Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
When Does a Baby Turn Head Down During Pregnancy
Towards the end of the third trimester of the pregnancy, babies usually turn to the head-down position in the womb. This happens between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. The head-down position makes labour shorter, and childbirth easier and safer for a pregnant woman. Read on to know why is it essential for a baby to get into the head-down position before labour and tips on how to get the baby to turn his head down.
Why Is it Important for a Baby to Turn His Head Down in the Womb?
A baby moves at an angle through his mother’s pelvis during childbirth. This makes it easier for the mother to push the baby out. Furthermore, if the baby is in the head-down position before delivery, the risk of complications during childbirth is less. The labour will be shorter and less painful if the baby is in head-down position as this is considered the ideal and a risk-free position for delivery.
When the baby is in the head-down position, the baby's head will put pressure on the mother’s cervix. This will help widen the cervix and stimulate the cervix to produce hormones that are necessary for a mother’s cervix. In the head-down position during natural childbirth, the baby turns his head naturally when he reaches the bottom of the mother’s pelvis. This puts the baby’s head in the broadest part of the mother’s pelvis, making it easier for the baby’s head to slip easily under the pubic bone for a smoother birthing process.
What Is the Head-Down Position?
The head-down position is also known as the occipito-anterior position or cephalic presentation. This is when the baby’s head is down towards his mother's vagina and his face and front of his body face the back. When the baby is in the head-down position, his spine faces the mother’s tummy. This way, in natural birth, when the baby is delivered, his head appears first.
When Does the Foetus Come Into the Head-Down Position?
Most babies turn into the head-down position between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Some babies turn their heads down even after the 37th week of pregnancy, while other babies turn into head-down position after the onset of labour. However, the ideal time for the baby to arrive into the head-down position is between 32 and 36 weeks.
How Will You Know If the Baby Is in the ‘Head-Down’ Position?
There are many ways to find out whether the baby is in the head-down position in the womb or not.
The doctor can determine the position by feeling your abdomen, using a foetal doppler or by doing an ultrasound.
You can try belly-mapping. It is a process in which you determine the position of your baby’s head by a 3-step process of feeling your abdomen and the baby’s movements.
If you press gently around your pubic bone and feel something hard and round, it is your baby’s head. But many pregnant women mistake the bottom for the head. You must keep in mind that the bottom is softer than the head.
You can ask your partner to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. If you hear it in your lower abdomen, chances are that the baby is head-down position.
If you feel light flutters and hiccups lower down in your belly, and hard, powerful kicks higher up, it could be a sign that the baby is in a head-down position. The flutters are caused by the baby’s hands and fingers, while the kicks are from the baby’s knees and feet.
How to Get Your Baby Into the Head-Down Position While Pregnant
If your baby has not turned into the ‘head-down’ position by week 36, there are some steps that you can take to encourage your baby to do so. But you should only try these ways after consulting your doctor. If your doctor gives a go-ahead, try these measures:
Get on all fours (in a crawling position) and rock back and forth in this position for a few minutes. You can do this a few times daily. This should help your baby get into the ‘head-down’ position easily.
Go for at least a 20-minute walk every day. A simple physical activity will create movement in your pelvis, which will stimulate the baby to turn into the head-down position.
Make sure that your knees are not elevated higher than the hips when you sit. Sit with your pelvis tilted forward. This will help the baby get into the head-down position easily.
Sit on an exercise ball or lean over the exercise ball while watching TV. This will prompt the baby to turn into the head-down position.
Kneel on a couch. Lower your arms to the floor so that your hands touch the floor and your head is downwards. Flatten your back. Raise your buttocks up high. Hold this position and then rise up.
Avoid raising your feet up while lying on your back. This will make the baby go into a posterior position, which can extend the labour and cause severe back pain during childbirth. Also, sleep on your left side at night rather than on your back. This position is the best for the baby and helps the baby get into the head-down easily.
What If Your Baby Doesn't Get Into the Head-Down Position?
After trying everything, if your baby does not get into the head-down position and is in the breech position, consult your doctor about this. Your doctor may recommend a professional chiropractor who could help you with it. Your doctor may also suggest various exercises that will prompt the baby to turn his head down. Other options include an external cephalic version, where the doctor can try to turn the baby by applying pressure on the abdomen.
Each pregnancy is different. Some pregnant women may have had a baby in the anterior position during the first pregnancy. However, they may not be able to get their babies' in the head-down position during second pregnancy. Keep in mind that around 5% of all pregnant women have a C-section if the baby is not in the occipito-anterior position. This is in order to avoid risks to the baby’s life due to a breech position.
The head-down or occipito-anterior position is the safest for both the mother and the baby to ensure smooth childbirth. You can do exercises to stimulate the baby to get into the head-down position if he has not turned even after 36 weeks.
