Can I work out my baby's position?
For some women it's obvious how their baby is lying because they can feel the kicks to their ribs or little hands punching their bladders! For others, their babies might constantly somersault, so it is trickier to tell. It can be helpful to try to work out how your baby is lying in your tummy.
Although this can be quite a task, it is sometimes possible to work
out which position your baby is lying in. Try to make notes of where
your baby kicks,
as you may see a small heel from time to time as your baby grows in
strength, and this can give you a clue as to where your baby is lying.
Think about what your tummy feels and looks like and remember that
as a general rule, babies' bottoms will feel squashier in the womb and
their heads will feel harder, but it is still easy to get them muddled
up.
For babies lying in an anterior position, your belly will
normally poke out and your belly button will pop out. You might also
feel kicks under your ribs. For babies lying in a posterior position,
your belly will normally feel flatter and more squashed. You may also
feel kicks at the very front of your belly. Backache in the last few
weeks of pregnancy can also mean an OP baby, but lots of women
experience backache in pregnancy anyway, so this is not the firmest of indicators.
Generally, a midwife
can feel, right the way through pregnancy, which way around your baby
is lying. With first pregnancies, the baby will normally become
'engaged' (also known as 'lightening'), about four weeks before delivery, which means the foetus descends into the mother's pelvis in anticipation of the journey ahead.
You may recognise that this has happened because you can feel sharp
little twinges in your pelvis as the baby moves, and the shape of your
pregnant tummy may change, as your centre of gravity shifts. You may
also feel a little respite in terms of breathing as your baby no longer
squashes your rib cage but moves further down.
If you would like to talk to other mums about this, or any other related topic, you can visit our Guide to Pregnancy chat forum.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
All
Third Trimester articles are relevant to the UK medical health system
and may differ from the experience of having a baby in other countries.
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Last Modified: 09/12/2008
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