At what age does a baby turn upside down?

How to make a child turn around

There are several ways to get the baby to obediently turn to the correct position, namely facing the mother’s spine:

• make sure your knees are always lower than your hips;
• sit on a cushion in the car to elevate your pelvic area;
• make sure your favorite chair is not too low, and use a cushion if necessary;
• if you have a sedentary job, take breaks more often and walk a few steps;
• Stand on all fours for ten minutes every day, for example, while watching TV.

After your next visit to the gynecologist in the third trimester of pregnancy, you may hear that the baby has not yet taken the proper position in the uterus. That is, he is turned down with his legs and buttocks. In this case, there is no need to be afraid, since babies take the correct position after 32-34 weeks, some even before birth. And yet, how to turn a child over? Let's try to figure it out.

Breech presentation of the fetus: causes and signs

Unfortunately, it often happens that the child takes his final position with his head up. And then the doctor tells the expectant mother that she has a breech fetus. Typically, a pregnant woman can hear such a verdict at 28-30 weeks.

But you shouldn’t despair right away, because it often happens that the baby turns head down even before the birth itself. In addition, there are now several methods that allow you to “turn over” the fruit, positioning it correctly.

Every expectant mother who has been diagnosed with breech birth wants to know why this happened.

Is this considered a pathology? Is everything okay with the child, or should I be worried? How will the birth go? Breech presentation, the causes of which we will discuss below, is a problem not only for obstetricians, but also for the mother and baby. But this is not always a serious problem.

Millions of women whose babies are born in a breech position suffer no more during childbirth than those who give birth to babies with a cephalic presentation. However, incorrect positioning of the fetus can lead to some problems.

Let's see what are the most common causes of breech presentation of the fetus. Experts call the following:

• • Polyhydramnios. With polyhydramnios, the child is more mobile, so closer to birth he may take the wrong position.
• • Oligohydramnios. With limited ability to change position, the fetus may position itself incorrectly and no longer be able to turn over.
• • Multiple pregnancy. This is the most common cause of breech presentation. The fact is that towards the end of pregnancy, babies become cramped in the womb, and one of them has to find a comfortable position and roll over.
• • The child's head is too large, which may be due to hydrocephalus or other problems.
• • Decreased uterine tone, which can be a consequence of various inflammatory diseases in a woman’s body, as well as multiple pregnancies, spontaneous miscarriages, abortions, etc.
• • Uterine fibroids.
• • Entwining the fetus with the umbilical cord.

As you can see, breech presentation of the fetus has many causes. But sometimes doctors cannot determine why the baby decided to position himself head up in the uterus, so you shouldn’t immediately blame everything on health problems.

It is not difficult to detect that the baby is lying upside down in the mother’s womb. Almost all signs of breech presentation of the fetus are reliable, which facilitates the work of doctors. In order to determine how the fetus is positioned, experts use several methods.

• • External inspection. This is the simplest method when the doctor can determine by touch how the fetus is positioned. The doctor can also determine this by ear. If the baby's heartbeat is heard above the navel, it means that he is lying incorrectly, that is, with his head up.
• • Inspection from the inside, i.e. vaginal examination. With it, the doctor can feel the baby’s buttocks and legs.
• • Ultrasound. Errors are excluded during ultrasound examination. On the monitor, even the mother will be able to see how her future baby is positioned. Usually, to detect fetal presentation, an ultrasound is performed at 33-34 weeks of pregnancy.

The woman herself will never notice the signs of a breech presentation of the fetus. Therefore, if an ultrasound examination tells you that the fetus is positioned correctly, this does not mean that it will not turn over the next day.

And yet you won’t feel it at all. To accurately determine the location of the fetus before birth, a repeat ultrasound is necessary, because Breech presentation during childbirth can be dangerous for the health of the woman and child.

Therefore, doctors decide in advance which delivery will be the most optimal.

Every expectant mother should know what breech presentation means. Childbirth with this diagnosis is more likely to cause complications.

And although natural childbirth is practiced quite often with breech presentation, in many cases doctors recommend that the expectant mother give birth by cesarean section. However, you should not immediately prepare yourself for surgery.

There are ways to position the baby correctly in the womb. These are, for example, special exercises that a pregnant woman needs to perform from 32-34 weeks. The two most popular exercises are:

• 1. Turns to the sides while lying on your back. You will need to lie on one side for 3-5 minutes, then turn to the other side for the same amount of time. In this case, the legs should be bent and slightly pressed to the stomach. Repeat turns for 8-10 minutes.
• 2. Raising the pelvis. Lie on your back, lift your buttocks off the floor or place a bolster under them so that your lower back is 30 degrees higher than your head. Lie like this for 10-15 minutes. Keep in mind that this exercise is contraindicated in cases where you have a scar on the uterus, or an ultrasound has shown placenta previa along the anterior wall of the uterus. Also, this exercise is not recommended for pregnant women with late toxicosis.

If the exercises are ineffective, then the woman may undergo a so-called external obstetric fetal rotation. With the help of several manipulations - squeezing the abdomen with hands - the specialist turns the child's head towards the exit. However, this does not always work out. It even happens that a child who turns over safely returns to its original position, that is, head up.

The external fetal rotation procedure is performed at 35-38 weeks of pregnancy. For this purpose, drugs are usually used that can relax the uterus. The manipulation takes place under ultrasound supervision.

Therefore, external rotation is not indicated for all women and is performed very rarely.

If the baby has not taken a favorable position in the mother’s womb, then this should not be a reason for worry. Many women give birth to children with a breech presentation; the main thing is to “surrender” to the maternity hospital doctors early, even before contractions. Obstetricians will conduct the necessary examination of the pregnant woman and decide which way would be best to carry out the birth.