Also Read: How to Turn a Breech Baby Naturally Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Early speech and language skills: a speech language pathologist perspective; first stage for parental screening.
Early stages of speech and language development is important for children. As an expert in the field of speech language pathology and mother of one year old child, I think it's really important to discuss speech and language skills of children in this platform. I do see parents coming at 4 year or later in life of their child mentioning their child is not speaking up to the age. When we collect the history of child; the child had a delay at early stages, which was neglected by parents and wait and see approach has been taken, resulting speech and language disorder or delay in later life of child. I personally and professionally do not support this WAIT and SEE APPROACH; as it's limiting a child's beautiful speaking and learning skills. Thus, hereby I am mentioning few key points for parents to check their speech and language skills up to 6months;
1. At very early stage only you can see your child giving sudden response like an eye blink or a startle movement to loud noises/ sounds; which improve to attending speaker's voice by maintaining eye to eye contact, then as they slowly attaining head control your child will slowly move head towards the sound source with more and more accuracy, further giving bodily responses like smiling or pleasurable body movements to familiar voices.
This is completely on child's listening ability up to six months of age.
2. Crying the first expression of your child's need. This cry will slowly changes in different tone or loud, which will help the mother or caretaker to realize your child is crying for a feed or a nap. Now it's not just crying, definitely they will be making pleasurable sounds, which could be aaa, eee, ouu, a laugh, or some sound from their throat glll, glaa, ahh, gr..might be any, which not only seen during their solo play, also when we talk or sing to them they give responses with these sounds. The above mentioned are your child's expression based skills.
Even if your child is full term healthy baby or a preterm low birth weight baby, your child's speech and language skills are completely based on their stimulation at home. When there are some or more complications you faced at early stage then more intensive stimulation required at later stages. It's completely based on play and talk process. But the way you PLAY and the way you TALK matters.
Sujitha
Speech Language Pathologist Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Love in the Air? 5 Awesome Reasons to Head on a Romantic Vacation
Between work, household chores, running errands and tending to the children, have you felt like just disappearing into a faraway land encompassed by you and your partner?
Every now and then couples need to take time off from their hectic schedules to maintain their sanity. Keeping the flame burning in your relationship involves some alone time with each other, away from the hustle and bustle of life’s daily woes. So if you feel like you’re at your wits end, here are 5 reasons why you should head out for a romantic vacation.
5 Reasons Why a Romantic Getaway Should be On the Cards
1. Time to Reconnect
A change of scenery and time alone allow you two to reconnect as a couple again. Walking hand in hand along the beach under a moonlit sky or taking in nature amidst beautiful landscapes can do wonders for your heart and soul. It’s just you and your partner with plenty of time to talk about and share what’s important in your lives. It heightens the intimacy and keeps the romance alive.
2. Stress Reliever
We know how work outside and at home can take its toll physically and mentally. It can make you irritable and lash out at the first person that comes your way. Most often it’s your significant other. Let this be a warning sign that you and your partner need to de-stress. It makes for a great reason to travel as a couple. An idyllic holiday will let you relax, unwind and help you regain the balance and focus in your relationship.
3. Ends Monotony
We can’t escape the daily routine of life, but we can break away from it every once in a while. A nice romantic escape can get you both all fired and excited. It’s one of the nicest benefits of a romantic getaway. It gives you the chance to break free. No doubt you’ll be back to the grind after it’s over, but a week or two of fun and frolic will sure rid the monotony in your everyday life.
4. Takes your Relationship from Downhill to Uphill
If your relationship has hit rock bottom it’s the best time to consider a romantic sojourn to give it all you have. A romantic vacation is an ultimate aphrodisiac to keep the romance in your relationship alive. You’ll be surprised at how it can recharge your love connection and spiral up the romance in your relationship.
5. Makes Lasting Memories
A romantic vacation indulges your every whim and rekindles old and new found passions. They give you cherished memories to last a lifetime. There’s no greater joy than adding these memories to your family album. It's time you got clicking!
Romantic getaways are important for one’s happiness and well-being. They allow you to reconnect as a couple on so many levels bringing the passion back whereit belongs. Let the importance of romantic vacations in your relationships take centre stage at least once in a year to sustain and strengthen your bond. Read more
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
13 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
13 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
10 hours ago
Q. My breasts feel full and heavy, but there’s no milk when pumping and during feeding baby —what do I do?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
4 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
10 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
5 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
3 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
1 hour ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
55 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
53 mins ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
Check out this new Memory
Nagamoulika
Guardian of a 2 yr 10 m old girl
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
gauri kumbhar
Guardian of a 1 yr 2 m old girl
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Bandana Padhan
Mom of a 5 yr 1 m old boy
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
ritika thakur
Mom of a 4 yr 10 m old girl and 4 yr 10 m old girl
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Maninderjeet Kaur
Mom of a 2 yr 9 m old boy
New Memory
#kidno1
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive