Before 36 weeks of pregnancy, you don’t need to worry about the position of the fetus in the womb upside down or breech . This is because the baby will continue to move and rotate in your stomach.
The fetus moves a lot in the mother’s womb, the position of the fetus can change throughout the pregnancy. However, the mother may not feel the movement until the middle of the second trimester.
After that, the baby will stay in one position to undergo the birth process at 36 weeks of pregnancy. And, the ideal position of the fetus for labor is head down facing the mother’s back.
When Does a Baby Change Position Ready for Birth?
Typically, your baby will descend in your uterus and move into position for birth in the third trimester. This happens in the last few weeks of your pregnancy (often between weeks 32 and 36).
Your doctor will check your baby’s position by touching your belly during a routine prenatal checkup. This will happen during most of your appointments in the third trimester. In some cases, your doctor may also perform an ultrasound to check your baby’s position.
Belly Mapping or Tracking Baby’s Position Before Giving Birth
Tracking the position of the fetus before giving birth can be done by yourself with a process known as ” belly mapping “. This method can be done around the 8th month of pregnancy.
You will need a non-toxic, washable marker or paint, and a doll to visualize your baby’s position in the womb. Try belly mapping as soon as you visit your doctor, so you will know for sure whether your baby is facing head up or down. Just follow these easy steps:
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Lie down on your bed and apply a little pressure around your pelvic area to feel for the baby’s head. It will feel like a mini bowling ball. Then mark your belly.
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Using a fetoscope or during an ultrasound, find your baby’s heartbeat and mark it on your belly.
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Use a doll to start playing around with positions, based on the position of the baby’s head and heart.
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Find the position of the baby’s bottom. It will be firm and round. Draw it on your belly.
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Think about your baby’s movements . Where are they kicking? Use their kicks and wiggles as clues to their position. This will give you an idea of where their feet or knees are. Mark it on your belly.
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Use markers to draw your baby on your belly. Some moms get creative and paint their baby’s position on their belly like a work of art.
Various Positions of Babies in the Womb
1. Anterior Fetal Position
This is the best fetal position for birth. The baby’s head is down, face facing the mother’s back. The baby’s chin is on her chest and the baby’s head is ready to enter the pelvis.
The most pointed part of the baby’s head can press the cervix to open and make it easier to pass through the birth canal. Most baby positions in the womb when they reach 33-36 weeks will be like this, the safest and ideal position for labor.
2. Posterior Fetal Position
The baby’s head is down and his face is facing Mom’s stomach. Some babies will stay in this position when they are close to their due date , at the beginning of the contraction, he will stay still. Then he spontaneously turns his body until his face is facing Mom’s back.
In some cases, when the baby is in the posterior position and does not turn his body, the mother will experience a long labor process, as well as severe back pain. An epidural injection may be needed to reduce the pain of giving birth to a posterior baby.
3. Breech Fetal Position
The breech position of the baby is not ideal for normal delivery. Although many breech babies are born healthy, they are at high risk of birth defects or physical trauma during delivery.
In addition, the breech position of the baby increases the risk of the umbilical cord getting knotted or wrapped around the baby’s neck, which can cause injury if the delivery is done vaginally.
The doctor may suggest changing the position of the baby in the breech position, using the ECV (external cephalic version) technique.
ECV is done by pressing the mother’s stomach and changing the baby’s position through the pressure, during ECV the baby’s heart rate will continue to be monitored. If ECV fails to change the baby’s position in the womb, the doctor will recommend a cesarean.
4. Transverse Fetal Position
The baby lies across the uterus, called transverse lie . This position is very rare in babies who are about to be born. This is because most babies will move on their own with the head down position when approaching the EDD. If not, babies with a transverse position must be born by cesarean section.
Is It Dangerous If The Baby Is In Breech Position?
