How to determine the fetal position in the womb

The baby will twist and move a lot while in the mother’s belly! Feeling the baby’s movements and identifying its position can be a wonderful and fascinating experience. Whether it’s simply out of curiosity or as the birth day approaches, you can determine the fetal position using medical methods or some home techniques – some of which are more accurate. Try applying a few methods yourself, and if you’re uncertain, you can always ask a doctor or midwife for help.

Keep a diary of the baby’s movements. It’s fun to look back on the different positions of your baby throughout the pregnancy. You can write in a journal or take notes about the baby’s movements. Be sure to note the date, week of pregnancy, and the baby’s position whenever you feel the movements.

Press your belly to feel for the position of any hard lumps. While scientifically not entirely accurate, this method can help you identify the baby's head or bottom by feeling your belly. Relax and gently press on your belly as you exhale. If you feel a hard, round lump, it could be the baby's head; a round but softer lump might be the baby’s bottom. You can follow these guidelines to figure out the baby's position:

• Do you feel the hard lump on the left or right side of your belly? Gently press on it – if the whole baby moves, it could mean the baby is in the head-down position (head-first presentation).
• If you feel a round lump just under the ribcage, it may be the baby's head, with the baby in the head-up position.
• If you feel two hard lumps (head and bottom) on both sides of the belly, it's likely the baby is lying sideways. Babies usually rotate out of this position by around 8 months.

Mark the area where the baby kicks. Identifying where the baby kicks is one of the easiest ways to visualize the baby's position. If the baby kicks above your belly button, the head is likely facing downward. If the kicks are lower, the head might be facing upward. You can use the kicking spots to imagine the baby's legs and feet position.

• If you feel kicks around the belly button, the baby is likely in a head-down position with the face facing outward – the baby’s head is down, but their face is facing out, and the back is facing your belly. In this position, your belly might not appear as round.

Ask the doctor to show you how to feel the baby inside the womb. Experienced doctors can usually determine the baby’s position just by feeling the pregnant belly. The next time you have a check-up, be sure to ask the doctor to teach you a few tips and techniques for feeling the baby at home.

• When the doctor determines the baby’s position, ask if you can also feel it to familiarize yourself with the sensation of the baby’s different body parts from outside the womb.

Listen to the baby’s heartbeat. While it may not be crystal clear, listening to the heartbeat can give you some idea of the baby's position. If you have a stethoscope at home, you can press it to your belly to listen, or you can ask your partner or a family member to listen by placing their ear on your belly in a quiet room. Generally, you can hear the baby's heartbeat clearly in the last two months of pregnancy, though it might be hard to pinpoint the exact position. Try listening in several spots on your belly to identify where the heartbeat sounds the loudest and clearest.

• If the heartbeat is loudest below your belly button, the baby is probably head-down. If it’s above your belly button, the baby might be head-up.
• You can also try listening through a toilet paper roll to amplify the sound.

Get an ultrasound. Ultrasound is the only method that can accurately determine the baby's position. It uses sound waves to capture images of the baby inside the womb. Make sure to schedule regular ultrasounds with your obstetrician or midwife to track the baby’s development or simply to determine the baby’s position in the uterus.

• Get an ultrasound during the first trimester, then again in the second trimester, or more frequently if the baby's health needs to be monitored closely. Consult your doctor for details on the timing of your ultrasounds.
• Modern ultrasound technology offers highly detailed images, but not all clinics have access to advanced ultrasound equipment.

Prepare the necessary tools. Drawing the baby’s position on your belly can be an exciting challenge. In the eighth month of pregnancy, try sketching your baby’s position right after an ultrasound or heartbeat checkup. At home, gather some non-toxic watercolor paints or markers and a doll with movable limbs.

Locate the baby's head position. Lie comfortably on your back, lift up your shirt, press gently on your belly, and feel for a hard, round lump near the pelvic area. Once you locate it, draw a circle to mark the baby’s head position.

Find the baby's heartbeat location. Draw a heart where you can feel the baby’s heartbeat. Your doctor may have pointed this out during your visit, but if not, use a stethoscope or ask a family member to place their ear on your belly to find the clearest heartbeat sound.

Locate the baby's bottom. Gently feel for a soft, round lump that is slightly softer than the baby's head – this is likely the baby's bottom. Once you find it, mark the spot on your belly.

Mark other parts of the baby that you can feel. A flat, long area might be the baby's back, and small lumps could be the knees or elbows. Think about where the baby kicks and mark the parts that you can identify.

Place the doll in different positions. Now it’s time to use your doll! Based on the position of the baby's head and heartbeat, try to replicate the baby’s position on the doll. This will help you better visualize the baby’s position inside the womb!

Let your creativity flow. You can turn the baby’s position into a painting or take some fun photos. These will make fantastic keepsakes!

• If you have a very muscular build or excess abdominal fat, it might be a bit harder to feel the baby’s body parts. The position of the placenta can also affect your ability to feel the baby – if it’s attached to the front of the uterus (anterior placenta), you may not feel many movements or kicks.
• After the 30th week of pregnancy, it will be easier to determine the baby’s position at home. Before that, ultrasound remains the most reliable method.
• The baby tends to move the most after you’ve eaten. Pay attention to the movements and kicks during this time.

• If you’re approaching your due date and the baby is still head-up or lying sideways, talk to your doctor or midwife. A C-section might be necessary if the baby doesn't turn to a more favorable position for birth.
• If you’re trying to feel the baby’s position and experience Braxton-Hicks contractions (continuous uterine tightening), stop and wait for the contractions to pass. While this won’t harm the baby, you won’t be able to feel anything until the contractions subside.
• You should start tracking the baby’s movements from the 28th week of pregnancy. Usually, the baby will kick about 10 times and make other movements within 2 hours. Don’t worry if you don’t feel this frequency – wait a few hours and try again. If you still don’t feel at least 10 kicks within 2 hours, consult your doctor.