Vaginal birth with breech presentation can be permitted without any contraindications. These include: anterior placenta previa, a scar on the uterus, a narrow pelvis in the expectant mother, a large fetus - from 3.5 kg, entanglement with the umbilical cord. In other cases, a woman can give birth on her own without any serious consequences.

Breech presentation of the fetus is not a death sentence, and you need to treat it calmly. If you have been diagnosed with this, try to do everything to correct the situation. And if it doesn’t work out, then go to the maternity hospital in advance to be under the supervision of doctors who will definitely make the right decision so that your birth is successful.

One day, at about 28 weeks, you once again came to see your doctor, and he told you that the baby had not yet taken the correct position in the uterus. This means that the baby is turned down not with his head, but with his legs and buttocks. You should not be afraid of this situation, since many children take the classic position after 32-34 weeks, or even on the eve of birth.

Your doctor will tell you about the medical reasons for breech presentation. But if everything is fine with your health, let's look for other possible reasons.

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Perhaps you have a habit of sleeping the whole night in one position. Most people often turn from side to side in their sleep. But some people lie all night, or most of it, in one position. If a pregnant woman sleeps without turning over on one side every night, this can negatively affect the position of the baby in the uterus.

Therefore, before going to bed, lie down in different positions that are comfortable for you for at least 2-3 minutes several times. These actions will help you establish a new sleep behavior program. Also try to fall asleep in different positions.

I understand perfectly well that at the end of pregnancy it can be difficult to fall asleep even in your favorite position, let alone change it, but still try - it’s worth it.

After all, in a week or two the old habit will be forgotten, and the new one will begin to work.

Don't stay up too late. This is harmful to your health and the well-being of your baby. The expectant mother should also not be overtired. People who go to bed late or are very tired often wake up in the morning in the same position in which they fell asleep.

But if a person lies in one position for 8-10 hours, his spine and internal organs are greatly shifted downward under their weight. In this case, there is a violation of the position of the spine and internal organs, tissue accumulation and blood stagnation, which leads to a lot of problems. We could go into more detail on this, but this article is not about sleep during pregnancy.

I will only say that breech presentation is one of the possible troubles. If the expectant mother lies in the same position from night to night or rarely changes it, her uterus and the baby in it will move down each time and spend 8-10 hours a day in this position.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the baby will spin and roll over at night, but when the baby grows up and becomes cramped, he will try to take a position that is comfortable for him at night, turning around, each time in a certain plane, at an angle that is convenient for him.

But when the pregnancy comes to an end, at 31-32 weeks, there is a high probability that, the baby, not being able to easily turn over and spin, will remain in the position in which he previously spent only the nights. This position may be completely inconvenient for his birth (for example, transverse), which will greatly complicate childbirth.

Watch your diet. Don't eat a lot at night, don't eat heavy protein fatty foods.

No matter how much you would like a fried chop or a cake with whipped cream, do not reassure yourself that pregnant women can eat whatever they want, and that this will only affect your figure after giving birth.

After all, there are known cases when a mother who consumed harmful foods suffered poisoning, and her unborn baby felt so bad that she turned over with her buttocks down or across.

Sometimes the reason is the sedentary lifestyle of the expectant mother. At 30-32 weeks, the baby may simply “get stuck” in the wrong position if the mother sits and lies most of the time, thereby depriving the baby of the opportunity to roll over.

1. Dikan's method. Having sat comfortably on a flat surface, a pregnant woman should change her position once within ten minutes. Or rather, do a flip from side to side. Ten minutes on one side - inversion - and ten minutes on the other. It is necessary to perform revolutions on an empty stomach in four approaches. Dikan's coup is prescribed from the twenty-eighth week.
2. “Half bridge”. This exercise is performed on an empty stomach. The goal of this simple exercise is to lift the pelvis by 20-30 cm. To do this, a pregnant woman should lie on the floor (on a special rug or regular carpet) and place pillows under her hips. You can simply, while lying on the floor, raise your hips onto the bed or sofa. The woman should lie in this position for about ten minutes. You should not overexert your abdominal muscles; during the exercise you must completely relax and breathe evenly and deeply. It is advisable to do this exercise during fetal motor activity. As practice shows, in ninety percent of cases, after 10-14 days the fetus takes the correct position - with the head facing the exit. The exercise is considered one of the most effective for changing the position of the fetus. By the way, this exercise can be slightly modified to make it as enjoyable as possible. To do this, you need to sit your husband opposite you and put your legs on his shoulders. The exercise requires the woman's hamstrings to rest on the man's shoulders. This way, the baby will feel the presence and care of his daddy.
3. “Cat Mom.” The pregnant woman should kneel on a flat surface. Place your palms on the surface. Place your knees exactly under your hips, and your hands exactly under your shoulders. Having arched her lower back, the woman lifts her head and pelvis up. This position must be taken while inhaling. As you exhale, arch your back and tuck your tailbone under you. Inhale again and try to feel your whole body. While exhaling, straighten your shoulder blades and pull your stomach towards your spine. At this moment you need to focus on your back muscles. Before doing this exercise, gynecologists advise observing cats, because a woman’s movements should be just as smooth and graceful. This exercise can be repeated up to ten times when the fetus is breech.
4. Proper breathing. Place your feet on a flat surface. Hands down, as they say. We raise and spread our arms to the sides, palms down. We stand on our toes and properly arch our back. This position is accompanied by a deep breath. During exhalation, we take the original position. Breathing exercises should be done in three to four approaches. Very effective gymnastics, useful for all women bearing children.
5. Lying on the floor. Lying comfortably on your back, sit on the mat. Bend your knees and spread them wider. Place your feet on the floor. Hands at your sides. Take a deep breath and lift your pelvis. Exhale and lower your pelvis. Inhale, straighten your legs and tighten your gluteal muscles. Tuck your belly in. Pull your perineum in. Then - deep exhale and complete relaxation. We repeat seven times.

