During descent, the baby's head is flexed down so that the chin touches the chest.Most often, descent occurs during labor, either as the cervix dilates or after you begin pushing.This is when your baby's head moves down (descends) further through your pelvis.Engagement tells your health care provider that your pelvis is large enough to allow the baby's head to move down (descend).This is when the widest part of your baby's head has entered the pelvis.These movements of your baby's head are called cardinal movements of labor. These changes are needed for your baby to fit and move through your pelvis. Transverse lie is more common when you deliver before your due date, or have twins or triplets.Īs your baby passes through the birth canal, the baby's head will change positions. This type of presentation occurs less than 1% of the time. The shoulder, arm, or trunk may present first if the fetus is in a transverse lie. Other breech positions occur when either the feet or knees present first.A frank breech is when the hips are flexed so the legs are straight and completely drawn up toward the chest.A complete breech is when the buttocks present first and both the hips and knees are flexed.Breech presentation occurs about 3% of the time. If your baby is in any position other than head down, your doctor may recommend a cesarean delivery.īreech presentation is when the baby's bottom is down. There are different types of cephalic presentation, which depend on the position of the baby's limbs and head (fetal attitude).Cephalic presentation occurs in about 97% of deliveries. This position makes it easier and safer for your baby to pass through the birth canal. ![]() The best position for your baby inside your uterus at the time of delivery is head down. ![]() This makes delivery more difficult.ĭelivery presentation describes the way the baby is positioned to come down the birth canal for delivery. When this happens, the presenting part will be larger as it passes through the pelvis. Other body parts may be positioned behind the back. The arms and legs are drawn in towards the center of the chest.Ībnormal fetal attitudes include a head that is tilted back, so the brow or the face presents first.The normal fetal attitude is commonly called the fetal position. The fetal attitude describes the position of the parts of your baby's body. If the baby is sideways (at a 90-degree angle to your spine), the baby is said to be in a transverse lie.Nearly all babies are in a longitudinal lie. If your baby's spine runs in the same direction (parallel) as your spine, the baby is said to be in a longitudinal lie.Your baby will most often settle into a position in the pelvis before labor begins. Your baby's spine is between their head and tailbone. This refers to how the baby's spine lines up with the mother's spine. However, engagement may happen later in the pregnancy, or even during labor. In first-time moms, the baby's head may engage by 36 weeks into the pregnancy. If the presenting part lies above the ischial spines, the station is reported as a negative number from -1 to -5.The baby is said to be "engaged" when the largest part of the head has entered the pelvis. This is when the baby's head is even with the ischial spines. Normally the ischial spines are the narrowest part of the pelvis. These are bone points on the mother's pelvis. Most often, it is the baby's head, but it can be a shoulder, the buttocks, or the feet. The presenting part is the part of the baby that leads the way through the birth canal. Certain terms are used to describe your baby's position and movement through the birth canal.įetal station refers to where the presenting part is in your pelvis.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |