The baby in the uterus is located in a certain way. Most often, fetal head previa is observed . What it is? What types of it exist? How to determine the position of the fetus? It’s worth sorting it out.
Head presentation of the fetus: what is it?
So, the presentation of the fetus is the location of its largest part (buttocks and torso) with respect to the entrance to the pelvis of the future mother. Most often, there is a head presentation of the fetus. What is it? This means that the baby is located head down, that is, it is adjacent to the pelvis. It is this position that is considered physiologically correct and natural, since it is much easier for a baby to walk through the birth canal. First, the head sinks into the pelvis ( its bones should be apart at the same time), then the shoulders go, and then the rest of the body comes out.
Types of head presentation
Even if the baby is located head down in relation to the pelvis of a woman, this does not mean at all that the process of childbirth will be natural and easy, since everything depends on how the baby is turned. There are several different positions of the head presentation.
1. Occipital head presentation of the fetus. What is it? It is optimal. At the same time, the baby's head is bent, the chin is pressed to the chest, the back of the head appears first at the exit from the birth canal, then the rest of the part. In this situation, most births take place without complications, because the occipital part is the smallest, which allows the pelvis and vagina to expand gradually. The kid is not subjected to strong compression.
2. Forehead presentation. At the same time, the baby’s head is slightly raised, the first of the birth canal is the crown. It is wider than the back of the head, so that childbirth will proceed harder and longer, the risks of birth injury are slightly higher.
3. Frontal and facial. What does the fetal presentation in this case mean? The baby’s head is very bent, the forehead or face appears first. In such a situation, natural childbirth is possible, but only when the fetus is not large, and the mother’s pelvis is wide enough. In other cases, a cesarean section is performed, since the risk of injuries to the baby and mother is very high, because there is a strong bend in the neck of the baby. In addition, the front of the head is very wide, so that the passage of the fetus through the birth canal is difficult, which can lead to rupture of the vagina or cervix, as well as to asphyxiation (suffocation) of the fetus.
Fetal position
In addition to presentation, the position of the fetus is also distinguished. They are determined depending on the location of the fetal back with respect to the walls of the uterus. There are 2 positions.
- The first is characterized by the location of the back of the unborn baby closer to the left wall of the uterus.
- Head presentation of the fetus: position 2 is that the back of the baby is turned to the right wall of the uterus.
Most often, the first position occurs, which is explained by the physiological structure of the uterus and the location of this organ in the woman's body.
It remains only to add that the presentation of the fetus and position can be determined by the doctor on examination by palpation. But the most accurate method is ultrasound. Trying to figure it out on your own is not worth it.