During pregnancy, the developing baby moves into several different positions. Every bit 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 caput points toward the ground and they are facing the woman'south back.

Most fetuses settle into this position by the last month of pregnancy. The anterior position is too known every bit a vertex, cephalic, or occiput anterior position.

The inductive position may reduce the chances of complications during pregnancy. Learn more 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 before childbirth is the anterior position. The bulk of fetuses become into this position before labor begins.

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

This position means the fetus's head can exist tucked in, allowing the superlative of it to press downwardly on the cervix, which encourages information technology to open during labor.

A doctor or midwife may describe a fetus that lies slightly to the left as left occiput anterior or LOA, and 1 that lies slightly to the correct as correct occiput anterior or ROA.

Posterior position

The posterior position is besides known as the dorsum-to-back position. This is where the fetus'due south head is pointing downwardly, and their back is resting against the adult female's back.

In this position, it can be difficult for the fetus to tuck their head in, which tin make passing through the smallest part of the pelvis more challenging. This can lead to a slower and longer labor than the inductive position, and may also 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 equally if she is on bed residual.

The back of a fetus'southward body is heavier than the forepart, so a pregnant woman tin encourage the fetus to coil into the ideal position by leaning in the management they want them to move.

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 upwards to labor.

If a fetus is still in the transverse lie position just earlier nascence, a cesarean delivery will be necessary.

Without a cesarean commitment, there is a risk of a medical emergency known every bit an umbilical cord prolapse.

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

Breech position

The breech position is when the fetus remains with the head upwards instead of downwards in the woman'south pelvis. There are dissimilar types of breech position, including:

  • Frank breech: In this position, the fetus's legs lie directly upward in front of their torso, so the feet are near the confront.
  • Complete breech: In this position, the fetus "sits" with their legs crossed in front of the body, and so the anxiety are almost their buttocks.
  • Footling breech: In this position, the fetus has either one or both anxiety hanging below their bottom. If a woman gave nascence vaginally, i or both feet would come out start.

Breech

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

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

If a adult female is conveying twins, 1 fetus may exist in an anterior or posterior position while the other fetus is in a breech position.

Information technology is safe for a fetus to be in any of the higher up breech positions while they are in the womb. However, there are some risks if the fetus is still in a breech position when labor begins.

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

At each engagement during the 2d and third trimesters of pregnancy, a md or midwife should feel the woman'south abdomen to cheque the position of the fetus.

At the 35–36 week date, they volition check to ensure that the fetus has moved into an anterior or posterior position. If the doctor is unsure near whether the fetus is in the correct position after a concrete examination, 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 back-to-back or posterior position, the pregnancy bump may feel squishy. A woman may also notice kicks around the middle of the belly, and some people may also see an indentation around their belly push button.

When the fetus is in the inductive position, a adult female may feel more kicks under the ribs. Their belly push may also "pop out."

About fetuses turn into the head-down position by 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 md or midwife will attempt to turn the fetus manually.

For this procedure, they volition first insert a pocket-size needle into the woman's hand to relax the uterus.

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

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

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

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

A baby will move into many unlike positions throughout pregnancy. During the concluding few weeks of pregnancy, well-nigh babies movement into an anterior position, which is the best position for vaginal nascency.

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