How will my caregiver know?
How will it affect my labour?
The medical term 'presentation' refers to the part of the baby that is leading the way down the birth canal. In most cases the crown of the baby's head leads the way, often referred to as a 'vertex presentation'.
Occasionally (about 1 in every 400 births, or 0.25%) the baby is lying across ways in the uterus, called a 'transverse lie'. When this happens, the baby's back or shoulder covers the woman's cervix. This is known as a 'shoulder presentation'. There are many causes for a shoulder presentation, that usually involve a situation where the baby is able to change position frequently and easily, (often referred to as an 'unstable lie').
Image 5-47 shows a baby lying in a transverse position in the uterus.
These include:
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Women having their second or subsequent baby. This is because the abdominal muscles are more flexible, allowing the baby to move more easily. |
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The baby is preterm. Baby's born before 34 weeks generally change position quite frequently and could easily be in a transverse position when the labour starts. |
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There is a large amount of amniotic fluid. This is often referred to as 'polyhydramnios'. |
Sometimes the baby is unable to achieve a head or bottom down position due to other health conditions.
These can include: