Correct fetal position diagram

Through a series of tests in the late pregnancy, it can be basically determined whether the fetal position is normal. If the pregnant mother finds that the fetus is in a transverse position, the fetal position needs to be corrected. Generally speaking, it is more appropriate to start helping the fetus rotate to the correct fetal position around 30 weeks. If you do it around the 35th or 36th week, it may not be very effective.

Ways for pregnant mothers to assist the fetus to return to its original position

Pregnant mothers can use the knee-chest position to correct the transverse position of the fetus. That is, the pregnant mother lies on her stomach on the bed, facing sideways, with her wrists stretched forward, her knees separated, her chest and knees touching the ground, and her hips raised higher than her chest. At this point, the uterus in the abdomen will deform slightly, and the fetus will move to the bottom of the uterus. This action must be repeated many times. If this type of fetal autonomous correction begins from the 28th week of pregnancy and continues until around the 34th week, about 50% of the fetuses will be able to return to their normal position on their own.

How doctors help pregnant mothers correct the fetal position

The doctor chooses the best time, when the 29th to 34th week of pregnancy is when the uterus is in a non-contracted state, to perform a non-hazardous operation on the pregnant mother's abdomen with the help of an ultrasound machine. When performing abdominal rotation to determine the fetal position, the doctor should not use force to forcibly twist the fetal position back, which is very dangerous. Instead, the doctor should gently stroke the pregnant mother's abdomen. After touching the fetus, the fetal head should be slowly pushed back into the pelvis, and then the fetal buttocks should be pulled up. The doctor should not use too much force to operate, so as to obtain good results.

When pregnancy reaches the middle and late stages, pregnant mothers begin to worry about whether they can choose natural childbirth. There are many factors that affect whether a natural birth can be chosen, including the mother's mental state, health status, baby's weight and size, etc. Among them, the correct position of the fetus is also an important factor affecting whether a natural birth can be chosen.

Fetal position refers to the position of the fetus in the womb when it is about to be born. The easiest position to choose for normal delivery is the cephalic position, that is, the baby's head is at the entrance of the pelvis, and flexed, the chin is close to the sternum, the spine is slightly bent forward, the limbs are flexed and crossed in front of the chest, and the whole embryo is oval. This is what doctors often call the occipital anterior position.

Golden time to correct fetal position

Before 30 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is still small compared to the uterus, and there is more amniotic fluid in the mother's uterine cavity. The fetus has space to move and will automatically correct the fetal position. Therefore, if the fetus is found to be in a transverse position during the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy, there is no need to worry too much, as it may be corrected in the middle or late stages.

But after 36 weeks, most babies will naturally move their heads down into the pelvis due to their heavy heads, and the fetal position will be fixed. If it is still in the arm position at this time, it cannot be corrected. Therefore, the best time to correct the fetal position is during the 30th to 34th week of pregnancy. Under the guidance of a doctor, the fetal position can be changed by the following correction methods:

Chest-knee position

Pregnant mothers can first empty their bladder, then relax their waist, kneel on a hard bed covered with a quilt, put their head on the edge of the bed, turn their face to one side, straighten their upper arms, spread their hands and place them on both sides of the head, keep their chest as close to the bed as possible, raise their buttocks, and make their thighs and calves at an angle.

Do it once a day in the morning, noon and evening, each time for 15 minutes, and continue to do it for 1 week before returning for a follow-up visit. This posture allows the fetal buttocks to withdraw from the pelvis, relying on the change in the center of gravity of the fetus, so that the arc formed by the fetal head and fetal back can be dragged along the curved surface of the uterine fundus.

Side lying

Pregnant mothers who are accustomed to sleeping on their left side can try to switch to sleeping on their right side, and pregnant mothers who are accustomed to sleeping on their right side can try to switch to sleeping on their left side. A course of treatment is 7 days, which is also effective in helping the fetus adjust the fetal position.