Gymnastics in water

• We squat at the bottom of the pool. We push off from the bottom and quickly rise to the surface.
• We do a backflip. To perform these exercises, you must visit a pool of sufficient depth.

Swimming and diving in the pool, according to obstetricians and gynecologists, is quite effective in helping to change the position of the fetus.

Can it not turn over?

Sometimes the fetus does not have time to turn over and take a cephalic presentation, or something interferes with this. This may be affected by developmental defects of the child or health problems of the mother:

• fetal hypoxia;
• short umbilical cord or umbilical cord entanglement, ultra-high motor activity of the fetus;
• defects in fetal development;
• excessive stretching of the uterus due to previous pregnancies or surgical interventions;
• injuries to the walls of the uterus;
• polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios;
• incorrect position of the placenta (low);
• excessively narrow pelvic bone;
• small weight and height of the fetus;
• even experienced stress.

It is important to note that sometimes after a diagnosis of malpresentation, the baby may still turn over - after measures have been taken or when the stomach drops. In the latter case, there is more space and the stretched muscles themselves direct it to the correct position.

Child's location

About four to two weeks before the due date, the joints and ligaments in the female pelvic area become softer. The baby is pushed upside down or backwards, descending deeper into the mother's pelvis, and takes its original birth position

When planning a birth, it is important to know the location of the baby in the womb.

How is fetal position determined?

This type of examination is carried out using external obstetric examination according to the so-called Leopold-Levitsky rules:

1. Hands are on the pregnant woman's belly and touch the upper part of the uterus, which protrudes into the abdominal cavity. If the fetus is placed longitudinally, either its head or pelvic part may be located in this place. The head has a more round outline, when palpated it is dense, and when pressed it moves relative to the body. The buttocks are larger with unclear contours; when pressed with fingers, they move to the side together with the child’s body.
2. A study of the location of the moving parts - arms and legs, as well as the elongated back is carried out by palpating the uterus from the side. In this case, you need to fix the fetus with your left hand, and examine it with your right hand.
3. The degree of presentation is also studied, that is, how far the child has descended into the pelvic area. For this purpose, the first reception technique is used. If the lower part practically does not move, this means that the fetus is fixed at the entrance to the pelvic area.

There are three types of prenatal placement of the baby in the womb:

• Presentation with the head in a lower position is correct. The baby is head down and facing the mother's back. In this position, it fits perfectly into the curvature of the pelvic bone. This is the ideal location for the fetus. 94% of children are born in this position.
• Gluteal – incorrect position in the uterus. The baby's head is under the chest of its mother, and the buttocks are directed towards the pelvis. Birth in this position is possible. About five percent of babies show their butt to the world first.
• Transverse position. The baby lies in the womb transversely in relation to the longitudinal axis of the mother. This happens in only 1% of births. Giving birth in this position without the intervention of an obstetrician can lead to serious consequences for the health of mother and child. Transverse breech babies are usually born by caesarean section.

There are situations when the baby is in a cephalic presentation, but his face is turned towards the mother's pubic bone. Childbirth with this fetal position is a little different:

• the water may not recede immediately, but intermittently;
• childbirth is accompanied by severe back pain during and between contractions;
• birth takes longer and may occur intermittently;
• Perhaps the obstetrician will use forceps to help the baby come into the world.

In the first stage of labor, the position of the woman in labor on all fours will help relieve back pain. This position reduces pressure on the spine and reduces pain.

Baby's movements during pregnancy

Remember how it all started? The first tremors of nascent life in your belly. When you feel the baby moving in the womb, you know everything is fine. Ultrasound studies show that most babies are already active before you know it. And you will probably feel obvious signs of fetal movement between 15 and 18 weeks.

At what stage does the baby turn head down, and how does the mother feel?

The 36th week is still about a month before birth, but this is exactly the period when the baby turns in the stomach upside down towards the mother’s pelvis. During this time, the baby may be constantly tossing and turning, probably looking for a better position for birth.

Since he weighs around 2.6kg at the start of week 36 and is 47cm long, you may feel increasing pressure just above your hips. This means that your baby gradually descends deeper into the pelvic area. On the one hand, this is a huge relief, because the pressure on the lungs and stomach is reduced, you can breathe freely again, and nutrition should be much easier for you.

But on the other hand, the disadvantage of this position of the fetus is that walking will cause discomfort. You may feel a constant need to go to the toilet. Additionally, some women say they feel like their baby is about to fall out. Don't worry - it's impossible. You will feel better if you exercise your pelvic floor muscles.

When is exercise needed?

Breech presentation is dangerous for the baby and his mother only at the time of birth, if the baby, contrary to the laws of nature, decides to be born legs first. The risk of the baby receiving severe birth trauma, the death of the child, and complications of the birth process increases. That is why women whose babies are positioned in the womb with their butts facing the exit from the uterine cavity are recommended to do special gymnastics. This will allow the baby to turn head down.

It should be noted right away that exercises are not always effective. They are considered only auxiliary, but do not guarantee anything. It often happens that the baby refuses to roll over, no matter how hard the expectant mother tries. After 35 weeks, breech presentation is perceived by doctors as a fait accompli. A decision is made to deliver by caesarean section as planned. It is usually done at 37-38 or 38-39 weeks of pregnancy.

