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Breech, posterior, transverse lie: What position is my baby in?

Layan Alrahmani, M.D.

Fetal presentation, or how your baby is situated in your womb at birth, is determined by the body part that's positioned to come out first, and it can affect the way you deliver. At the time of delivery, 97 percent of babies are head-down (cephalic presentation). But there are several other possibilities, including feet or bottom first (breech) as well as sideways (transverse lie) and diagonal (oblique lie).

Fetal presentation and position

During the last trimester of your pregnancy, your provider will check your baby's presentation by feeling your belly to locate the head, bottom, and back. If it's unclear, your provider may do an ultrasound or an internal exam to feel what part of the baby is in your pelvis.

Fetal position refers to whether the baby is facing your spine (anterior position) or facing your belly (posterior position). Fetal position can change often: Your baby may be face up at the beginning of labor and face down at delivery.

Here are the many possibilities for fetal presentation and position in the womb.

Medical illustrations by Jonathan Dimes

Head down, facing down (anterior position)

A baby who is head down and facing your spine is in the anterior position. This is the most common fetal presentation and the easiest position for a vaginal delivery.

This position is also known as "occiput anterior" because the back of your baby's skull (occipital bone) is in the front (anterior) of your pelvis.

Head down, facing up (posterior position)

In the posterior position , your baby is head down and facing your belly. You may also hear it called "sunny-side up" because babies who stay in this position are born facing up. But many babies who are facing up during labor rotate to the easier face down (anterior) position before birth.

Posterior position is formally known as "occiput posterior" because the back of your baby's skull (occipital bone) is in the back (posterior) of your pelvis.

Frank breech

In the frank breech presentation, both the baby's legs are extended so that the feet are up near the face. This is the most common type of breech presentation. Breech babies are difficult to deliver vaginally, so most arrive by c-section .

Some providers will attempt to turn your baby manually to the head down position by applying pressure to your belly. This is called an external cephalic version , and it has a 58 percent success rate for turning breech babies. For more information, see our article on breech birth .

Complete breech

A complete breech is when your baby is bottom down with hips and knees bent in a tuck or cross-legged position. If your baby is in a complete breech, you may feel kicking in your lower abdomen.

Incomplete breech

In an incomplete breech, one of the baby's knees is bent so that the foot is tucked next to the bottom with the other leg extended, positioning that foot closer to the face.

Single footling breech

In the single footling breech presentation, one of the baby's feet is pointed toward your cervix.

Double footling breech

In the double footling breech presentation, both of the baby's feet are pointed toward your cervix.

Transverse lie

In a transverse lie, the baby is lying horizontally in your uterus and may be facing up toward your head or down toward your feet. Babies settle this way less than 1 percent of the time, but it happens more commonly if you're carrying multiples or deliver before your due date.

If your baby stays in a transverse lie until the end of your pregnancy, it can be dangerous for delivery. Your provider will likely schedule a c-section or attempt an external cephalic version , which is highly successful for turning babies in this position.

Oblique lie

In rare cases, your baby may lie diagonally in your uterus, with his rump facing the side of your body at an angle.

Like the transverse lie, this position is more common earlier in pregnancy, and it's likely your provider will intervene if your baby is still in the oblique lie at the end of your third trimester.

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BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

Ahmad A et al. 2014. Association of fetal position at onset of labor and mode of delivery: A prospective cohort study. Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology 43(2):176-182. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23929533 Opens a new window [Accessed September 2021]

Gray CJ and Shanahan MM. 2019. Breech presentation. StatPearls.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448063/ Opens a new window [Accessed September 2021]

Hankins GD. 1990. Transverse lie. American Journal of Perinatology 7(1):66-70.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2131781 Opens a new window [Accessed September 2021]

Medline Plus. 2020. Your baby in the birth canal. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002060.htm Opens a new window [Accessed September 2021]

Kate Marple

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StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

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StatPearls [Internet].

Delivery, face and brow presentation.

Julija Makajeva ; Mohsina Ashraf .

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Last Update: January 9, 2023 .

  • Continuing Education Activity

Face and brow presentation is a malpresentation during labor when the presenting part is either the face or, in the case of brow presentation, it is the area between the orbital ridge and the anterior fontanelle. This activity reviews the evaluation and management of these two presentations and explains the role of the interprofessional team in managing delivery safely for both the mother and the baby.

  • Describe the mechanism of labor in the face and brow presentation.
  • Summarize potential maternal and fetal complications during the face and brow presentations.
  • Review different management approaches for the face and brow presentation.
  • Outline some interprofessional strategies that will improve patient outcomes in delivery cases with face and brow presentation issues.
  • Introduction

The term presentation describes the leading part of the fetus or the anatomical structure closest to the maternal pelvic inlet during labor. The presentation can roughly be divided into the following classifications: cephalic, breech, shoulder, and compound. Cephalic presentation is the most common and can be further subclassified as vertex, sinciput, brow, face, and chin. The most common presentation in term labor is the vertex, where the fetal neck is flexed to the chin, minimizing the head circumference.

Face presentation – an abnormal form of cephalic presentation where the presenting part is mentum. This typically occurs because of hyperextension of the neck and the occiput touching the fetal back. Incidence of face presentation is rare, accounting for approximately 1 in 600 of all presentations. [1] [2] [3]

In brow presentation, the neck is not extended as much as in face presentation, and the leading part is the area between the anterior fontanelle and the orbital ridges. Brow presentation is considered the rarest of all malpresentation with a prevalence of 1 in 500 to 1 in 4000 deliveries. [3]

Both face and brow presentations occur due to extension of the fetal neck instead of flexion; therefore, conditions that would lead to hyperextension or prevent flexion of the fetal neck can all contribute to face or brow presentation. These risk factors may be related to either the mother or the fetus. Maternal risk factors are preterm delivery, contracted maternal pelvis, platypelloid pelvis, multiparity, previous cesarean section, black race. Fetal risk factors include anencephaly, multiple loops of cord around the neck, masses of the neck, macrosomia, polyhydramnios. [2] [4] [5]

These malpresentations are usually diagnosed during the second stage of labor when performing a digital examination. It is possible to palpate orbital ridges, nose, malar eminences, mentum, mouth, gums, and chin in face presentation. Based on the position of the chin, face presentation can be further divided into mentum anterior, posterior, or transverse. In brow presentation, anterior fontanelle and face can be palpated except for the mouth and the chin. Brow presentation can then be further described based on the position of the anterior fontanelle as frontal anterior, posterior, or transverse.

Diagnosing the exact presentation can be challenging, and face presentation may be misdiagnosed as frank breech. To avoid any confusion, a bedside ultrasound scan can be performed. [6]  The ultrasound imaging can show a reduced angle between the occiput and the spine or, the chin is separated from the chest. However, ultrasound does not provide much predicting value in the outcome of the labor. [7]

  • Anatomy and Physiology

Before discussing the mechanism of labor in the face or brow presentation, it is crucial to highlight some anatomical landmarks and their measurements. 

Planes and Diameters of the Pelvis

The three most important planes in the female pelvis are the pelvic inlet, mid pelvis, and pelvic outlet. 

Four diameters can describe the pelvic inlet: anteroposterior, transverse, and two obliques. Furthermore, based on the different landmarks on the pelvic inlet, there are three different anteroposterior diameters, named conjugates: true conjugate, obstetrical conjugate, and diagonal conjugate. Only the latter can be measured directly during the obstetric examination. The shortest of these three diameters is obstetrical conjugate, which measures approximately 10.5 cm and is a distance between the sacral promontory and 1 cm below the upper border of the symphysis pubis. This measurement is clinically significant as the fetal head must pass through this diameter during the engagement phase. The transverse diameter measures about 13.5cm and is the widest distance between the innominate line on both sides. 

The shortest distance in the mid pelvis is the interspinous diameter and usually is only about 10 cm. 

Fetal Skull Diameters

There are six distinguished longitudinal fetal skull diameters:

  • Suboccipito-bregmatic: from the center of anterior fontanelle (bregma) to the occipital protuberance, measuring 9.5 cm. This is the presenting diameter in vertex presentation. 
  • Suboccipito-frontal: from the anterior part of bregma to the occipital protuberance, measuring 10 cm 
  • Occipito-frontal: from the root of the nose to the most prominent part of the occiput, measuring 11.5cm
  • Submento-bregmatic: from the center of the bregma to the angle of the mandible, measuring 9.5 cm. This is the presenting diameter in face presentation where the neck is hyperextended. 
  • Submento-vertical: from the midpoint between fontanelles and the angle of the mandible, measuring 11.5cm 
  • Occipito-mental: from the midpoint between fontanelles and the tip of the chin, measuring 13.5 cm. It is the presenting diameter in brow presentation. 

Cardinal Movements of Normal Labor

  • Neck flexion
  • Internal rotation
  • Extension (delivers head)
  • External rotation (Restitution)
  • Expulsion (delivery of anterior and posterior shoulders)

Some of the key movements are not possible in the face or brow presentations.  

Based on the information provided above, it is obvious that labor will be arrested in brow presentation unless it spontaneously changes to face or vertex, as the occipito-mental diameter of the fetal head is significantly wider than the smallest diameter of the female pelvis. Face presentation can, however, be delivered vaginally, and further mechanisms of face delivery will be explained in later sections.

  • Indications

As mentioned previously, spontaneous vaginal delivery can be successful in face presentation. However, the main indication for vaginal delivery in such circumstances would be a maternal choice. It is crucial to have a thorough conversation with a mother, explaining the risks and benefits of vaginal delivery with face presentation and a cesarean section. Informed consent and creating a rapport with the mother is an essential aspect of safe and successful labor.

  • Contraindications

Vaginal delivery of face presentation is contraindicated if the mentum is lying posteriorly or is in a transverse position. In such a scenario, the fetal brow is pressing against the maternal symphysis pubis, and the short fetal neck, which is already maximally extended, cannot span the surface of the maternal sacrum. In this position, the diameter of the head is larger than the maternal pelvis, and it cannot descend through the birth canal. Therefore the cesarean section is recommended as the safest mode of delivery for mentum posterior face presentations. 

Attempts to manually convert face presentation to vertex, manual or forceps rotation of the persistent posterior chin to anterior are contraindicated as they can be dangerous.

Persistent brow presentation itself is a contraindication for vaginal delivery unless the fetus is significantly small or the maternal pelvis is large.

Continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring is recommended for face and brow presentations, as heart rate abnormalities are common in these scenarios. One study found that only 14% of the cases with face presentation had no abnormal traces on the cardiotocograph. [8] It is advised to use external transducer devices to prevent damage to the eyes. When internal monitoring is inevitable, it is suggested to place monitoring devices on bony parts carefully. 

People who are usually involved in the delivery of face/ brow presentation are:

  • Experienced midwife, preferably looking after laboring woman 1:1
  • Senior obstetrician 
  • Neonatal team - in case of need for resuscitation 
  • Anesthetic team - to provide necessary pain control (e.g., epidural)
  • Theatre team  - in case of failure to progress and an emergency cesarean section will be required.
  • Preparation

No specific preparation is required for face or brow presentation. However, it is essential to discuss the labor options with the mother and birthing partner and inform members of the neonatal, anesthetic, and theatre co-ordinating teams.

  • Technique or Treatment

Mechanism of Labor in Face Presentation

During contractions, the pressure exerted by the fundus of the uterus on the fetus and pressure of amniotic fluid initiate descent. During this descent, the fetal neck extends instead of flexing. The internal rotation determines the outcome of delivery, if the fetal chin rotates posteriorly, vaginal delivery would not be possible, and cesarean section is permitted. The approach towards mentum-posterior delivery should be individualized, as the cases are rare. Expectant management is acceptable in multiparous women with small fetuses, as a spontaneous mentum-anterior rotation can occur. However, there should be a low threshold for cesarean section in primigravida women or women with large fetuses.

When the fetal chin is rotated towards maternal symphysis pubis as described as mentum-anterior; in these cases further descend through the vaginal canal continues with approximately 73% cases deliver spontaneously. [9] Fetal mentum presses on the maternal symphysis pubis, and the head is delivered by flexion. The occiput is pointing towards the maternal back, and external rotation happens. Shoulders are delivered in the same manner as in vertex delivery.

Mechanism of Labor in Brow Presentation

As this presentation is considered unstable, it is usually converted into a face or an occiput presentation. Due to the cephalic diameter being wider than the maternal pelvis, the fetal head cannot engage; thus, brow delivery cannot take place. Unless the fetus is small or the pelvis is very wide, the prognosis for vaginal delivery is poor. With persistent brow presentation, a cesarean section is required for safe delivery.

  • Complications

As the cesarean section is becoming a more accessible mode of delivery in malpresentations, the incidence of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality during face presentation has dropped significantly. [10]

However, there are still some complications associated with the nature of labor in face presentation. Due to the fetal head position, it is more challenging for the head to engage in the birth canal and descend, resulting in prolonged labor.

Prolonged labor itself can provoke foetal distress and arrhythmias. If the labor arrests or signs of fetal distress appear on CTG, the recommended next step in management is an emergency cesarean section, which in itself carries a myriad of operative and post-operative complications.

Finally, due to the nature of the fetal position and prolonged duration of labor in face presentation, neonates develop significant edema of the skull and face. Swelling of the fetal airway may also be present, resulting in respiratory distress after birth and possible intubation.

  • Clinical Significance

During vertex presentation, the fetal head flexes, bringing the chin to the chest, forming the smallest possible fetal head diameter, measuring approximately 9.5cm. With face and brow presentation, the neck hyperextends, resulting in greater cephalic diameters. As a result, the fetal head will engage later, and labor will progress more slowly. Failure to progress in labor is also more common in both presentations compared to vertex presentation.

Furthermore, when the fetal chin is in a posterior position, this prevents further flexion of the fetal neck, as browns are pressing on the symphysis pubis. As a result, descend through the birth canal is impossible. Such presentation is considered undeliverable vaginally and requires an emergency cesarean section.

Manual attempts to change face presentation to vertex, manual or forceps rotation to mentum anterior are considered dangerous and are discouraged.

  • Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

A multidisciplinary team of healthcare experts supports the woman and her child during labor and the perinatal period. For a face or brow presentation to be appropriately diagnosed, an experienced midwife and obstetrician must be involved in the vaginal examination and labor monitoring. As fetal anomalies, such as anencephaly or goiter, can contribute to face presentation, sonographers experienced in antenatal scanning should also be involved in the care. It is advised to inform the anesthetic and neonatal teams in advance of the possible need for emergency cesarean section and resuscitation of the neonate. [11] [12]

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Disclosure: Julija Makajeva declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Mohsina Ashraf declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits others to distribute the work, provided that the article is not altered or used commercially. You are not required to obtain permission to distribute this article, provided that you credit the author and journal.

