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

The platonic position for a fetus just before labor is the inductive position. In this position, the fetus'southward caput points toward the footing and they are facing the woman's back.

Nearly fetuses settle into this position by the last month of pregnancy. The inductive position is also known as a vertex, cephalic, or occiput anterior position.

The anterior 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 babe in the womb include:

Anterior position

The best position for the fetus to be in before childbirth is the inductive position. The bulk of fetuses get into this position before labor begins.

This position means the fetus'south head is downwardly in the pelvis, facing the adult female'due south back. The fetus'south dorsum will exist facing the woman'south belly.

This position means the fetus's head can be tucked in, allowing the top of it to press down on the cervix, which encourages it to open during labor.

A doctor or midwife may depict a fetus that lies slightly to the left every bit left occiput anterior or LOA, and 1 that lies slightly to the right equally right occiput inductive or ROA.

Posterior position

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

In this position, information technology tin be difficult for the fetus to constrict their head in, which can make passing through the smallest part of the pelvis more challenging. This tin atomic number 82 to a slower and longer labor than the anterior 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 as if she is on bed remainder.

The back of a fetus'southward body is heavier than the front end, so a pregnant adult female tin can encourage the fetus to roll into the platonic position past leaning in the direction they desire them to move.

Transverse prevarication position

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

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

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

When an umbilical cord prolapse occurs, the woman delivers the umbilical cord in the birth canal before the babe.

Breech position

The breech position is when the fetus remains with the head upward instead of downward in the woman's pelvis. There are unlike types of breech position, including:

  • Frank breech: In this position, the fetus's legs lie straight up in forepart of their torso, 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 about their buttocks.
  • Footling breech: In this position, the fetus has either one or both anxiety hanging below their bottom. If a woman gave birth vaginally, one or both feet would come out first.

Breech

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

  • too much or as well little 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.

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

The all-time way of finding out which position the fetus is in is by talking to a doctor or midwife.

At each date during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, a doctor or midwife should feel the woman'south abdomen to check the position of the fetus.

At the 35–36 calendar week appointment, they will check to ensure that the fetus has moved into an inductive or posterior position. If the md is unsure about whether the fetus is in the correct position later a concrete exam, they may request an ultrasound scan.

Information technology may too be possible for the woman to tell which position the fetus is in at domicile.

When the fetus is in the dorsum-to-dorsum 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 too see an indentation around their navel.

When the fetus is in the anterior position, a adult female may feel more kicks under the ribs. Their belly button may as well "pop out."

Most fetuses plow into the head-downward position by 36 weeks. If a fetus is in a breech position at 36 weeks, a doctor or midwife may propose an external cephalic version (ECV).

An ECV is a process where a md or midwife will try to turn the fetus manually.

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

Using their hands on the exterior of the pregnant woman's abdomen, a doctor or midwife will 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 later 36 weeks, and some even 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, there is no reliable evidence to prove that any of these methods piece of work.

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

A baby will move into many different positions throughout pregnancy. During the final few weeks of pregnancy, near babies move into an anterior position, which is the best position for vaginal nascency.

If a baby is yet in a transverse prevarication or breech position merely before labor, a dr. or midwife volition make medical interventions to ensure the safety of the woman and babe during childbirth.