How to treat malposition of fetus at 39 weeks

There are many reasons that can cause malposition of the fetus during pregnancy, such as pelvic narrowness, placenta previa, or giant fetus. Generally, malposition of the fetus can be confirmed around 36 weeks of pregnancy. If malposition of the fetus is found at 39 weeks, this phenomenon is more serious. At this time, you must go to the hospital for examination in time and actively correct the position of the fetus.

Fetal position, in layman's terms, refers to the position of the fetus in the uterus. The normal fetal position should be that the fetal head is flexed with the occipital bone in front. During delivery, the head is the first to enter the pelvis, which is medically called "head first presentation". This fetal position generally leads to smoother delivery.

As for other parts of the body (such as the buttocks, feet, legs and even arms) that are facing downwards, this is considered a malposition. Among abnormal fetal positions, breech presentation (buttocks facing downward) has the highest proportion. Although some fetuses also have their heads facing down, their heads change from being flexed to being stretched or their occipital bones are at the back, which is generally considered an abnormal fetal position.

Before 8 months of pregnancy, malposition of the fetus is a very common phenomenon and expectant mothers do not need to worry too much. As the gestational age increases, most fetuses with malpositions will automatically turn into a normal birth position with the head down. In terms of obstetric treatment, the diagnosis is generally confirmed only if the fetus is still in malposition after nine months (36 weeks) of pregnancy.

The reasons are often: excessive amniotic fluid, loose abdominal wall of multiparous women, etc., which make the fetus's range of movement in the uterine cavity too large. Uterine malformation, fetal malformation, multiple births, oligohydramnios, etc., make the fetus's range of movement in the uterine cavity too small.

In fact, the phenomenon of malposition of the fetus is very common. Many women have more or less malposition of the fetus around 20 weeks of pregnancy. When the pregnancy is around 8 months, some of the malposition of the fetus will be relieved on its own. Of course, some of it cannot be relieved. The proportion that cannot be relieved is about 8%. At this time, it is completely feasible to perform timely fetal position correction treatment.