Fetal Posture: Unlocking the Secrets of Optimal Development
– Fetal presentation before birth refers to the position of the baby in the uterus right before delivery.
– The most common position is cephalic occiput anterior, where the baby’s head is down and face down.
– Another position is cephalic occiput posterior, where the baby’s head is down but face up. This can make labor longer and may require manual rotation or assisted delivery.
– Breech presentation occurs when the baby’s feet or buttocks are in place to come out first during birth. This happens in about 3% to 4% of babies.
– The most common type of breech presentation is frank breech, where the baby’s knees aren’t bent and the feet are close to the baby’s head.
– A procedure called external cephalic version can be performed to try to move the baby into a head-down position if they are in a frank breech position.
– If the procedure is not successful or the baby moves back into a breech position, the delivery options should be discussed with the healthcare team.
– A complete breech presentation is when the baby has both knees bent and both legs pulled close to the body.
– An incomplete breech presentation is when one or both of the legs are not pulled close to the body, and one or both of the feet or knees are below the baby’s buttocks.
– If a baby is in a complete or incomplete breech presentation after 36 weeks of pregnancy, the health care professional may try to move the baby into a head-down position using external cephalic version.
– If the procedure is not successful or if the baby moves back into a breech position, alternative delivery options should be discussed with the health care team.
– A transverse lie is when the baby is lying horizontally across the uterus.
– If the baby is in a transverse lie at week 37 of pregnancy, the health care professional may try to move the baby into a head-down position using external cephalic version.
– If the procedure is not successful or if the baby moves back into a transverse lie, alternative delivery options should be discussed.
– If pregnant with twins and only one twin is head down, the health care provider may deliver the first twin vaginally and then suggest delivering the second twin in the breech position or try to move the second twin into a head-down position using external cephalic version.
– Delivery by C-section may be suggested for the second twin.