What is the difference between fetal presentation and position?
In the womb, a fetus has both a presentation and a position. Presentation refers to the baby’s body that leads, or is expected to lead, out of the birth canal. For example,
What is the difference between fetal presentation and position?
In the womb, a fetus has both a presentation and a position. Presentation refers to the baby’s body that leads, or is expected to lead, out of the birth canal. For example, if a baby’s rear is set to come out of the birth canal first, the baby is said to be in “breech presentation.” Position refers to the direction the baby is facing in relation to the mother’s spine. A baby could be lying face-first against a mother’s spine, or face up towards the mother’s belly.
What way should a baby come out during birth?
Vertex presentation is the ‘normal’ way that a baby is positioned for birth and the lowest-risk presentation for vaginal birth. In vertex presentation, the baby is positioned head-first with their occiput (the part of the head close to the base of the skull) entering the birth canal first. In this position, the baby’s chin is tucked into their chest and they are facing the mother’s back (occipito-anterior position). Any position other than vertex position is abnormal and can make vaginal delivery much more difficult or sometimes impossible. If a baby’s chin isn’t tucked into their chest, they may come out face-first (face presentation), which can cause birth injury.
What happens if a baby isn’t in the standard vertex position during birth?
Before delivery, it is critical that the fetus is in the standard vertex presentation and within the normal range for weight and size. This helps ensure the safety of both baby and mother during labor. When the baby’s size or position is abnormal, physician intervention is usually warranted. This may mean simple manual procedures to help reposition the baby or, in many cases, a planned C-section delivery. The failure of healthcare professionals to identify and quickly resolve issues related to fetal size, weight, and presentation is medical malpractice. There are numerous complications related to abnormal weight, size, abnormal position, or abnormal presentation.
In the safest presentation (vertex presentation), the baby is born head first, with the rest of the body following. In a compound presentation, however, there are multiple presenting parts. Most commonly, this means that the baby’s head and an arm come out first at the same time. Sometimes compound presentation can occur with twins where the head of the first twin presents with the extremity of the second twin.
Limb present