A woman can start doing a special set of exercises from 30-31 weeks of pregnancy. It is advisable that classes take place under the supervision of a doctor. They must be approved by an obstetrician-gynecologist. You can practice at home, but you must first demonstrate the technique of performing the exercises to your doctor.

Calculate gestational age

When should the fetus turn over?

This happens at 32-34 weeks of pregnancy; there is no need to worry before this period. Some babies even roll over just before birth, and there are cases where they don’t do this at all. But, refuting the idea of ​​a large number of expectant mothers, breech presentation is not yet a reason for a caesarean section; natural childbirth is also possible, although it may be more difficult. Some babies occupy an intermediate position before birth - not pelvic or cephalic, but diagonal or transverse. In this case, the issue of delivery needs to be given even more attention and discussed in detail with the doctor who will deliver the baby. He will take into account all the parameters, height and weight of the child, and tell you what is best to do in this situation.

What do doctors suggest if the baby does not roll over?

If malpresentation is determined, the observing gynecologist often recommends performing special exercises, thanks to which the woman can help the baby roll over. They should be performed daily unless there are contraindications. If you feel discomfort or discomfort or pain, stop charging immediately.

The presented set of exercises is approximate and may vary depending on individual factors during your pregnancy.

1. Walking on all fours is recommended to be done for as long as possible before fatigue or discomfort appears.
2. Back bending into the “cat” pose – standing on all fours, arch and bend your back for five minutes.
3. Exercises on a fitball: squats and jumping while sitting.
4. Leg bending at the knees - lying on your back, you need to raise one leg straight and sharply bend the knee, moving it as close as possible to your stomach. Alternate legs and perform 10-15 exercises.
5. Lying on your back, hands behind your head, turn from one side to the other.
6. Lying on your back and bending your knees, raise your pelvis for 5-10 seconds.

You should not exercise immediately after eating or waking up.
This set of exercises can be performed even if there is no direct indication for it - they are simple and useful and help the baby to establish his position in the tummy.

The psychological attitude is also very important - talk to your baby, stroke the tummy clockwise, try to attract his attention by applying headphones with pleasant music to the lower abdomen. Make sure that the clothes do not pinch at the waist, are loose and without belts or elastic bands

If absolutely necessary during the birth process, the doctor can help the baby turn over by inserting his hand through the vagina. But this is a very painful procedure and is used only in cases of extreme necessity, for example, if the umbilical cord has become entangled.

How to determine fetal presentation

It is unlikely that a woman will be able to identify fetal presentation on her own at home. An antenatal clinic is best for this.

1. At the appointment, the gynecologist will necessarily conduct a manual examination of the abdomen, while simultaneously listening to the child’s heartbeat using a stethoscope.
2. Vaginal examination is possible.
3. An ultrasound examination (ultrasound) will provide accurate results if any doubt remains.

From 28 weeks, activities to identify the type of fetal presentation become mandatory every week. Firstly, this is done so that in emergency situations doctors know what kind of delivery to offer to this woman. Secondly, in the case of an incorrect presentation (other than the cephalic presentation), the doctor can advise the pregnant woman on how she can correct the situation. Fetal position during pregnancy - options Causes of dangerous oblique (transverse) presentation:

1. The fetus develops with defects.
2. Fetal movements are too active. This may be due to fetal hypoxia or other complications accompanying pregnancy.
3. Polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios.
4. The individual structure of a woman does not allow the child to turn upside down. For example, a woman in labor has a very narrow pelvis or an asthenic (thin) body type.
5. A woman may experience both anomalies in the development of the genital organs (bicornuate or saddle-shaped uterus) and various ailments (polyps, neoplasms, scars, etc.).
6. Hypotonicity of the uterus (severe stretching). This condition may appear in a woman who has recently undergone surgery or is pregnant with two or more fetuses.
7. A very short umbilical cord that prevents the baby from turning over in the stomach.
8. Entwining the fetus with the umbilical cord. A very undesirable situation, which also makes the umbilical cord short and in itself has terrible consequences.
9. The fetus is very small in weight and height.
10. The placenta is located as low as possible.
11. A pregnant woman experiences frequent stress or leads an unhealthy lifestyle. This may include: constant night snacks or evening meals at night are very plentiful; inactivity.

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When the fetus is malpresented, labor is often sluggish or absent altogether. In addition, there are high risks of injury to the woman during natural childbirth (ruptures, hematomas, etc.), as well as to the baby (injuries, asphyxia, hypoxia, etc.). Possible mortality. Therefore, if the baby does not turn head down for delivery, the doctor can often prescribe a cesarean section for the woman.

When the woman and the fetus do not have any deviations or pathologies leading to transverse presentation, then in this case, the woman has the power to change the situation. The expectant mother can use a number of exercises to provoke the baby to turn his head down.

Exercise No1

For the exercise, a woman will have to get on all fours and thus walk around the room. In this case, you should swing your hips from side to side and do not forget to arch your lower back. The exercise is very effective and should be performed as often as possible.

Exercise No2

"Cat". You will need to kneel and lean on your bent arms. Bring your back up, as if rounding it. This will create an imitation of a stretching cat. You should freeze in this position for 5 minutes. Next, relax the muscles and repeat the exercise again. Breathing should be even while performing.

Exercise No3

To complete this you will need a fitball (large ball). A woman should sit on it with her legs spread as wide as possible. Move your pelvis “up/down” while holding your hands on a stationary object (the back of a chair, etc.).

Exercise No4

Half bridge Lie down on the floor or other hard surface. Extend your legs slightly and bend your knees. Place your hands under your lower back and perform very slow lifts with your pelvis up. In this case, you should fix the pose in the upper rise for 10 - 20 seconds.

Exercise No5

Turns. A woman needs to lie down with her legs straight out and put her hand under her head. Lie in this position for 5 to 10 minutes, and then, while taking a deep breath, roll over to the other side. You can perform 4-8 approaches at a time.

Movements in amniotic fluid

Until 20-22 weeks, the fetus behaves more or less calmly. He kicks and pushes, but activity begins to appear at 23-24 weeks. It is at this stage that the child begins to spin - sometimes he is upside down, sometimes downward, sometimes positioned across. A woman can only judge by the periodically appearing bulges what position he is in.

There are special methods by which a woman can independently assess the state of her own pregnancy by the number of movements.

You need to know how long these methods are used.

General method - counting begins at 26 weeks. In this case, the countdown also begins in the morning, but all fetal movements are counted during 3 half-hour intervals, when it is most convenient. The normal indicator for this method is 4 movements in 30 minutes;

• Cardiff method. At a time convenient for you - but it is still advisable to do this in the morning - future babies are most active at this time - you need to wait in a calm state until the fetus moves 10 times. They note the time it took to do the “gymnastics”;
• Sadowski's method. To count movements, the evening time is chosen - the woman is free, the blood glucose level is increased after dinner. You should lie on your left side - this ensures the largest amount of space.

From 19.00 to 23.00, absolutely all movements are counted - if a woman gets tired of being in one position, she can rest, move around, walk around. This does not mean that you have to count all the time - a time period is specified. When the fetus has time to move 10 times in the first hour, the test is completed. If you don’t have time, they wait another hour.

When insufficient physical activity is noticed within 2 hours, it is necessary to notify the doctor monitoring the pregnancy. You will probably have to undergo additional examinations to find out what is causing the lack of fetal mobility.

Despite the fact that women evaluate fetal movements quite subjectively, self-analysis of the state of movements helped determine the pathology of pregnancy in 70% of identified cases.

Why is the baby in the wrong position?

Your doctor will definitely tell you why the unborn baby may be in a breech position. He will tell you about medical reasons, and there are others.

The habit of sleeping all night in one position of the expectant mother negatively affects the position of the fetus in the uterus. In such cases, doctors recommend lying in bed before going to bed in several positions, changing them several times. Such “movements” will help establish a sleep program alternating several poses. And perhaps in a week the habit of sleeping in one position will be forgotten.

When the baby rolls over into the cephalic position

As the baby's height and weight increase and there is less space, he begins to prepare for his exit and takes the most comfortable position for himself. In recent months it should be constantly monitored. This position of the fetus can be understood not only through ultrasound examination. Possible methods for determining presentation:

• palpation through the anterior abdominal wall and listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope;
• examination through the vagina;
• Ultrasound examination.

The position of the baby must be constantly monitored, therefore, after the 30th week of pregnancy, you cannot neglect scheduled examinations with a gynecologist once a week, so that in case of discrepancy you can take action.

At what time, in how many weeks should he turn over?

Usually the fetus is in a cephalic position at 32-34 weeks. If this is not the first pregnancy, the due date may shift one to two weeks to the right. Before thirty-two weeks, if the situation does not comply, there is no need to panic. It is necessary to take into account the weight and level of development of the baby. In this case, you need to be patient and listen to the advice of the supervising gynecologist.

If the pregnancy is multiple

If you are expecting two or more babies, the optimal period for breech birth is 34-35 weeks.
However, it is not necessary that both fruits will occupy the same position. In case of multiple pregnancy, the following types of fetal positions are distinguished:

• both babies are upside down: in this case, as a rule, one fetus weighs less than the other;
• one fetus is upside down, the other is with its buttocks: this position is the most common. If the baby that is in the cephalic position is located lower, natural birth is recommended, since it opens and widens the passage for the second one, and he can come forward with his butt without any problems;
• both fetuses are positioned with the buttocks down: in this case, delivery is recommended only by caesarean section;
• one child is positioned head down, the other sideways: if the baby with a cephalic presentation is in the lower position, then he can be born naturally, and for the second, surgical intervention is recommended. This case is extremely rare and requires special observation.

When it turns over due to anatomical pathologies of the uterine structure

If the uterus has pathologies, for example, uterine fibroids develop or there are abnormalities in the structure, the fetus may take a more comfortable position than a cephalic presentation.
Most often, this is a breech presentation, since the pelvic area is smaller in volume than the baby's head. And in the presence of pathological changes, for example, myomatous nodes, it is more convenient for the baby to turn his buttocks down.

It is important to remember that it is possible for the fetus to change in position during the last days of pregnancy or just before birth, but this does not always happen. In this case, doctors try to avoid the process of natural childbirth, so as not to cause complications.

What measures need to be taken?

If in the last month of pregnancy the child continues to take the wrong position, it is worth scheduling a consultation with a specialist managing the pregnancy to discuss possible ways out of the current situation. It is he who will help predict future delivery.

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Some doctors, in order to avoid risks to the health of the mother and baby during childbirth, suggest using some exercises after the 32nd week, since they believe that they are the ones who can subsequently determine at what point the baby should turn upside down. Classes should be conducted by qualified specialists, they will tell you in detail and also show exercises that help turn the baby in the womb in the right direction.

How many weeks does a baby turn upside down?

The closer the moment of birth, the more anxiety and worry expectant mothers have. They are often concerned about the question of how many weeks the baby turns upside down. To answer it, you need to understand why the position of the fetus in the womb of the expectant mother depends.

A child, developing in an aquatic environment, constantly moves and turns over. This is especially true in the second trimester of pregnancy. The reason is that by this time the fetus is sufficiently formed and can, with the help of the movements of its legs and arms, occupy different positions in the womb.

By the end of pregnancy, the baby should take the correct position in the mother’s stomach “head down”. This position is conceived by nature itself to facilitate the birth process, both from the point of view of the mother and the baby.

Ideally, the baby takes a position with his head down towards the mother's pelvic area and his face turned towards her spine.

Due to various objective and subjective reasons, the child may take a different position, and during childbirth the woman may require surgery - caesarean section

In many cases, this can be avoided, so it is important to monitor the baby’s position in the womb and take preventive measures to help him take the correct position

When the baby turns over

At what week the baby turns upside down depends on many individual characteristics of the mother and baby. Usually the fetus takes the correct position after the 30th week of pregnancy. If the baby has not turned over before 35 weeks, this is a reason to consult a gynecologist for advice.

Although there have been cases when the fetus was in the correct position a day before birth. This, according to experts, is unlikely, since as labor approaches, the amount of amniotic fluid decreases, while the size of the child increases, as a result, there is less and less room for him to move.

Therefore, after 37-38 weeks, the activity of babies usually decreases.

Various circumstances can prevent the fetus from turning over in the womb:

• Umbilical cord entanglement. If a child is entangled in the umbilical cord, his movements become less active, and, therefore, he cannot roll over.
• Low location of the placenta, which does not allow the baby to take the correct position.
• Low water. When the amount of amniotic fluid is insufficient, the baby does not have enough space to move, including turning over.
• The structural features of the mother's pelvis and uterus can also interfere with this process.

In addition to the correct one, the child can take a pelvic or transverse position, when the fetus lies with its legs forward or sideways relative to the mother’s pelvis.

If in the first case, depending on the characteristics of the pregnancy and the size of the fetus, a natural, albeit complicated, birth is possible, then in the second - only a caesarean section, since physically the baby will not be able to pass through the birth canal even with the help of specialists.

If the presentation is not due to objective reasons that cannot be eliminated, the expectant mother can try to turn the baby over in ways that are safe for him.

How to make a baby turn head down

Even if the expectant mother is very attentive to her feelings, she cannot always determine at how many weeks the baby turns upside down.

Very often it is impossible to determine the baby’s position on your own, so it is better to seek help from specialists.

So, if the pregnancy is more than 35 weeks, and the baby does not want to “lie down” correctly, you can resort to special gymnastics that will help the baby turn head down.

It is very useful to sit on a hard chair or fitball during the day, as this provokes the baby to take the right position.

One of the most popular exercises that an expectant mother can do at home is the so-called “cat pose.” A pregnant woman kneels and places emphasis on her hands, bending towards the floor. The back must be well arched. It is advisable to remain in this position for 5-10 minutes, while breathing should be calm and deep.

Some yoga poses have a good effect on the baby's position, but they must be performed only with an instructor. Exercises should be performed for 8-10 days.

What types of presentations are there?

The correct cephalic presentation has already been mentioned above, and this is the position the fetus occupies in most expectant mothers who are wondering at what stage the baby turns upside down.

But there is still a certain percentage of “protesting” kids who use other poses. For example, breech presentation, which, in turn, is also divided into continuous or mixed. In a pure breech presentation, only the buttocks are facing the opening in the pelvis, and the legs are bent at the hip joints and extended along the body. In the second case, in addition to the buttocks, the legs, which the baby bends at the hip and knee joints, are also tightened.

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Doctors also determined knee presentation. It involves bending your knees. This type refers to foot presentation. Experts define this type as complete and incomplete presentation of the legs. In the first version, both legs are occupied, slightly bent at the joints. In incomplete, only one, the second, is located higher.

What position should the baby take before birth?

The correct position is when the baby is positioned head down. It is believed that if the baby takes this position on the eve of birth, the likelihood that any complications will arise during labor is minimal. However, not everything is so simple, since the subtypes of cephalic presentation of the fetus have features:

• Occipital. This position in the mother's womb is the most preferable. In this case, childbirth occurs naturally; additional medical intervention is extremely rarely required.
• Forecephalic. During birth, the baby enters the pelvis with the largest skull size, which significantly complicates childbirth. This position may be an indication for cesarean section, but the method of delivery is individual.
• Frontal. With this position of the baby in the mother’s belly, surgical intervention is indicated.
• Facial. There is a high probability of injury to the fetus and the woman in labor during passage through the birth canal, so in this case they most often resort to cesarean section.

The answer to the question of what position the fetus should take before birth is clear. As a rule, babies turn upside down a few weeks before birth. However, it does not always happen as nature intended, and they may take other positions that complicate the process of delivery.

How is your baby lying?

The correct position of the baby in the uterus at the time of birth is when the baby lies head down, with the back of the head facing the entrance to the pelvis, that is, down, because the neck is bent, arms and legs are crossed and pressed to the body - this is the so-called fetal position .

The baby's face is directed towards the mother's spine. In the vast majority of cases, Mother Nature ensures that the baby takes this position on his own. But sometimes there are other options.

Although approximately one in four children turns head down, their face remains turned towards the mother’s stomach. Doctors joke that a child is born “facing the sun.” Childbirth with such a presentation takes longer and is more difficult.

The so-called breech presentation also occurs. This is a collective term that means that the baby has not turned over in principle, and its legs or buttocks are located at the exit of the uterus.

Finally, there is also a transverse position, when the baby lies comfortably across the uterus with its side or back towards the exit from it - this is the most difficult, and childbirth in this position of the baby usually takes place in the form of a caesarean section. It is quite rare and is most often caused by objective reasons - for example, placenta previa - when the placenta is located below the child and blocks his exit. Naturally, this is always an absolute indication for surgical delivery.

