Fetal Position in the Womb

Most fetuses are nestled inside the uterus (womb), curled up tight. This cozy position, knees to chest, is known as the fetal position. During pregnancy, the fetal position also refers to the direction a fetus faces in the uterus and is especially important as you approach delivery.

This article reviews the fetal position and how you and your providers change the fetal position before delivery when necessary.

Fetal Position (or Presentation) In Utero

The ideal fetal position for birth is head down, spine parallel to the pregnant person's spine, face toward the back of the pregnant person's body with the chin tucked and arms folded across the chest. However, there are variations to the fetal position in utero that can affect delivery.

• Cephalic: The fetus is head down, with its chin tucked in and facing the pregnant person's spine.
• Breech: The fetus's buttocks or feet are toward the opening of the womb.
• Transverse: The fetus is sideways, at a 90-degree angle, to the pregnant person's spine.

Healthcare providers describe the fetal position in the uterus in terms of the fetal lie, position, and presentation.

Fetal Lie

Fetal lie refers to how the fetus's spine aligns with the gestational carrier's spine. Healthcare providers describe it as:

• Longitudinal: Parallel with the pregnant person's spine
• Transverse: Perpendicular to the pregnant person's spine
• Oblique: At an angle to the pregnant person's spine

Fetal Position

"Fetal position" refers to the direction the fetus is facing. The occipital bone is at the back of the fetus's head. Healthcare providers use this bone as a point of reference when describing fetal position, as follows: It is described as:

• Occiput anterior: The occipital bone is at the front of the birthing person's body, so the fetus is facing backward.
• Occiput posterior: The occipital bone is at the back of the birthing person's body, so the fetus is facing forward.
  

Fetal Presentation

Fetal presentation indicates the body part closest to the birth canal, also called the presenting part. The ideal presentation is the cephalic or vertex position. This when the fetus's head is down and the chin is tucked in and facing the spine. However, in some cases, the fetus can present with one of the following body parts closest to the birth canal:

• Buttocks (also known as the breech position)
• Shoulder
• Face or brow

Positions and Risk of Delivery Complications

Fetuses move, kick, and roll throughout pregnancy. However, during the third trimester, as space in the uterus gets tight, most fetuses naturally reposition into the cephalic fetal position, which is ideal for delivery.

However, some settle into breech or transverse positions. You can still deliver the baby in the following positions, but it can prolong labor and increase the risk of the following complications, which can restrict the baby’s oxygen supply:

• Shoulder dystocia: Occurs when the fetus's shoulder gets stuck in your pelvis
• Head entrapment: Occurs when the fetus's head is stuck inside a partially dilated cervix
• Umbilical cord compression or prolapse: Occurs when the umbilical cord is compressed and restricts oxygen and blood flow to the baby

How to Alter Fetal Position Before Delivery

When a healthcare provider performs an ultrasound and vaginal exam near the end of pregnancy, they may find that the fetus isn't in the ideal head-down position. They can help you explore options to alter the fetal position before delivery.

At Home

At home, you can try playing music by placing headphones or a speaker at the bottom of your uterus to encourage the fetus to turn. You can also put something cool on the top of your stomach and something warm (not hot) at the bottom to promote movement.

Specific exercises and yoga poses can help relax your pelvis and uterus, creating more room for the fetus and nudging it into the head-down position. Talk with your healthcare provider before attempting these techniques:

• Cat-cow stretch: Get on your hands and knees and alternate between arching your back upward (like a cat) and dipping it downward (like a cow).
• Pelvic circles: Gently make circles with your pelvis while standing.
• Child’s pose: Kneel on the ground, sit back on your heels, and stretch your arms forward, lowering your chest towards the ground. You can rest your forehead on the floor or on a cushion. Rest in this pose for 10-15 minutes.
• Pelvic tilts: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Slowly tilt your hips upward, then release, returning to a neutral position. You can do this exercise for 10 to 20 minutes three times daily.

Alternative options include seeing a chiropractor or acupuncturist that your healthcare provider recommends. Chiropractors align your hips and spine. Acupuncture is an Eastern medicine practice that involves inserting tiny needles in certain areas to balance your body’s energy.

At the Hospital

At the hospital, your provider may try an external cephalic version (ECV), in which they apply pressure to your belly to turn the fetus's head down.

Providers typically perform ECVs around 37 to 39 weeks' gestation, when the fetal size and the amount of amniotic fluid are ideal. An ECV is generally safe, but there are some risks, including fetal distress and preterm labor (rare).

The success rate of an ECV is about 60%. If an ECV is unsuccessful, your provider may recommend a surgical delivery known as a cesarean section (C-section). Before this surgical procedure, you will receive spinal anesthesia (numbing medicine), and your provider will make incisions in your belly to deliver the baby.

Summary

The fetal position indicates fetal alignment and presentation in the uterus. The cephalic (head-down) position is ideal for delivery. While it is possible to vaginally deliver a baby in other fetal positions, the risk of complications increases. There are ways to try to move the fetus at home or in the hospital; however, discuss these options with a healthcare provider before trying them at home.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Merck Manuals Consumer Version. Fetal presentation, position, and lie (including breech presentation).
2. Yang L, Yi T, Zhou M, Wang C, Xu X, Li Y, Sun Q, Lin X, Li J, Meng Z. Clinical effectiveness of position management and manual rotation of the fetal position with a U-shaped birth stool for vaginal delivery of a fetus in a persistent occiput posterior position. J Int Med Res. 2020;48(6):300060520924275. doi:10.1177/0300060520924275
3. American Academy of Family Physicians. What can I do if my baby is breech?
4. Felemban AS, Arab K, Algarawi A, Abdulghaffar SK, Aljahdali KM, Alotaifi MA, Bafail SA, Bakhudayd TM. Assessment of the successful external cephalic version prognostic parameters effect on final mode of delivery. Cureus. 2021;13(7):e16637. doi:10.7759/cureus.16637
5. Angolile CM, Max BL, Mushemba J, Mashauri HL. Global increased cesarean section rates and public health implications: A call to action. Health Sci Rep. 2023;6(5):e1274. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1274

By Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC
Jones is a registered nurse and freelance health writer with more than two decades of healthcare experience.

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