Does a low fetal head help with dilation?

The fetal head is particularly important for pregnant women. Generally, the fetal head is at the bottom, which is conducive to delivery. If the fetal head is at the bottom, once the labor comes, the fetal head will enter the pelvis to prepare for delivery. However, the situation of each pregnant woman is different, so the position of the fetal head is also different. Some pregnant women have a lower fetal head. If the fetal head is lower, is it conducive to dilation?

Is a low fetal head conducive to dilation?

If the fetal position is normal, a low fetal head is beneficial for delivery. If the fetal position is abnormal, it is not conducive to delivery.

What is the normal fetal position?

Normal fetal position:

The fetus is immersed in the amniotic fluid with its head down and its hips up. Because its head is heavier than its body, it normally maintains the head-down and hip-up position. The normal fetal position is with the fetal head flexed and the occipital bone in front, which is called the occiput anterior position. This is also the most favorable position for normal delivery.

Abnormal fetal position:

However, some fetuses also have their heads facing down, but their heads change from flexion to extension or their occipital bones are at the back, which is considered an abnormal fetal position. Generally speaking, malpositions of the fetus include breech presentation, transverse presentation, occiput posterior presentation, facial presentation, and frontal presentation. Breech presentation is the most common, while transverse presentation is the most harmful.

How to tell if the fetal position is good or bad

In the early stages of pregnancy, the baby is still very small and it is difficult to determine his position. The only way to see him is with the help of ultrasound.

By week 24, your baby is moving around more and it's common for him to be bottom-down. Therefore, during the first few examinations, if the baby is in a hip-down position, the expectant mother does not need to worry too much. After a while, his little body may move to a satisfactory position. Of course, in the late pregnancy, in addition to professional examinations, you can also determine the baby's fetal position through the following methods.

Touch the belly:

Expectant mothers can gently feel the lower abdomen, and perhaps you can tell the position of his head and buttocks. Generally speaking, the baby's head is hard and round, and it feels like it is floating in the amniotic fluid, while the fetal buttocks are relatively soft and irregular.

Check body shape:

The shape of the abdominal bulge often reflects the fetal position. The upward head position will make the expectant mother's bulge appear higher; and the characteristic of the breech position is reflected in the presence of a saucer-shaped dimple in the middle of the mother's stomach.

Methods of correcting fetal position

If the fetus is in an abnormal position before 7 months of pregnancy, just strengthen observation. But in the late pregnancy, if the fetal position is still abnormal, it needs to be corrected. Below, the housekeeper will introduce to you a method to correct the fetal position.

Chest-knee position:

This method is suitable for pregnancy after 30 weeks, when the fetal position is still breech or transverse. The expectant mother kneels on the bed with her knees slightly apart and bent into right angles. Her chest and shoulders are pressed against the bed. Her head is tilted to one side and her hands are placed on both sides of her head, forming a posture with her hips high and her head low. The greater the height difference between the two, the better, so that the fetal head can be placed on the mother's diaphragm, and the fetal position can be corrected with the help of the change in the center of gravity. Do it twice a day, 15-20 minutes each time. Empty your bladder and loosen your belt before doing it. Check again after 1 week.