  • Cite this Page Makajeva J, Ashraf M. Delivery, Face and Brow Presentation. [Updated 2023 Jan 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.

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  • Sonographic diagnosis of fetal head deflexion and the risk of cesarean delivery. [Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2020] Sonographic diagnosis of fetal head deflexion and the risk of cesarean delivery. Bellussi F, Livi A, Cataneo I, Salsi G, Lenzi J, Pilu G. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2020 Nov; 2(4):100217. Epub 2020 Aug 18.
  • Review Sonographic evaluation of the fetal head position and attitude during labor. [Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024] Review Sonographic evaluation of the fetal head position and attitude during labor. Ghi T, Dall'Asta A. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Mar; 230(3S):S890-S900. Epub 2023 May 19.
  • Leopold Maneuvers. [StatPearls. 2024] Leopold Maneuvers. Superville SS, Siccardi MA. StatPearls. 2024 Jan
  • Intrapartum sonographic assessment of the fetal head flexion in protracted active phase of labor and association with labor outcome: a multicenter, prospective study. [Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021] Intrapartum sonographic assessment of the fetal head flexion in protracted active phase of labor and association with labor outcome: a multicenter, prospective study. Dall'Asta A, Rizzo G, Masturzo B, Di Pasquo E, Schera GBL, Morganelli G, Ramirez Zegarra R, Maqina P, Mappa I, Parpinel G, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Aug; 225(2):171.e1-171.e12. Epub 2021 Mar 4.
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Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation)

  • Variations in Fetal Position and Presentation |

During pregnancy, the fetus can be positioned in many different ways inside the mother's uterus. The fetus may be head up or down or facing the mother's back or front. At first, the fetus can move around easily or shift position as the mother moves. Toward the end of the pregnancy the fetus is larger, has less room to move, and stays in one position. How the fetus is positioned has an important effect on delivery and, for certain positions, a cesarean delivery is necessary. There are medical terms that describe precisely how the fetus is positioned, and identifying the fetal position helps doctors to anticipate potential difficulties during labor and delivery.

Presentation refers to the part of the fetus’s body that leads the way out through the birth canal (called the presenting part). Usually, the head leads the way, but sometimes the buttocks (breech presentation), shoulder, or face leads the way.

Position refers to whether the fetus is facing backward (occiput anterior) or forward (occiput posterior). The occiput is a bone at the back of the baby's head. Therefore, facing backward is called occiput anterior (facing the mother’s back and facing down when the mother lies on her back). Facing forward is called occiput posterior (facing toward the mother's pubic bone and facing up when the mother lies on her back).

Lie refers to the angle of the fetus in relation to the mother and the uterus. Up-and-down (with the baby's spine parallel to mother's spine, called longitudinal) is normal, but sometimes the lie is sideways (transverse) or at an angle (oblique).

For these aspects of fetal positioning, the combination that is the most common, safest, and easiest for the mother to deliver is the following:

Head first (called vertex or cephalic presentation)

Facing backward (occiput anterior position)

Spine parallel to mother's spine (longitudinal lie)

Neck bent forward with chin tucked

Arms folded across the chest

If the fetus is in a different position, lie, or presentation, labor may be more difficult, and a normal vaginal delivery may not be possible.

Variations in fetal presentation, position, or lie may occur when

The fetus is too large for the mother's pelvis (fetopelvic disproportion).

The uterus is abnormally shaped or contains growths such as fibroids .

The fetus has a birth defect .

There is more than one fetus (multiple gestation).

presentation at birth

Position and Presentation of the Fetus

Toward the end of pregnancy, the fetus moves into position for delivery. Normally, the presentation is vertex (head first), and the position is occiput anterior (facing toward the pregnant person's spine) and with the face and body angled to one side and the neck flexed.

Variations in fetal presentations include face, brow, breech, and shoulder. Occiput posterior position (facing forward, toward the mother's pubic bone) is less common than occiput anterior position (facing backward, toward the mother's spine).

Variations in Fetal Position and Presentation

Some variations in position and presentation that make delivery difficult occur frequently.

Occiput posterior position

In occiput posterior position (sometimes called sunny-side up), the fetus is head first (vertex presentation) but is facing forward (toward the mother's pubic bone—that is, facing up when the mother lies on her back). This is a very common position that is not abnormal, but it makes delivery more difficult than when the fetus is in the occiput anterior position (facing toward the mother's spine—that is facing down when the mother lies on her back).

When a fetus faces up, the neck is often straightened rather than bent,which requires more room for the head to pass through the birth canal. Delivery assisted by a vacuum device or forceps or cesarean delivery may be necessary.

Breech presentation

In breech presentation, the baby's buttocks or sometimes the feet are positioned to deliver first (before the head).

When delivered vaginally, babies that present buttocks first are more at risk of injury or even death than those that present head first.

The reason for the risks to babies in breech presentation is that the baby's hips and buttocks are not as wide as the head. Therefore, when the hips and buttocks pass through the cervix first, the passageway may not be wide enough for the head to pass through. In addition, when the head follows the buttocks, the neck may be bent slightly backwards. The neck being bent backward increases the width required for delivery as compared to when the head is angled forward with the chin tucked, which is the position that is easiest for delivery. Thus, the baby’s body may be delivered and then the head may get caught and not be able to pass through the birth canal. When the baby’s head is caught, this puts pressure on the umbilical cord in the birth canal, so that very little oxygen can reach the baby. Brain damage due to lack of oxygen is more common among breech babies than among those presenting head first.

In a first delivery, these problems may occur more frequently because a woman’s tissues have not been stretched by previous deliveries. Because of risk of injury or even death to the baby, cesarean delivery is preferred when the fetus is in breech presentation, unless the doctor is very experienced with and skilled at delivering breech babies or there is not an adequate facility or equipment to safely perform a cesarean delivery.

Breech presentation is more likely to occur in the following circumstances:

Labor starts too soon (preterm labor).

The uterus is abnormally shaped or contains abnormal growths such as fibroids .

Other presentations

In face presentation, the baby's neck arches back so that the face presents first rather than the top of the head.

In brow presentation, the neck is moderately arched so that the brow presents first.

Usually, fetuses do not stay in a face or brow presentation. These presentations often change to a vertex (top of the head) presentation before or during labor. If they do not, a cesarean delivery is usually recommended.

In transverse lie, the fetus lies horizontally across the birth canal and presents shoulder first. A cesarean delivery is done, unless the fetus is the second in a set of twins. In such a case, the fetus may be turned to be delivered through the vagina.

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Presentation and position of baby through pregnancy and at birth

9-minute read

If you are concerned about your baby’s movements, contact your doctor or midwife for advice immediately.

  • If you baby is in a breech presentation, your doctor may recommend trying a technique called an external cephalic version to try and move your baby while they are still in the uterus for an easier birth.

What does presentation and position mean?

Presentation refers to the part of your baby’s body that is facing downwards in the direction of the birth canal.

Position refers to where your baby’s occiput (the bottom part of the back of their head) is in relation to your body.

If your baby is in a breech presentation , then position refers to where your baby’s sacrum (lower back) is in relation to your body.

