Most babies are lying vertically by the seventh month, with the baby's head towards the cervix of the uterus. This is the safest position for a normal delivery. To find out if the baby is vertical, lay one hand flat on each side of the mother's abdomen. Press in gently but firmly, first with one hand, and then with the other. Check the shape carefully. Do the ends of the baby seem to be in the mother's sides? If so, the baby is probably lying sideways (see figure 11.1, below).

Many babies lie sideways in the first months, but most turn head down by eight months or so. If the baby is lying sideways, you can usually feel its head and bottom in the lateral sides of mother's abdomen. It can be difficult to feel the position of the baby if the mother has very strong muscles in her abdomen, or if she has a lot of fat on her abdomen. If you have a difficulty in feeling the position, ask the mother to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, and to relax her body as you palpate (feel) her abdomen.

Figure 11.1. Vertical (a) and horizontal (b) positions .
Last modified: Tuesday, 21 February 2017, 4:17 PM