A breech birth is when the baby is positioned with its feet down in the birth canal. While in the womb, the baby is not in danger. However, with this position, the baby will be born feet first. Vaginal or normal delivery is usually very safe, but if the baby is in the breech position, the delivery can be riskier.
Because the baby’s head is larger than the feet, there is a risk of the head getting stuck or stuck in the birth canal when born in the breech position . Moreover, some babies in the breech position can come out quickly during labor.
In many cases, your doctor may recommend a cesarean birth (C-section) instead of a vaginal birth. This is a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the mother’s abdomen and the baby is delivered in the operating room. A breech cesarean birth carries far fewer risks than a vaginal birth.
Risk Factors for Dangerous Fetal Positions
There are several factors that can increase the risk of fetal position such as breech presentation. These can include:
1. Premature Birth
The fetal position may be at risk for premature birth. In this case, the baby may not be ready for birth.
2. Having Problems with the Placenta
If the placenta attaches too low in the uterus (a condition called placenta previa ) or breaks away from the uterus before birth, it can prevent the baby from turning and getting into the right position for birth.
3. Twin Pregnancy
When pregnant with twins or more, it can be difficult for each baby to get into position. Limited space can be risky for the fetus’ position throughout the pregnancy.
4. Unusual Uterus Shape
The uterus is normally shaped like an upside-down pear. When it is abnormally shaped or has fibroids (growths that can vary in size), there may not be enough room for the baby to grow and move into position for birth.
Can Doctors Change the Position of the Fetus in the Womb?
There are several methods your doctor or healthcare provider may try to change your baby’s position before delivery. These methods do not always work and sometimes, the baby can actually move back into the wrong position. While there is no guarantee of success, these methods are recommended because they are usually worth a try and may help you avoid a cesarean delivery.
Methods for changing your baby may include:
1. External Cephalic Version (ECV)
ECV is a non-invasive way to turn your baby and increase your chances of having a vaginal birth. This procedure is performed by an obstetrician.
This procedure requires two people where one lifts the baby’s buttocks in an upward position and the other applies pressure through the abdominal wall to the uterus where the baby is located to turn the baby’s head forward or backward.
The best time to perform this procedure is between 36 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. After that, the baby’s heart rate will be monitored to ensure it is at a normal level.
2. Change Your Position
Sometimes you can encourage your baby to move by changing your position. Keep in mind that this exercise may not work. However, experts may recommend that you try it at home.
This position usually involves doing yoga-like poses. Two specific moves your provider may recommend include:
3. Using Stimulating Sounds to Encourage Movement
Another thing you can try to get your baby to change position is stimulation. Music, talking, changes in temperature and light can all engage your baby. While in the womb, your baby can hear music, see changes in light through your skin and even hear your voice when you talk.
You can try placing headphones on your belly, facing down, to see if this attracts the baby. Applying cold to the top of your belly where the baby’s head is may also encourage the baby to move away and down. As with changing your position, there is no guarantee that stimulation will get your baby moving, but it is often worth a try.
Chiropractic techniques, called Webster techniques, can also be used to move your hips. This is meant to relax your uterus. Some doctors even recommend acupuncture to help your body relax.
Both of these techniques need to be performed by a professional recommended by your doctor. Relaxation can increase movement in the baby and help the baby get into the best possible position for birth.
Other Ways to Change the Position of the Fetus
Mothers can change the position of the baby in the womb to achieve the anterior position, the ideal position for childbirth. Here are some techniques you can follow.
- When the mother sits, try to tilt the pelvis forward and not backward.
- Practice sitting on a yoga ball regularly
- When sitting, make sure your hips are always higher than your knees.
- If you work in a place that requires sitting for long periods of time, get up from your seat frequently and walk around the room for a few minutes.
- Use a pillow on the car seat, to raise your bottom
- Practice the table top position , with your hands and knees on the floor (as if mopping) for a few minutes. Do this several times a day to get your baby into the anterior position .
Hopefully this information is useful, Mom.
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