People — including medical professionals — sometimes use these terms incorrectly. Sometimes when speaking about babies in breech presentation, the word ‘position’ will be used to refer to their presentation. For example, you may read information or hear people say ‘breech position’ instead of ‘breech presentation’.

What are the different types of presentation my baby could be in during pregnancy and birth?

Most babies present headfirst, also known as cephalic presentation. Most babies that are headfirst will be vertex presentation. This means that the crown of their head sits at the opening of your birth canal.

In rare cases, your baby can be headfirst but in face or brow presentation, which may not be suitable for vaginal birth.

Vertex, brow and face presentations

If your baby is in a breech presentation, their feet or bottom will be closest to your birth canal. The 3 most common types of breech presentation are:

  • frank or extended breech — where your baby’s legs are straight up in front of their body, with their feet up near their face
  • complete or flexed breech — where your baby is in a sitting position with their legs crossed in front of their body and their feet near their bottom
  • footling breech — where one or both of your baby’s feet are hanging below their bottom, so the foot or feet are coming first

Read more on breech presentation .

What are the different positions my baby could be in during pregnancy and birth?

If your baby is headfirst, the 3 main types of presentation are:

  • anterior – when the back of your baby’s head is at the front of your belly
  • lateral – when the back of your baby’s head is facing your side
  • posterior – when the back of your baby’s head is towards your back

Anterior, lateral and posterior fetal presentations

How will I know what presentation and position my baby is in?

Your doctor or midwife can usually work out your baby’s presentation by feeling your abdomen. They may also double check it with a portable ultrasound. Your baby’s presentation is usually checked around 36 weeks .

Your doctor or midwife will also confirm your baby’s head position in labour by examining your belly and using an ultrasound , and they may also do a vaginal examination . During the vaginal examination they are feeling for certain ridges on your baby’s head called sutures and fontanelles that help them work out which way your baby is positioned.

What is the ideal presentation and position for baby to be in for a vaginal birth?

For a vaginal birth, your baby will ideally be headfirst with the back of their head at the front of your belly, also known as being in the anterior position. This position is best for labour and birth since it means that the smallest part of your baby’s head goes down the birth canal first.

Vertex presentation, showing the narrow part of the baby’s head.

When does a baby usually get in the ideal presentation and position for birth?

Your baby will usually be in a headfirst position by 37 weeks of pregnancy. Around 3 in every 100 babies will be in breech presentation after 37 weeks.

Your baby’s position can change with your contractions during labour as they move down the birth canal, so their exact position can change during labour.

What are my options if baby isn't in the ideal presentation or position for a vaginal birth?

If your baby is in a breech presentation, your doctor may recommend a technique called an external cephalic version (ECV) to try and move your baby while they are still in the uterus . An ECV involves your doctor using their hands to apply pressure on your belly and help turn your baby to a headfirst position. It has a 1 in 2 chance of success and is a safe option in most pregnancies.

There is no evidence to show that alternative therapies, such as exercises, acupuncture or chiropractic treatments, help your baby change from a breech presentation to headfirst.

If your baby remains breech, your doctor may discuss having a breech vaginal birth. Not all doctors and hospitals offer this option. They may also suggest you birth your baby with a planned caesarean section .

If your baby’s presentation is headfirst but the position of your baby’s head is not ideal for labour, it can lead to a longer labour, and potential complications . The position of your baby’s head will often change as your labour progresses. If it doesn’t, sometimes you can still give birth without assistance, or you may need your doctor to help turn your baby’s head or help your birth with a vacuum or forceps .

Any procedure or decision for a type of birth will only go ahead with your consent . You will be able to discuss all the options with your doctor, and based on your preferences for yourself and your baby’s safety, make a decision together .

Resources and support

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has a factsheet about the options available to you if your baby is in a breech presentation at the end of your pregnancy .

Mercy Perinatal has information on external cephalic version (ECV) safety and benefits if your baby is in a breech presentation at the end of your pregnancy.

The Women’s Hospital has information about the different presentations and positions your baby could be in, and how it can affect your birthing experience.

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Even if you’re healthy and well prepared for childbirth, there’s always a chance of unexpected problems. Learn more about labour complications.

ECV is a procedure to try to move your baby from a breech position to a head-down position. This is performed by a trained doctor.

Having a baby

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Anatomy of pregnancy and birth - pelvis

Your pelvis helps to carry your growing baby and is tailored for vaginal births. Learn more about the structure and function of the female pelvis.

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There are important things to consider if you are having a planned or elective caesarean such as what happens during and after the procedure.

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Oxorn-Foote Human Labor & Birth, 6e

Chapter 27:  Compound Presentations

George Tawagi

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Prolapse of hand and arm or foot and leg.

  • MANAGEMENT OF COMPOUND PRESENTATIONS
  • Full Chapter
  • Supplementary Content

A presentation is compound when there is prolapse of one or more of the limbs along with the head or the breech, both entering the pelvis at the same time. Footling breech or shoulder presentations are not included in this group. Associated prolapse of the umbilical cord occurs in 15 to 20 percent of cases.

Easily detectable compound presentations occur probably once in 500 to 1000 confinements. It is impossible to establish the exact incidence because:

Spontaneous correction occurs frequently, and examination late in labor cannot provide the diagnosis

Minor degrees of prolapse are detected only by early and careful vaginal examination

Classification of Compound Presentation

Upper limb (arm–hand), one or both

Lower limb (leg–foot), one or both

Arm and leg together

Breech presentation with prolapse of the hand or arm

By far the most frequent combination is that of the head with the hand ( Fig. 27-1 ) or arm. In contrast, the head–foot and breech–arm groups are uncommon, about equally so. Prolapse of both hand and foot alongside the head is rare. All combinations may be complicated by prolapse of the umbilical cord, which then becomes the major problem.

FIGURE 27-1.

Compound presentation: head and hand.

image

The etiology of compound presentation includes all conditions that prevent complete filling and occlusion of the pelvic inlet by the presenting part. The most common causal factor is prematurity. Others include high presenting part with ruptured membranes, polyhydramnios, multiparity, a contracted pelvis, pelvic masses, and twins. It is also more common with inductions of labor involving floating presenting parts. Another predisposing factor is external cephalic version. During the process of external version, a fetal limb (commonly the hand–arm, but occasionally the foot) can become “trapped” before the fetal head and thus become the presenting part when labor ensues.

Diagnosis is made by vaginal examination, and in many cases, the condition is not noted until labor is well advanced and the cervix is fully dilated.

The condition is suspected when:

There is delay of progress in the active phase of labor

Engagement fails to occur

The fetal head remains high and deviated from the midline during labor, especially after the membranes rupture

In the absence of complications and with conservative management, the results should be no worse than with other presentations.

Mechanism of Labor

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What to know about baby’s position at birth

Ideal birth position (occiput anterior)

Having a baby is an exciting time, but it’s common to have some worries about labor and delivery. One thing that often causes mums-to-be concern is what position their baby will be in when the time comes for them to be born.

For a vaginal delivery, the baby must descend through the birth canal, passing through your pelvis to reach the vaginal opening. The position of the baby - or presentation of the fetus as it is also known - affects how quickly and easily the baby can be born. Some positions allow the baby to tuck their chin, and re-position and rotate their head to make their journey easier.

Here’s a guide to help you understand the language used to describe the position of babies and some tips for helping them into the ideal position for birth.