Possible problems

What to do if a child does not turn over on his stomach or side at 5 months?

First of all, parents should not panic. Maybe your child just doesn’t succeed in coups. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

Baby's character. Some children are temperamentally inactive. Lack of incentive. Perhaps there is simply no need for the baby to roll over onto his stomach or back. If parents fulfill all the wishes of their child at the first request, this reduces his motor activity

Try to attract your baby's attention with a bright toy. Neurological diseases. Such illnesses can greatly affect a child's activity.

One of these deviations is uneven muscle tone. This neurological disease manifests itself early, which allows the disease to be detected early. This problem can be solved with the help of a special set of exercises and massage. Children often have problems with turning over due to physiological characteristics. During childbirth or pregnancy, the child could be injured. Problems may arise due to complications such as infection, hypoxia or asphyxia. In such situations, the disease should be treated by a highly qualified pediatrician. Young parents will not be able to solve the problem on their own.

In the presence of neurological and other ailments, various medications may be prescribed. The choice of drug depends on the disorder. In some cases, children are prescribed massage and therapeutic exercises.

What should parents do?

First of all, Evgeniy Komarovsky advises to calm down and stop comparing the baby with norms, other children and the experience of friends. If the mother is only worried about the fact that the baby at 5-6 months does not roll over from his back to his tummy, and there are no other complaints (nothing hurts, nothing bothers him), then he should leave the child alone and wait until he the muscular system will become so strong that he will be able to turn over easily and naturally. This happens to every child at its own time.

If there are additional complaints, you should definitely visit a pediatrician, orthopedist and neurologist. If the baby does not have serious disorders in the activity of the nervous system, everything is in order with the musculoskeletal system, then, again, you should leave the baby alone and give him the opportunity to develop, as nature personally provided for him.

There are not many diseases that can cause inactivity, and all of them are extremely serious. Parents will learn about their presence already in the maternity hospital or at the first scheduled examination of the baby in the clinic. If doctors didn’t tell you anything like this until you were 5 months old, and your baby’s chart doesn’t include diagnoses like “cerebral palsy,” then you shouldn’t “attribute” the reluctance to roll over to illness.

If parents find it completely unbearable to watch the little one lie on his tummy or back and not feel the need to spin, then you can start giving him a massage aimed at strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, back, and side muscles. You can harden your baby and arrange longer walks in the fresh air.

Are there any options?

The good news is that the expectant mother can, to a certain extent, influence the baby's movements in the uterus so that the baby turns over and takes the correct position by the time of birth. First of all, prevention is important, in this case moderate physical activity. Pregnant women are recommended to take long daily walks, exercise for expectant mothers, and swimming.

There are also special exercises that help the baby take the correct position. But their effectiveness is not very high. After 34 weeks, you can do the following exercise 2-3 times a day before meals: lie on a hard surface, either on your left or on your right side, for 5-10 minutes for an hour and a half. It is also useful to take any position that allows you to raise the pelvis, you can even do a “birch” if your doctor has no objections to this.

For what reasons does the child take the wrong position?

Often occurring can occur for the following reasons:

• Repeated births.
• Polyhydramnios.
• Pathologies of the uterus.
• Defects that arise during fetal development.
• Low position or placenta previa.

To ensure that the question of at what stage the baby turns upside down does not torment the expectant mother, a reasonable solution would be to follow some recommendations:

• During the day you need to sit on a hard chair. This method will help the baby take the correct position.
• A fitball will be a good replacement for a chair, which, in addition to its main function, will help perform simple gymnastic exercises for pregnant women.
• Swimming lessons.
• Visiting a homeopath, osteopath and acupuncturist.

Daily gymnastic exercises can not only help the fetus turn in the right direction, but also help enrich the blood with oxygen and improve circulatory activity in the body.

However, you should not practice a set of exercises immediately after eating or when you feel unwell. In everything you should adhere to harmony and the principle of “do no harm.”

How to help a child turn head down?

Gymnastics may include turning from one side to the other in a lying position, while staying on one side for about ten minutes.

There are also exercises in which the expectant mother takes a position that will also allow her to remove the load from the spine - on all fours.

Another method is obstetric turning, when the doctor, applying direct pressure on the abdomen, turns the baby into the correct position.

Now this method is losing popularity due to the high risk of placental abruption. Also, such manipulations lead to a slowdown in the child’s heartbeat.

How to determine the position of the baby in the stomach?

Throughout most of the entire gestation period, the baby in the mother's tummy constantly changes its position. But from about the eighth month, the baby already becomes a little cramped in the mother’s womb, and the baby can no longer turn around as he pleases. From this moment on, during routine examinations, the doctor should pay attention to the presentation of the fetus - the position that the child took in the mother’s stomach. The doctor can determine the position of the baby by palpation - by carefully feeling the belly of the expectant mother. In addition, more accurate results can be obtained during an ultrasound examination (ultrasound), which will show which way the child is turned.

What to do if the child is in the wrong position?

If the child has adopted an incorrect intrauterine position, the situation can be changed. There are several sets of exercises to solve this problem. Their efficiency is about 75–76%. It is recommended to practice under the supervision of an experienced instructor. This measure will help avoid unwanted complications and injuries.

The table provides details on how to perform the exercises.

