow or face

On position brow or face , the eyebrows of the baby are the first to enter the birth canal with the head and neck tilted up.

Whereas normally, the position of the head of the fetus in the womb should be curled up with the chin against the chest.

Compared to the posterior position, position brow or face in the fetus in the womb it tends to occur less frequently.

Several things can lead to the position brow or face is as follows:

• Premature rupture of membranes
• Large baby head size
• Previous history of childbirth

Most of the positions brow or face can change to the posterior position before you actually give birth.

While labor can still progress to that stage, doctors will usually attempt a normal delivery.

Conversely, if the delivery process is considered to be experiencing obstacles, like it or not, a caesarean section should be done.

3.The position of the fetus transverse (transverse)

As the name implies, the transverse position is the location when the baby is in the stomach or in the womb lying horizontally, aka perpendicular to the birth canal.

Maybe the mother often wonders whether the position of the baby across the board is normal?

Just imagining the position of the baby across the womb is certain that the baby will be difficult to be born normally.

This is because the position or location of the fetus that crosses the birth canal is difficult.

If you continue to force it, give birth normally with the baby across the risk of causing a torn birth canal, even umbilical cord prolapse.

So, if the position of the baby across can be born normally? The answer is no.

Childbirth normally with the position or location of the fetus in the womb that is crossed certainly can threaten the life of the mother and baby.

The position of the baby across the stomach or uterus during pregnancy until before delivery is not considered dangerous because the position of the baby can change at any time.

However, if the position of the fetus across the womb continues until the seconds leading up to delivery, the doctor will usually advise you to have a cesarean section.

4. Breech position

A breech baby is the position where the bottom of the baby in the womb is facing the birth canal.

That is, the position of this river is the opposite of its normal position where the head of the fetus in the womb is in the birth canal.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, a breech position can occur in 1 in 25 pregnancies.

There are three types of breech baby positions in the womb, namely:

• Frank breech , when the baby's feet are above or directly in front of his face.
• Complete breech , when the baby's knees and feet bend as if squatting.
• Incomplete breech , when one of the baby's feet is on top while the other leg is bending downward.

Meanwhile, there are several things that can increase the risk of breech baby's position in the womb, namely:

• Second pregnancy or more
• Are pregnant with twins or more
• History of giving birth to premature babies
• Abnormal uterine shape
• Too much or too little amniotic fluid
• Placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta is located at the bottom of the uterus, covering the cervix

One of the risks of a breech baby in the womb is that the umbilical cord can wrap around the baby's neck.

Sometimes, the position of the breech baby in the womb can still rotate to its normal position, which is born with its head out first.

However, if your doctor considers the delivery to be risky when it is done normally, you should be prepared for a caesarean section.

When is the baby's head down?

When the position of the fetus rotates so that the head is down, this is a sign that the fetus is in an anterior position.

Gestational age at week 30 is the time for the baby's position to change downward.

When the baby is in the position of the head below, it can be different for some pregnant women.

Some babies reach this position at weeks 32, 34, and 36.

However, you need to worry if the baby does not turn back until the gestational age reaches more than 36 weeks.

There are several efforts that need to be done to prevent the fetus from being born in this position. Try to consult your doctor.

No need to panic, there are also babies who turn their positions just as they approach labor.

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