Position of the baby before birth

During pregnancy your baby has room to move about in your uterus or womb - twisting, turning, rolling, stretching and getting in some kicks. As your pregnancy progresses and they grow bigger there’s less room for them to move, but your baby should still move regularly until they are born, even during labor.

Sometime between 32 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, but usually around week 36, babies tend to move into a head down position. This allows their head to come out of your vagina first when they are born. Only about 3 to 4 percent of babies do not move into a head-first or cephalic presentation before birth.

What’s the ideal position of a baby for birth?

Occiput anterior is the ideal presentation for your baby to be in for a vaginal delivery.

Occiput anterior is a type of head-first or cephalic presentation for delivery of a baby. About 95 to 97 percent of babies position themselves in a cephalic presentation for delivery, often with the crown or top of their head - which is also known as the vertex - entering the birth canal first.

Usually when a baby is being born in a vertex presentation the back of the baby’s head, which is called the occiput, is towards the front or anterior of your pelvis and their back is towards your belly. Their chin is also typically in a flexed position, tucked into their chest.

Occiput anterior is the best and safest position for a baby to be born by a vaginal birth. It allows the smallest diameter of a baby’s head to descend into the birth canal first, making it easier for the baby to fit through your pelvis.

What other positions are babies born in?

Sometimes babies don’t position themselves in the ideal position for birth. These other positions are called abnormal positions. Listed below are the abnormal positions or presentations that some babies are born in.

Occiput posterior or back-to-back presentation

Occiput posterior position or back-to-back presentation occurs when the occiput - back of a baby’s head - is positioned towards your tailbone or back during delivery. Sometimes this presentation is also called “sunny side up” because babies born in this position enter the world facing up. About 5 percent of babies are delivered in the occiput posterior position.

Babies presenting in the occiput posterior position find it harder to make their way through the birth canal, which can lead to a longer labor. This presentation is three times more likely to end in a cesarean section (c-section) compared with babies presenting in the ideal, occiput anterior presentation.

Breech presentation

A breech presentation occurs when your baby’s buttock, feet or both are set to come out first at birth. About 3 to 4 percent of full-term babies are born in a breech position.

There are three types of breech presentation including:

  • Frank breech. Frank breech is the most common breech presentation, occurring in 50 to 70 percent of breech births. Babies in the Frank breech position have their hips flexed and their knees extended so that their legs are folded flat against their head. Their bottom is closest to the birth canal.
  • Footling or incomplete breech. Footling or incomplete breeches occur in 10 to 30 percent of breech births. An incomplete breech presentation is where just one of the baby’s knees is bent up. Their other foot and bottom are closest to the birth canal. In a footling breech presentation, one or both feet may be delivered first.
  • Complete breech. A complete breech presentation is less common, occurring in 5 to 10 percent of breech births. Babies in a complete breech position have both knees bent and their feet and bottom are closest to the birth canal.

A breech delivery can result in the baby’s head or shoulders becoming stuck because opening to the uterus (cervix) may not be stretched enough by the baby’s body to allow the head and shoulders to pass through. Umbilical cord prolapse can also occur. This is when the cord slips into the vagina before the baby is delivered. If the cord is pinched then the flow of blood and oxygen to the baby can be reduced.

If an exam reveals your baby is sitting in a breech position and you’re past 36 weeks of pregnancy then external cephalic version (ECV) might be attempted to improve your chances of having a vaginal birth. ECV is performed by a qualified healthcare professional and it involves them pressing their hands on the outside of your belly to try and turn the baby.

Most babies found to be in a breech position are delivered by c-section because studies indicate that a vaginal delivery is about three times more likely to cause serious harm to the baby.

Brow and face presentations

Babies can also arrive brow- or face-first. A brow presentation results in the widest part of your baby’s head trying to fit through your pelvis first. This is a rare presentation, affecting about 1 in every 500 to 1400 births.

Instead of flexing and tucking their chin, babies presenting brow-first slightly extend their head and neck in the same way they would if they were looking up.

If your baby stays in a brow presentation it’s highly unlikely that they will be able to make their way through your pelvis. If your cervix is fully dilated then your doctor may be able to use their hand or ventouse - a vacuum cup - to move your baby’s head into a flexed position. If there are signs that your baby is becoming distressed or labor isn’t progressing then a c-section may be recommended.

More than half of the babies presenting brow-first, however, flex their head during early labor and move into a better position that allows labor to progress. Although, some babies tip their head back further and present face-first.

A face presentation is another rare position for a baby to be born in, occurring in only 1 in every 600 to 800 births.

Almost three quarters of babies presenting face-first can be delivered vaginally, especially if the baby’s chin is near your pubic bone, although labor may be prolonged.

Some baby’s presenting face-first may need to be delivered by c-section, particularly if their chin is near your tailbone, your labor is not progressing or your baby’s heart rate is causing concern.

Shoulder presentation

If your baby is lying sideways across your uterus - in a transverse lie - their shoulder can present first. Shoulder presentation occurs in less than 1 percent of deliveries. Virtually all babies in a shoulder presentation will need to be delivered by c-section. If labor begins while the baby is in this position then the shoulder will become stuck in the pelvis and the labor will not progress.

What factors can influence the position of my baby?

A number of factors can influence the position of your baby during labor and delivery, including:

  • If you have been pregnant before
  • The size and shape of your pelvis
  • Having an abnormally shaped uterus
  • Having growths in your uterus, such as fibroids
  • Having placenta previa - the placenta covers some or all of the cervix
  • A premature birth
  • Having twins or multiple babies
  • Having too much (polyhydramnios) or too little (oligohydramnios) amniotic fluid
  • Abnormalities that prevent the baby tucking their chin to their chest

How do I tell what position my baby is in?

Your midwife or your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) should be able to tell you the position of your baby by feeling your belly, using an ultrasound scan or conducting a pelvic exam.

You might also be able to tell the position of the baby from their movements.

If your baby is in a back-to-back position your belly may feel more squishy and their kicks are likely to be felt or seen around the middle of your belly. You may also notice that instead of your belly poking out there is a dip around your belly button.

If your baby is in the ideal occiput anterior presentation you’re likely to feel the firm, rounded surface of your baby’s back on one side of your belly and feel kicks up under your ribs.

How do I get my baby into the best position for birth?

Here are some tips to try to encourage your baby to engage in the ideal position for birth:

  • Remain upright, but lean forward to create more space in your pelvis for your baby to turn.
  • Sit with your back as straight as possible and your knees lower than your hips. Placing a cushion under your bottom and one behind your back may make this position more comfortable. Avoid sitting with your knees higher than your pelvis.
  • When you read a book, sit on a dining room chair and rest your elbows on the table. Lean forward slightly with your knees apart. Avoid crossing your knees.
  • If pelvic girdle pain is not an issue, try sitting facing backwards with your arms resting on the back of a chair.
  • Watch TV kneeling on the floor leaning over a big bean bag.
  • Go for a swim.
  • Sit on a birth ball or swiss ball - they can be used both before and during labor.
  • Lie down on your side rather than your back. Place a pillow between your knees for comfort.
  • Try moving about on all fours. Try wiggling your hips or arching your back before straightening your spine again.
  • During Braxton Hicks (practice contractions), use a forward leaning posture
  • During contractions, stay on your feet, lean forwards and rock your hips from side to side and up and down to get your bottom wiggling as you walk

Remember to attend your antenatal appointments and contact your midwife or OB-GYN if you have any questions or concerns about the position of your baby.

Article references

  • MedlinePlus . Your baby in the birth canal. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002060.htm . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • NHS Inform. How your baby lies in the womb. August 17, 2021. Available at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/labour-and-birth/getting-ready-for-the-birth/how-your-baby-lies-in-the-womb . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). If Your Baby is Breech. November 2020. Available at: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/if-your-baby-is-breech . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • MedlinePlus. Breech - series - Types of breech presentation. March 12, 2020. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100193_3.htm . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • Medscape . Breech Presentation. January 20, 2022. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/262159-overview . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • Physicians & Midwives. Which Way is Up? What Your Baby’s Position Means for Your Delivery. November 15, 2012. Available at: https://physiciansandmidwives.com/what-your-babys-position-means-for-delivery/ . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • BabyCentre. What is brow presentation? Available at: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x564026/what-is-brow-presentation . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • NCT. Bay position in the womb before birth. Available at: https://www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/getting-ready-for-birth/baby-positions-womb-birth . [Accessed May 19, 2022].
  • NHS Forth Valley. Ante Natal Advice for Optimal Fetal Positioning. 2020. Available at: https://nhsforthvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Ante-Natal-Advice-for-Optimal-Fetal-Positioning.pdf . [Accessed May 19, 2022].

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Compound Presentations

  • Author: Richard P Perkins, MD; Chief Editor: Carl V Smith, MD  more...
  • Sections Compound Presentations
  • Compound Presentations: Rare Obstetric Events

Compound presentations are rare obstetric events and often engender much anxiety in the care team. Such concerns are usually unjustified, but considering the unlikely possibility of a problem delivery is valuable. Although in an average delivery service of 2500 births annually such an event might be expected to occur only about once a year, providers should know strategies for managing this situation if intervention becomes necessary. [ 1 , 2 ]

Compound presentations may be observed more commonly after premature rupture of membranes, with preterm labor, with pelvic masses displacing the main fetal pole, or after inductions of labor involving floating presenting parts. Compound presentations are more likely with obstetric interventions than with spontaneous events. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ] This type of presentation involves the prolapse of an extremity along with the more traditional presenting part, almost always the fetal vertex. Usually, the misplaced part is a hand or arm. Less commonly, a foot can present with the vertex if the baby is extended at the knee and flexed at the hip, or a hand or arm may present along the side of the breech. Management of these individual events differs according to the finding and the circumstances. If intact membranes are found, leaving them intact while resolution of the compound presentation is attempted may be wise.

The discovery of a hand beside the head is the most common presentation irregularity and is the least worrisome of the possibilities. In general, if left unattended, the hand will retract or the arm will extend further as labor progresses. Although the presence of an extremity usually does not create prohibitive dystocia, its absence is preferable in principle; this avoids circulatory compromise that could occur if the extremity is in place too long. [ 6 ] Also, the bruising to which the limb is prone adds undue concern for the parents until it disappears. If the hand has not prolapsed beyond the presenting part, causing the hand to retract often is accomplished, if necessary. In contrast, if the hand or arm has prolapsed past the presenting part, abandoning vaginal delivery and proceeding to cesarean delivery is wise.

Resolution is best accomplished by the baby itself. Although people sometimes forget that unborn children have all their reflexes in utero, unborn babies are fully capable, within the limitations of the space available, of reacting as they would as newborns. The simplest approach, therefore, may be to apply a benign noxious stimulus, such as a gentle pinch to a fingertip of the advancing hand. By applying a benign noxious stimulus (between contractions, of course), the hand may withdraw and never appear in the undesired position again. Less often, gentle pressure upward also may displace it successfully. If these maneuvers do not succeed in solving the abnormal situation, it can be ignored as long as labor is progressing normally. Excessive force applied to the extremity can injure it, or it may displace the head and convert the benign situation into an undeliverable shoulder presentation with entrapment of the fetus. [ 7 ]

An intrusive foot beside the head is a more complicated event because it has more bulk than a hand and may retract less readily. Although it will not prolapse further, it may persist, increasing the diameter of the presenting part. Resolving this also involves trying a noxious stimulus, but this succeeds less often because of the complexity of the withdrawal response within available space. Forceful upward displacement also may not succeed if, for any reason, the knee does not readily bend or the hip does not flex further. An experienced operator may find that external manipulation of the leg may be achieved if it is the anterior one, but it is unreachable if it is the posterior limb. With fortuitous fetopelvic proportionality, delivery can still occur, but prudence precludes labor stimulation or difficult operative pelvic maneuvers. If vaginal birth is planned, it should occur spontaneously. Compound presentations preclude forceps applications orvacuum extraction.

Compound presentation with breech birth is less common, and management is less controversial. In general, unless readily resolved by benign maneuvers as described above, abdominal delivery is chosen even if it was not planned already for the breech presentation. An arm presenting with the breech may preclude descent of the breech into the pelvis, may add unduly to the increasing diameters presented as labor progresses, and may influence the baby to rotate into an arm or shoulder presentation. [ 8 ]

A case of a child with isolated lower brachial plexus palsy (Klumpke) and Horner syndrome who had a vertex compound arm presentation at birth has been reported. [ 9 ]  Cases of neonatal compartment syndrome associated with compound presentation have also been described. [ 10 , 11 ]

As suggested, in most cases, these events need not greatly influence the plans already made for the route of management of the birth process. Simple stimuli designed to get the child to withdraw the abnormal part may succeed. Management of labor and delivery after discovery of the intrusive part should be conservative and compatible with otherwise traditional obstetric principles.

Cunningham FG, MacDonald PC, Gant NF, et al, eds. Williams Obstetrics . 19th ed. Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange; 1993. 507.

Goplerud J, Eastman NJ. Compound presentation; a survey of 65 cases. Obstet Gynecol . 1953 Jan. 1(1):59-66. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

Brost BC, Calhoun BC, Van Dorsten JP. Compound presentation resulting from the forward-roll technique of external cephalic version: a possible mechanism. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1996 Mar. 174(3):884-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

Vezina Y, Bujold E, Varin J. Cesarean delivery after successful external cephalic version of breech presentation at term: A comparative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 2004 Mar. 190(3):763-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Practice Bulletins--Obstetrics. Practice Bulletin No. 161 Summary: External Cephalic Version. Obstet Gynecol . 2016 Feb. 127 (2):412-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

Tebes CC, Mehta P, Calhoun DA, et al. Congenital ischemic forearm necrosis associated with a compound presentation. J Matern Fetal Med . 1999 Sep-Oct. 8(5):231-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

Hill MG, Cohen WR. Shoulder dystocia: prediction and management. Womens Health (Lond) . 2016. 12 (2):251-61. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] . [Full Text] .

Ojumah N, Ramdhan RC, Wilson C, Loukas M, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS. Neurological Neonatal Birth Injuries: A Literature Review. Cureus . 2017 Dec 12. 9 (12):e1938. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] . [Full Text] .

Buchanan EP, Richardson R, Tse R. Isolated lower brachial plexus (Klumpke) palsy with compound arm presentation: case report. J Hand Surg Am . 2013 Aug. 38(8):1567-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] .

Manini N, Unno H. Delayed onset of neonatal compartment syndrome associated with compound fetal presentation. BMC Pediatr . 2024 Apr 1. 24 (1):224. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] . [Full Text] .

