[32 Weeks] Baby Positioning

Now is my pregnancy at 32^th week…still have another one and a half months to go. From the scan of ultrasound, it showed that my baby still at horizontal position. The gynae has informed us that the latest by 37^th week baby head must descended well into the pelvis (Asynclitism is a medical word that describes a head-first position).

(1) Most Common Position Ideally for labor, the baby presents head-down, facing the mother's back, with its chin tucked to its chest and the back of the head ready to enter the pelvis.	(2) Occiput or Cephalic Posterior Sometimes the baby is presenting head down as it should be, but it is facing the mother's abdomen. This increases the chance of painful "back labor" and prolonged delivery.
(3) Frank Breech In a frank breech, the baby's buttocks lead the way into the birth canal. The hips are flexed, the knees extended. This increases the chance of forming an umbilical cord loop that could precede the head through the cervix and cause injury to the baby if it is delivered vaginally.	(4) Complete Breech This baby presents with the buttocks first; both the hips and the knees are flexed. Like other breech presentations, this increases the risk of forming an umbilical cord loop that could precede the head through the cervix and cause injury to the baby if it is delivered vaginally.
(5) Transverse Lie The baby lies crosswise in the uterus, making it likely that the shoulder will enter the pelvis first. Most such babies are delivered by cesarean.	(6) Footling Breech Sometimes, one or both of the baby's feet are pointed down toward the birth canal. This increases the chances of the umbilical cord slithering down into the mouth of the womb, cutting off blood supply to the baby.

If baby is at the breech position whereas refers to feet- or buttocks-first presentation. This is a real thinking obstetrician's dilemma, because the largest part of the baby is the head. So delivery of the feet or buttocks creates a scenario wherein larger and larger parts of the baby have yet to prove the ability to clear the pelvis. In other words, if the head won't fit out in a head-first baby, delivery can be affected via second-choice C-section.

Some exercises to help your baby/infant turn to correct position as shown below:-

If the baby settles (engages) into the pelvis it will be difficult for the baby to turn. This exercise, done 3 times each day for 15 minutes discourages the baby from settling into the pelvis.

• Lie on your back, with your bottom away from the wall. Place the feet high on the wall, and using it for support, lift your hips high. Have pillows or a firmly rolled towel ready to slip behind your back for support. Your hips need to be higher than your shoulders.
• An alternative is to adopt a "knee-chest" position, with your bottom high in the air and your head and chest on the floor.