The determination of the position of the fetus (longitudinal or transverse) depends on how the pregnancy will continue in the future and how the doctor will deliver. The longitudinal position of the fetus is the norm. It occurs in most cases with a normal pregnancy. Other provisions are deviations from the norm and are obtained due to any deviations in the physiology of the mother.
The position of the fetus is longitudinal when the imaginary axis of the body of the unborn child, passing from the back of the head to the coccyx along the spine, is located along the imaginary axis of the uterus of the future mother. The axis of the uterus is the line that runs along its entire length from top to bottom. If these axes intersect and form an angle of ninety degrees, then this position is considered transverse. In the case when the angle is different from the value of ninety degrees, the position is called oblique.
In order to make it more clear what the longitudinal position of the fetus looks like, the photos are placed below. If in the first two trimesters of pregnancy the unborn child has not taken a longitudinal position, then there is no reason for concern yet. It occupies its final position in recent months, and until then can repeatedly change it due to the fact that its size allows you to swim and flip over in the amniotic fluid. In recent months, he will be in the same position, since his growth will no longer allow him to move quietly inside his mother.
As a rule, the longitudinal position of the fetus suggests that childbirth should take place naturally without surgery, but not in all cases. In addition to the position for determining how the birth will take place, the presentation of the baby, that is, how it lies inside the uterus regarding the exit, is very important. If the baby’s head is pointing down, this is a head presentation, it occurs in most cases with the normal course of pregnancy. If the baby lies on the buttocks to the exit, such a presentation is called pelvic, and this is already a caesarean section, since the fetus will not be able to independently pass through the birth canal and may suffocate when the water leaves.
Doctors, as a rule, determine at a glance which position of the fetus (longitudinal or transverse) and which presentation. It is rather difficult for inexperienced future mothers to do this, so it is better to trust the results of an ultrasound examination. But you can still try. The first way to determine is to take a stethoscope and listen to where the heart of the future baby beats. But this method is too subjective. The second is to lie on your back and see where two elevations appeared, which should be the baby’s head and buttocks. Then you need to alternately easily press on these elevations. If the elevation is the head, then it should disappear, and then return to its place. If, under the dais, the baby’s ass is elevated, then she will not go anywhere.
Of course, all mothers want them to have the right fetal position - longitudinal. To be 100% sure, it is important to remember that there is nothing more accurate than the result of ultrasound, and an independent determination of the position of the child inside may be unreliable.