Simple tips on how to tell your baby's fetal position in the womb

While growing inside your womb, your baby might also be moving, indicating that a human person is not a static creature.

Of course, your baby may be reacting to what happens inside your womb or what they hear within the womb. It could be your voice, or the sound of your heartbeat, to name a few.

Or simply, they tend to move because simply, they are human, too.

Mommies, during your pregnancy, your developing baby may also be moving in different directions and positions. And as your delivery comes near, some positions are undeniably safer than others.

During these movements, you might also feel kicking or wiggling. Or your baby would have twisted and turned.

Let’s see what should we know about these positions, and how to tell your baby’s fetal position inside your womb.

What are the fetal positions and presentations inside the womb?

Knowing your baby’s position inside your uterus or womb is also knowing your baby’s fetal presentation.

The position also may refer to whether the fetus is facing backward or rearward (towards your back) meaning facing downward when you are lying on your back mommy, or forward (or facing upward).

Your baby’s movement around your uterus is just normal throughout your pregnancy. During your early pregnancy, you might not feel the slightest movement your baby does because of their small size, resulting in moving freely.

However, while your baby develops inside the uterus, the larger they become also, and the more it limits them to move. As your most awaited delivery draws nearer, your baby will now move in the position for birth.

This particular position should be the ideal position for most babies. On the last days before the expected birth date, your baby might have flipped over with a head-down position in your womb.

Your baby, then, start to move down the uterus, preparing to go through the birth canal during delivery.

What is the common position for delivery?

Theoretically, for labor or normal delivery, your baby should be in a head-down position, facing your back, with his chin tucked to his chest. The back of your baby’s head is also ready to enter the pelvis.

This common position of your baby in your womb is called cephalic presentation. Your baby, and also other babies must have settled in this position during their 32nd to 36th week of mommy’s pregnancy.

Other positions during childbirth

There could be a probability that a baby would not get the perfect, cephalic position before labor. These several fetal positions that your baby can be in may each come with some birth complications. These are the following presentations:

• Occiput or cephalic posterior position

Instead of your baby facing downwards or towards your back, sometimes your baby might be facing your abdomen. With this position, your baby must be looking up the ceiling during labor.

This position is also known as sunny side up. This fetal position increases the risk of painful and prolonged labor.

• Frank breech

In a frank breech fetal presentation, your baby’s bottom leads the way through the birth canal. Your baby’s hips are flexed and his knees are extended in front of your abdomen.

This position also leads to the chance of the formation of an umbilical cord loop that could come before the head through your cervix. This might injure your baby during the normal delivery.

• Complete breech

When your baby is in a complete breech position, his buttocks will come first (through your birth canal), while both his knees and hips are flexed (folder under themselves).

Like the other breech positions, this will also cause a formation of an umbilical cord loop which could precede his head through your cervix. It will definitely injure your baby during labor.

• Transverse lie

In this oddly fetal presentation, your baby is in a position that lies crosswise in the uterus. Therefore, it can result in his shoulders entering the cervix first. Most babies are decided to be delivered in cesarean (c-section).

• Footling breech

It might also be a possibility that your baby’s feet point down through your birth canal. This may result in the increased chances of slithering the umbilical cord down to my womb’s mouth. Eventually, this will cut your baby’s blood supply.

These fetal movements would affect your delivery, as well as your baby. But, you must consult with your doctor about it, and you can figure out your baby’s fetal position by means of counting his kicks.

READ MORE:

Counting Kicks: Why and how to track fetal movement

Fetal movements: Bakit hindi ko maramdaman si baby?

#BattleoftheBest: Normal delivery vs. cesarean

How to tell your baby’s fetal position by kicks?

Every pregnant mommy may be excited about the concept of feeling their babies’ kicks. These kicks signify a reassuring feeling that babies are safe, alive, and literally kicking!

Most new pregnant mommies can feel their babies kicking at around  18 to 25 weeks.

As far as mommies want to enjoy this significantly exciting moment, mommies should also track their babies’ kicks to better understand the patterns of their movement.

This could be done by using a fetal kick chart, by ultrasound, or by simple means – like tell-tale signs.

• Head down position

Mommies, notice if you have a lump to the left or to the right at the top of your tummy, you can try pressing it gently. If you feel your baby suddenly moves, your baby could possibly be in a head down position.

You may also tell your baby’s fetal position by means of different movements

Anterior (your baby’s back is in front of your tummy) – you can feel the movements and kicks under your ribs, and your belly button may pop out too.

Posterior (your baby’s back is against your back) – usually, you can feel your baby’s kicks right in front of your tummy, mostly, around the middle. You might also notice that your preggy belly has flattened out instead of being round in shape.

Also, remember that if your placenta is at the front of your bump, it is not easy to feel your baby’s kicks.

• Bottom down (breech) position

What you might feel if your baby is in a bottom-down position depends on where his legs are, and if he is in an anterior or posterior.

If your baby’s feet are at his ears’ reach (frank breech), you may feel his kicks around your ribs. If your baby is sitting in a cross-legged position (complete breech), his kicks are likely on the lower part, below your belly button.

You might also feel a hard, rounded lump under your ribs. This rounded lump does not move very much. This could be your baby’s head. This situation could make you feel uncomfortable.

Learning about this position might tell you one thing, you need to proceed with your doctor to consult what is needed for your baby’s health.

Is your baby leaning left or right – and other FQAs

• How can you exactly tell your baby’s fetal position in the womb – Hospital scanning is better, but you can try also kick tracking and belly mapping. This will need a relaxing time to feel your baby’s head, bottom, back, limbs, and movements.
•  What does it mean when your baby is leaning on the left side – of the fetus is leaning on the left of your womb, doctors named it as left occiput anterior position. Most people considered this as the best position at the start of delivery, but in a 2013 study, there is no confirmation on it.
• What is the normal position for the baby – A fetus may change position in the uterus as it develops, but the most common and helpful position for you and your baby at the time of labor is the occiput anterior position or head down position (the chin is tucked in while facing towards your back).

It is also recommended to contact your doctor once you have noticed that your baby’s position is not proper to confirm it. It will also help your baby how naturally correct his position while inside your womb.

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.