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We know that you might be looking at your protruding belly with the reports of your latest USG scans and wondering what would be the position of your fetus. Here are the fetal positions that you need to know, now that your date is fast approaching:
1. Head down
This is the most common fetal position. The baby lies with the head down. This makes the baby easily push itself through the narrow passage while at birth. If your fetal position is this, you will have a normal delivery, unless there are any other medical issues.
2. Head up
In this fetal position, the baby lies with the head up towards the mommy’s abdomen. As this position jams the fetal head below the pubic bone, a normal delivery is highly risky in this case. Your gynecologist may try to change the fetal position manually using his/ her hand as a wedge or even try to improve the fetal posture by suggesting some exercises for you. Pulling the baby out with the forceps is the most common technique doctors use if in case a normal delivery is possible and the mothers would need an episiotomy (cutting the edge of the vagina to expand it).
3. Buttocks push
It is also called as the Frank Breech position. The fetus’ buttocks would be towards your vagina with legs folded up. At the time of delivery, an attempt for normal delivery would be made by external version (pushing and lifting the baby with the help of slight pressure from the hands of an expert doctor, closely monitoring the baby from the screen). Don’t worry, breech positions are common and if your baby continues to be in the breech position, you might need a C-section.
4. Feet first
This is also called as the complete breech position. The head is at the top of the abdomen, knees crossed and the feet point towards the vagina. All breach positions might require your gynecologist try external versions (pushing and lifting the baby with the help of slight pressure from the hands while closely monitoring the baby from the screen). If nothing works, this would also be a C-section, or else, the baby might be in danger of umbilical cord winding.
5. Lying sideways
Transverse lie or lying sideways is a position where the fetus is positioned horizontally in the uterus with the legs and feet facing the birth canal. Many babies lie this way early in pregnancy but get autocorrected depending on the baby’s movement and room in the uterus. Chances of a baby developing labor in this position are rare. External version sometimes helps. If in case there is an emergency, doctors would save the baby by a C- section.
6. Twins
If the lower twin is in the head down position and if the upper twin is in the head up position, then the situation is very difficult. The lower twin after being delivered normally, the doctors might try to reverse the position of the second twin manually. They would also see if forceps work even if they come out feet first or buttocks first. C-section could be an option for the second twin only if nothing works.
But, if both the twins are head up position, it is rare for the doctor to attempt for a normal delivery using external version. C- Sections could be safer. If both the twins are head down, then everything goes well, and the mother can dream of a normal delivery. The twin that lies lower comes out first.
Whether it is a normal delivery or a C-section, you would only be overjoyed…so overjoyed that you will instantly forget the labor of your delivery. So, all set for a happy delivery?