Exercises for correct presentation

What to do if the baby is in no hurry to take the correct position before 32 weeks? If the breech or transverse presentation is not caused by reasons that cannot be eliminated, the woman can try to help him turn. During this period, it is recommended to do exercises that stimulate the baby to make certain movements that facilitate the entry of his head into the mother’s small pelvis:

1. Walking on all fours, bending at the waist and swaying your hips. It is advisable to perform this effective exercise as many times as your health and free time allow.
2. "Cat pose." Get on your knees, leaning on your bent arms and bending your back strongly, maintaining calm, even breathing. Fix the position for 5-10 minutes.
3. Swinging on a fitball. It is convenient to sit on a well-inflated gymnastic ball, with your legs bent wide apart at the hips, and make springy movements of your pelvis up and down. While performing the exercise, hold on to the back of a chair or other stationary support with your hands.
4. Half bridge from a prone position. Sit on the floor or any hard surface, with your knees slightly apart. Slowly raise your pelvis, holding your lower back with your hands, and hold the pose for 15-20 seconds.
5. Turns from side to side. Lie on your side with your legs straight and one arm under your head. After 5-10 minutes, while inhaling, quickly roll to the other side, repeat 4-8 times.
6. Leg bends. Lie on your left side, bending your left leg at the knee. Raise your straightened right leg and, sharply bending the knee, bring it to your stomach, helping with your hand. Hold this pose for several minutes.

An absolute contraindication to performing exercises is the threat of premature birth, fibroids and scars on the uterus, gestosis, pathologies of the placenta and other severe complications of pregnancy.

It should be understood that gymnastics should be done under the supervision of a specialist and only in the absence of contraindications. Exercises must be stopped immediately if your health worsens or any unpleasant sensations appear. Exceeding the load or performing exercises with force can cause harm to the baby, so you should not do more than 15-20 dynamic exercises per day.

With regular exercise, the child can take the correct position within 8-10 days. However, do not despair and stop studying if the baby is in no hurry to turn around. This often happens a few days before the onset of labor, when the pregnant woman's tummy drops. At this stage, the baby turns over much more willingly, since the displaced fundus of the uterus gives him more room for movement.

Useful tips

Today, doctors recommend that pregnant women mentally convince their baby to roll over. Quite often this helps. To do this, a woman should take a body position that is comfortable for her, relax, turn on pleasant music, stroke her tummy, mentally imagining how the baby turns head down. Talking with your son or daughter is also useful.

Other methods include exposure to sound and light. Often, expectant mothers bring headphones with music to their lower abdomen. It is believed that the baby should try to turn his head towards the sound. For exactly the same reasons, a flashlight is brought to the lower part of the mother’s belly. After 32 weeks, the baby can already distinguish between light and dark. He may try to turn towards the light.

Some may think that these methods are more of desperation. If all else fails, what tricks do women resort to? Doctors do not interfere with them: all methods are good, as long as the expectant mother does not try to unwrap the child manually. Obstetric inversion (when the fetus is turned through the anterior abdominal wall by hand) is carried out only in a hospital setting; recently it is almost not practiced due to the controversial nature of its benefits. Independent attempts to turn the baby head down can lead to injury.

How to turn a baby head down in the womb - effective unconventional methods

Musical and sound harmony

• Today on the Internet on special sites you can easily download music for pregnant women. According to many gynecologists and pediatricians, a child in the womb reacts very actively to music and certain sounds. Most often, calm classical music and lullabies are used to stimulate the fetus to turn over. When using this method, the pregnant woman places the headphones on her lower abdomen.
• Some doctors recommend that dads talk to their unborn child more often. The father should direct his voice down the mother's belly. The child first listens and then tries to move, moving toward the sound of his dad’s voice.

Effective methods for turning the fetus during breech presentation

Using Light

Many mothers claim that they “forced” the fetus to turn over and take the correct position using a regular flashlight. They directed the flashlight beam down the abdomen, and the child turned towards the light. We have no reason not to believe them. Moreover, this method of stimulation cannot harm the child in any way.

Cold and warm compresses

A very popular method is the method of stimulating the fetus with contrasting temperatures. A cool compress is applied to the upper part of the uterus, and a warm compress to the lower part. The fetus reflexively moves towards warmth. Some mothers use a regular plastic bottle with warm water for stimulation, which is placed in the lower abdomen. This procedure can be done in a warm bath. The main thing is that the temperature of the water in the bottle is slightly higher than in the bath itself. Warm compresses can be applied to the lower abdomen while performing the Half Bridge exercise.

Obedient baby

This method consists of the mother simply trying to convince the baby to take the correct position. Many “obedient” children turn their heads down during such conversations.

• Sit throughout pregnancy exclusively on hard chairs, keeping your back straight.
• Periodically sit on a chair astride - with your stomach to the back of the chair.
• Driving less until 35 weeks. The backrest of the car seat should be installed straight.
• Many doctors recommend massaging the little toes, but remember, the massage therapist must be a professional.
• You can seek help from a homeopath. An experienced specialist will select the necessary homeopathic medicine for the pregnant woman.Text

Once again, we want to warn all expectant mothers - before performing any gymnastics, as well as when using alternative methods aimed at changing the presentation of the fetus, you must consult with your gynecologist or obstetrician.

Wrong actions can lead to the most undesirable consequences. For example, to damage to the placenta or entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord.

Expectant mothers should carefully monitor the position of the fetus and, if necessary, do everything possible to ensure that the fetus turns over.

Pediatricians often call the anxiety of caring mothers who constantly worry whether her baby fits into developmental norms the “worry mommy” syndrome. Such parents do not leave specialized forums for young mothers and overwhelm the pediatrician with a lot of questions, one of which is: “Is it possible to teach a child to roll over from his back to his stomach?” The famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky tells whether this should be done and how to deal with the child correctly.