Is the baby head down or bottom down?

By the last month before birth, most babies are lying with their head towards the cervix of the uterus. The head down position is called a cephalic presentation, and if the part of the foetal skull called the vertex comes down the birth canal first, it is the easiest presentation for childbirth. The part of the baby that is pointing into the cervix of the uterus is what we call the presenting part. In fig. 11.3a, the presenting part is the baby's head, and in fig. 11.3b, the presenting part is the baby's bottom. By the seventh or eighth month, the baby's head has usually moved down in the mother's pelvis.

Fig. 11.3. How to feel for the baby's heada) If the baby is head down, then you should be able to move its whole back by gently pushing the top of the baby sideways. (b) If you can move the top of the baby without moving its back, then it is probably in the breech position.When you check the baby's position, you might think you feel two heads or two bottoms. The mother may have twins and should be referred for confirmation.