obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a su ...

, position is the orientation of the

fetus A fetus or foetus (; : fetuses, foetuses, rarely feti or foeti) is the unborn offspring of a viviparous animal that develops from an embryo. Following the embryonic development, embryonic stage, the fetal stage of development takes place. Pren ...

in the womb, identified by the location of the presenting part of the fetus relative to the

pelvis The pelvis (: pelves or pelvises) is the lower part of an Anatomy, anatomical Trunk (anatomy), trunk, between the human abdomen, abdomen and the thighs (sometimes also called pelvic region), together with its embedded skeleton (sometimes also c ...

of the mother. Conventionally, it is the position assumed by the fetus before the process of birth, as the fetus assumes various positions and postures during the course of

childbirth Childbirth, also known as labour, parturition and delivery, is the completion of pregnancy, where one or more Fetus, fetuses exits the Womb, internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section and becomes a newborn to ...

Positions

Depending upon which part of the fetus is expected to be delivered first (fetal presentation), there are many possible positions: * Vertex presentation with longitudinal lie: * Breech presentation with longitudinal lie: #Left sacrum anterior (LSA)—the buttocks, as against the occiput of the vertex presentation, like close to the vagina (hence known as breech presentation), which lie anteriorly and towards the left. #Right sacrum anterior (RSA)—the buttocks face anteriorly and towards the right. #Left sacrum posterior (LSP)—the buttocks face posteriorly and towards the left. #Right sacrum posterior (RSP)—the buttocks face posteriorly and towards right. #Sacrum anterior (SA)—the buttocks face anteriorly. #Sacrum posterior (SP)—the buttocks face posteriorly. * Shoulder presentation with transverse lie are classified into four types, based on the location of the scapula (shoulderblade); note: the presentation is significantly different from asynclitic positioning, and in most cases needs to be delivered by cesarean section. #Left scapula-anterior (LSA) #Right scapula-anterior (RSA) #Left scapula-posterior (LSP) #Right scapula-posterior (RSP)

Notes

References

External links

''Normal Labor and Delivery'' from Management of Labor and Delivery provided by Google books
{{Pregnancy Presentations and positions in childbirth Obstetrics Midwifery

Positions

See also

Notes

References

External links