Shen AH, Tevlin R, Kwan MD, Ho OH, Fox PM. Neonatal Compartment Syndrome and Compound Presentation at Birth. J Hand Surg Glob Online . 2020 May. 2 (3):166-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link] . [Full Text] .

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Richard P Perkins, MD Perinatologist Richard P Perkins, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine , American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Carl V Smith, MD The Distinguished Chris J and Marie A Olson Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of Nebraska Medical Center Carl V Smith, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine , Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine , Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Nebraska Medical Association Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Stages of labor and birth: Baby, it's time!

Labor is a natural process. Here's what to expect during the stages of labor and birth — along with some tips to make labor more comfortable.

Labor is a unique experience. For some people, it's over in a matter of hours or less. For others, a long labor may test the limits of physical and emotional stamina.

You won't know how labor and childbirth will unfold until it happens. But you can prepare by understanding the series of events that typically takes place during labor and delivery.

Stage 1: Early labor and active labor

Cervical effacement and dilation

Cervical effacement and dilation

During the first stage of labor, the cervix opens. The medical term for this is dilation. The cervix also thins out. The medical term for this is effacement. Dilation and effacement usually happen together. This process allows the baby to move into the birth canal. In figures A and B, the cervix is tightly closed. In figure C, the cervix is 60% effaced and 1 to 2 cm dilated. In figure D, the cervix is 90% effaced and 4 to 5 cm dilated. The cervix must be 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated before a vaginal delivery.

The first stage of labor and birth happens when you begin to feel ongoing contractions. These contractions become stronger, and they happen more often as time goes on. They cause the cervix to open. This is called dilation. The contractions also soften, shorten and thin the cervix. That process is called effacement. It allows the baby to move into the birth canal.

The first stage of labor is the longest of the three stages. It's divided into two phases — early labor and active labor.

Early labor

During early labor, also called latent labor, the cervix opens and softens. It also gets shorter and thinner. The cervix opens less than 6 centimeters (cm) in early labor. Contractions tend to be mild, and they may not happen consistently.

As the cervix begins to open, you might notice a clear pink or slightly bloody discharge from your vagina. This likely is the mucus plug that blocks the cervical opening during pregnancy.

How long it lasts: Early labor isn't predictable. It may stop and start. The average length varies from hours to days. It's often shorter for people who have had a baby before.

What you can do: For many people, early labor isn't particularly uncomfortable. But contractions may be more intense for some. And sometimes contractions may continue for a long period of time during early labor. Try to stay relaxed.

The following may help keep you comfortable during early labor:

  • Go for a walk.
  • Take a shower or bath.
  • Listen to relaxing music.
  • Try breathing or relaxation techniques taught in childbirth class.
  • Change positions.

If your pregnancy isn't high risk, you may spend most of your early labor at home. Most of the time, pregnant people don't need to go to a hospital or birthing center until contractions start to get more intense and happen more often. Talk to your healthcare professional about when to leave for the hospital or birthing center. If your water breaks or you have a lot of vaginal bleeding, contact your healthcare professional right away.

Active labor

During active labor, the cervix opens from 6 cm to 10 cm. Contractions become stronger and closer together. They also happen more consistently. Your legs might cramp. Your stomach may feel upset. If it didn't happen earlier, you might feel your water break. You also may feel more pressure in your back. If you haven't headed to your labor and delivery facility yet, now's the time.

Your initial excitement may fade as labor goes on and you get more uncomfortable. Ask for pain medication or anesthesia if you want it. Your healthcare team works with you to make the best choice for you and your baby. Remember, you're the only one who can judge your need for pain relief.

How long it lasts: Active labor often lasts 4 to 8 hours or more. On average, the cervix opens at approximately 1 cm an hour. But it may take longer for people who haven't had a baby before.

What you can do: Look to your labor partner and healthcare team for encouragement and support. Try breathing and relaxation techniques to ease pain. Use what you learned in childbirth class or ask your healthcare team for suggestions.

Unless you need to be in a specific position to allow for close monitoring of you and your baby, try the following to be more comfortable during active labor:

  • Roll on a large rubber ball (birthing ball).
  • Take a warm shower or bath.
  • Take a walk, stopping to breathe through contractions.
  • Have a gentle massage between contractions.

If you need a Cesarean delivery, also called a C-section, having food in your stomach can lead to complications. If your healthcare professional thinks you might need a C-section, or if you have an epidural for pain relief, you may be limited to small amounts of clear liquids, such as water, ice chips, popsicles and juice, instead of solid foods.

The last part of active labor can be particularly intense and painful. Contractions come close together and can last 60 to 90 seconds. You may have pressure in your lower back and rectum. Tell a member of your healthcare team if you feel the urge to push.

If you want to push but your cervix isn't fully open, you'll likely need to wait. Pushing too soon could make you tired and cause your cervix to swell. That might delay delivery. Pant or blow through the contractions. This part of labor typically is short, lasting about 15 to 60 minutes.

Stage 2: The birth of your baby

It's time! You deliver your baby during the second stage of labor.

How long it lasts: It can take from a few minutes to a few hours to push your baby into the world. People who haven't had a baby before and those who have an epidural typically need longer to push compared to those who've had a baby or don't have an epidural.

What you can do: Push! Your healthcare professional asks you to bear down during each contraction or tells you when to push. Or you might be asked to push when you feel the urge to do so.

When it's time to push, you may experiment with different positions until you find one that feels best. You can push while squatting, sitting, kneeling — even on your hands and knees. A member of your healthcare team can check progress during pushing to help you know if your efforts are working.

At some point, you might be asked to push more gently — or not at all. Slowing down gives your vaginal tissues time to stretch rather than tear. To stay motivated, you might ask if you could feel the baby's head between your legs or see it in a mirror.

After your baby's head is delivered, the shoulders are delivered. Then the rest of the baby's body follows shortly. The baby's airway is cleared if necessary. If the delivery didn't involve any health concerns for you or your baby, your healthcare professional may wait a few seconds to a few minutes before the umbilical cord is cut. Waiting to clamp and cut the umbilical cord after delivery increases the flow of nutrient-rich blood from the cord and the placenta to the baby. This raises the baby's iron stores and lowers the risk of anemia. That helps with healthy development and growth.

Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta

After your baby is born, you'll likely feel a great sense of relief. You might hold the baby in your arms or on your belly. Cherish the moment. But there's still a little more to do. During the third stage of labor, you deliver the placenta.

How long it lasts: The placenta typically is delivered within 30 minutes.

Mild, less painful contractions that are close together continue after delivery. The contractions help move the placenta into the birth canal. You push gently one more time to deliver the placenta. You might be given medicine before or after the placenta is delivered to encourage uterine contractions and minimize bleeding.

Your healthcare professional examines the placenta to make sure it's in one piece. If any pieces of the placenta are left in the uterus, they must be removed to prevent bleeding and infection. If you're interested, ask to see the placenta.

After you deliver the placenta, your uterus continues to contract to help it return to its usual size.

A member of your healthcare team may massage your belly. This helps the uterus contract to lessen bleeding.

Your healthcare professional checks to see whether you need repair of any tears of your vaginal area. If you didn't have an epidural, you'll receive an injection of local anesthetic in the area to be repaired.

Savor this special time with your baby. Your preparation, pain and effort have paid off. Enjoy the miracle of birth.

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  • Funai EF, et al. Management of normal labor and delivery. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Caughey AB, et al. Nonpharmacologic approaches to management of labor pain. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Satin AJ. Labor: Diagnosis and management of the latent phase. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Labor and delivery. In: Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month. Kindle edition. 7th ed. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2021. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Landon MB, et al. Normal labor and delivery. In: Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2021. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Meek JY, et al. The first feedings. In: The American Academy of Pediatrics New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding. Kindle edition. 3rd ed. Bantam Books; 2017. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Cunningham FG, et al. Normal labor. In: Williams Obstetrics. 25th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018. https://www.accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Oct. 28, 2021.
  • Larish AM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 27, 2024.

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presentation at birth

Efforts to Impeach Expert Backfired, Attorney Says After $37M Birth Injury Verdict

The defense did not present a medical expert but instead presented testimony from a physician to undercut the plaintiff's expert's testimony, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers said.

August 14, 2024 at 03:16 PM

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Jurors sided with the disabled plaintiff and his mother after an attack on their expert witness by defense lawyers appeared to backfire, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers said.

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IMAGES

  1. Giving Birth

    presentation at birth

  2. types of presentation in labour

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  3. 6. Nursing Care of Mother and Infant During Labor and Birth

    presentation at birth

  4. Labor and Birth Processes

    presentation at birth

  5. Variations in Presentation Chart

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  6. PPT

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COMMENTS

  1. Fetal presentation before birth

    Frank breech. When a baby's feet or buttocks are in place to come out first during birth, it's called a breech presentation. This happens in about 3% to 4% of babies close to the time of birth. The baby shown below is in a frank breech presentation. That's when the knees aren't bent, and the feet are close to the baby's head.

  2. Cephalic Position: Understanding Your Baby's Presentation at Birth

    Cephalic occiput anterior. Your baby is head down and facing your back. Almost 95 percent of babies in the head-first position face this way. This position is considered to be the best for ...

  3. Fetal presentation: Breech, posterior, transverse lie, and more

    Fetal presentation, or how your baby is situated in your womb at birth, is determined by the body part that's positioned to come out first, and it can affect the way you deliver. At the time of delivery, 97 percent of babies are head-down (cephalic presentation). But there are several other possibilities, including feet or bottom first (breech ...

  4. Your Guide to Fetal Positions before Childbirth

    Here's your guide to the different positions, or fetal presentations, your baby might be in before birth. Why Does My Baby's Position Matter? Vaginal births can become complicated quickly—and the odds of complication are much higher if your little one isn't in an ideal position, or presentation, for delivery.

  5. Delivery, Face and Brow Presentation

    The term presentation describes the leading part of the fetus or the anatomical structure closest to the maternal pelvic inlet during labor. The presentation can roughly be divided into the following classifications: cephalic, breech, shoulder, and compound. Cephalic presentation is the most common and can be further subclassified as vertex, sinciput, brow, face, and chin. The most common ...

  6. Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation

    Presentation refers to the part of the fetus's body that leads the way out through the birth canal (called the presenting part). Usually, the head leads the way, but sometimes the buttocks (breech presentation), shoulder, or face leads the way. Position refers to whether the fetus is facing backward (occiput anterior) or forward (occiput ...

  7. Presentation and position of baby through pregnancy and at birth

    Presentation refers to which part of your baby's body is facing towards your birth canal. Position refers to the direction your baby's head or back is facing. Your baby's presentation will be checked at around 36 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby's position is most important during labour and birth.

  8. Compound fetal presentation

    Compound presentation is a fetal presentation in which an extremity presents alongside the part of the fetus closest to the birth canal. The majority of compound presentations consist of a fetal hand or arm presenting with the head [ 1 ]. This topic will review the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of this ...

  9. Presentation (obstetrics)

    Presentation of twins in Der Rosengarten ("The Rose Garden"), a German standard medical text for midwives published in 1513. In obstetrics, the presentation of a fetus about to be born specifies which anatomical part of the fetus is leading, that is, is closest to the pelvic inlet of the birth canal.According to the leading part, this is identified as a cephalic, breech, or shoulder presentation.

  10. Cephalic presentation

    In obstetrics, a cephalic presentation or head presentation or head-first presentation is a situation at childbirth where the fetus is in a longitudinal lie and the head enters the pelvis first; the most common form of cephalic presentation is the vertex presentation, where the occiput is the leading part (the part that first enters the birth canal). [1]

  11. Compound Presentations

    A presentation is compound when there is prolapse of one or more of the limbs along with the head or the breech, both entering the pelvis at the same time. Footling breech or shoulder presentations are not included in this group. Associated prolapse of the umbilical cord occurs in 15 to 20 percent of cases.

  12. Face and Brow Presentation

    In a face presentation, the fetal head and neck are hyperextended, causing the occiput to come in contact with the upper back of the fetus while lying in a longitudinal axis. The presenting portion of the fetus is the fetal face between the orbital ridges and the chin. The fetal chin (mentum) is the point designated for reference during an ...

  13. What to know about baby's position at birth

    A breech presentation occurs when your baby's buttock, feet or both are set to come out first at birth. About 3 to 4 percent of full-term babies are born in a breech position. There are three types of breech presentation including: Frank breech. Frank breech is the most common breech presentation, occurring in 50 to 70 percent of breech births.

  14. Baby Positions in Womb: What They Mean

    The buttocks are toward the birth canal, but the baby's legs are straight up in front of their body, and the feet are near the head. Footling breech. One or both of the baby's feet are ...

  15. Fetal Position

    Fetal position reflects the orientation of the fetal head or butt within the birth canal. Anterior Fontanel. The bones of the fetal scalp are soft and meet at "suture lines." Over the forehead, where the bones meet, is a gap, called the "anterior fontanel," or "soft spot." This will close as the baby grows during the 1st year of life, but at ...

  16. Pediatrics: Face presentation at birth

    What is face presentation and what mark does it leave on the baby?

  17. Compound Presentations: Compound Presentations: Rare Obstetric Events

    Compound presentation with breech birth is less common, and management is less controversial. In general, unless readily resolved by benign maneuvers as described above, abdominal delivery is chosen even if it was not planned already for the breech presentation. An arm presenting with the breech may preclude descent of the breech into the ...

  18. Stages of labor and birth: Baby, it's time!

    The first stage of labor and birth happens when you begin to feel ongoing contractions. These contractions become stronger, and they happen more often as time goes on. They cause the cervix to open. This is called dilation. The contractions also soften, shorten and thin the cervix. That process is called effacement.

  19. What is brow presentation?

    Brow presentation is a rare complication, which affects only one in every 500 to one in every 1,400 births. So the chances of it happening are low. If a brow presentation is picked up in early labour, your baby may still flex her head in time for the birth. Alternatively, she may tip her head further back and be born face first.

  20. Breech presentation management: A critical review of ...

    Breech birth is a divisive clinical issue, however vaginal breech births continue to occur despite a globally high caesarean section rate for breech presenting fetuses. Inconsistencies are known to exist between clinical practice guidelines relating to the management of breech presentation.

  21. Efforts to Impeach Expert Backfired, Attorney Says After $37M Birth

    Jurors found Venesz and Daley were each 40% at fault and Ciceron was 20% at fault. The suit stems from the birth of Michael Markert with cerebral palsy at Shore Medical Center, formerly known as ...