It rotates under and around the pubic bone. At this point, the birth canal curves upward, and the baby's head must extend back.As your baby reaches the opening of the vagina, usually the back of the head is in contact with your pubic bone.As your baby's head rotates, extends, or flexes during labor, the body will stay in position with one shoulder down toward your spine and one shoulder up toward your belly.Sometimes, the baby will rotate so it faces up toward the pubic bone.Usually, the baby will be face down toward your spine.This helps the head fit the shape of your pelvis. As your baby's head descends further, the head will most often rotate so the back of the head is just below your pubic bone.With the chin tucked, it is easier for the baby's head to pass through the pelvis.During descent, the baby's head is flexed down so that the chin touches the chest.Most often, descent occurs during labor, either as the cervix dilates or after you begin pushing. ![]() This is when your baby's head moves down (descends) further through your pelvis.Engagement tells your health care provider that your pelvis is large enough to allow the baby's head to move down (descend).This is when the widest part of your baby's head has entered the pelvis.These movements of your baby's head are called cardinal movements of labor. These changes are needed for your baby to fit and move through your pelvis. Transverse lie is more common when you deliver before your due date, or have twins or triplets.Īs your baby passes through the birth canal, the baby's head will change positions. This type of presentation occurs less than 1% of the time. The shoulder, arm, or trunk may present first if the fetus is in a transverse lie. ![]() Other breech positions occur when either the feet or knees present first.A frank breech is when the hips are flexed so the legs are straight and completely drawn up toward the chest.A complete breech is when the buttocks present first and both the hips and knees are flexed.This makes delivery more difficult.ĭelivery presentation describes the way the baby is positioned to come down the birth canal for delivery. When this happens, the presenting part will be larger as it passes through the pelvis. Other body parts may be positioned behind the back. The arms and legs are drawn in towards the center of the chest.Ībnormal fetal attitudes include a head that is tilted back, so the brow or the face presents first.The normal fetal attitude is commonly called the fetal position. The fetal attitude describes the position of the parts of your baby's body. If the baby is sideways (at a 90-degree angle to your spine), the baby is said to be in a transverse lie.Nearly all babies are in a longitudinal lie. If your baby's spine runs in the same direction (parallel) as your spine, the baby is said to be in a longitudinal lie.Your baby will most often settle into a position in the pelvis before labor begins. Your baby's spine is between their head and tailbone. This refers to how the baby's spine lines up with the mother's spine. However, engagement may happen later in the pregnancy, or even during labor. In first-time moms, the baby's head may engage by 36 weeks into the pregnancy. If the presenting part lies above the ischial spines, the station is reported as a negative number from -1 to -5.The baby is said to be "engaged" when the largest part of the head has entered the pelvis. This is when the baby's head is even with the ischial spines. Normally the ischial spines are the narrowest part of the pelvis. ![]() These are bone points on the mother's pelvis. Most often, it is the baby's head, but it can be a shoulder, the buttocks, or the feet. The presenting part is the part of the baby that leads the way through the birth canal. This position is called occiput anterior.Ĭertain terms are used to describe your baby's position and movement through the birth canal.įetal station refers to where the presenting part is in your pelvis. The best position for the baby to pass through the pelvis is with the head down and the body facing toward the mother's back. Certain body positions give the baby a smaller shape, which makes it easier for your baby to get through this tight passage. During labor and delivery, your baby must pass through your pelvic bones to reach the vaginal opening.
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