Doctor Medicine over 1 year ago

Position and Presentation of the Fetus

Position refers to whether the fetus is facing rearward (toward the woman’s back—that is, face down when the woman lies on her back) or forward (face up). Presentation refers to the part of the fetus’s body that leads the way out through the birth canal (called the presenting part). Usually, the head leads the way, but sometimes the buttocks or a shoulder leads the way. The most common and safest combination consists of the following: Head first (called vertex or cephalic presentation) Facing rearward Face and body angled toward the right or left Neck bent forward Chin tucked in Arms folded across the chest