Throughout pregnancy, the baby moves and rolls over. Pelvic presentation at 21 weeks scares many women. Starting from this period, the fetus assumes its original position. It is considered correct to place the baby head down, this position provides a safe and natural exit during labor. Since the largest part of the body is the head, then after it has passed through the birth canal, the shoulders, torso and legs come out freely.
In every woman, pregnancy proceeds differently, and by no means in all cases does the child take the correct position. Often there is a pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks. The ultrasound photo at the same time shows that the baby fixed the position with his head up. According to the results of an ultrasound examination, doctors enter this diagnosis into the book. But do not despair. Even if at 30 weeks the fetus has not changed position, there are methods that can correct the situation.
How to determine
It is not difficult to identify the pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks of gestation. Guided by the signs, the doctor easily makes a diagnosis, which in most cases is considered reliable. There are several methods based on which the doctor determines the position of the fetus in the womb.
Methods that determine the position of the fetus :
- Outdoor research. With this examination, the specialist feels the woman’s stomach, determining the position of the baby.
- Listening to a heartbeat. Pelvic presentation of the fetus is determined at 21 weeks by applying a hearing aid to the pregnant woman’s stomach. If the heartbeat is heard above the navel, then the diagnosis is confirmed.
- Vaginal examination. With a pelvic presentation, the doctor can probe the legs and buttocks of the child.
- You can confirm the incorrect presentation by ultrasound examination. On the screen of the ultrasound machine, even the expectant mother will be able to verify the position of the baby.
It is difficult to determine presentation on its own without ultrasound examination. In addition, visually, a woman may not be aware that the baby has taken the position head up. Sometimes there are cases when an ultrasound scan was diagnosed with head presentation, and the child turned over after a few days. And the woman will not even feel this fact, therefore, before the birth of a pregnant woman with such a diagnosis, an additional ultrasound examination is necessary. Such a presentation is dangerous for both the child and the expectant mother. Therefore, pelvic presentation of the fetus is determined at 21 weeks. An ultrasound photo confirms the diagnosis, and doctors decide how to give the baby the correct position.
Causes
When a doctor diagnoses a pelvic presentation, pregnant women are interested in the question of why this happened, whether it is a pathology and whether it is possible to normally endure and give birth to a child. Many women are diagnosed with pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks. The reasons for this phenomenon in the future become a serious problem for the expectant mother and her baby, as well as for doctors who will be giving birth. Do not despair, because this issue is easily resolved. Women give birth to babies with pelvic presentation as well as babies with headaches. But still, when the baby takes the head up, this entails some consequences.
How dangerous is pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks? What causes it? Let's look at the main reasons:
- If a pregnant woman has polyhydramnios, then under such conditions the child leads a more mobile lifestyle, therefore, in the period from 21 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, he may take the wrong position - head up.
- With oligohydramnios, the baby, on the contrary, is limited in movement. Because of this, he takes a pelvic position, since he does not have the opportunity to roll over before childbirth.
- For multiple pregnancies, pelvic presentation is often diagnosed at 21 weeks. In the last stages, the kids become cramped, and in order to occupy a comfortable position, one of them turns over.
- Pelvic presentation is also observed with a decrease in uterine tone. This phenomenon can be caused by the presence of inflammatory processes. In addition, a change in uterine tone is often observed during repeated pregnancy, miscarriages and abortions.
- Uterine fibroids and cord entanglement also affect the baby’s position in the womb.
There are many reasons why pelvic presentation occurs, and this is not always associated with the health problems of the pregnant woman. In order for the baby to take the correct position, on the recommendation of a doctor, you can perform exercises that stimulate a coup.
Exercises
If you have been diagnosed with pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks, perform special exercises so that the child takes a head position. Before a woman begins to perform gymnastics, it is necessary to obtain permission at a doctor's appointment. Exercises have a number of contraindications, so you should not try to do them without the consent of the doctor.
Side position
The pregnant woman lies on the sofa, on the side into which the fetal head is turned. As a rule, it rests against the right hypochondrium, but there are other cases. The surface of the sofa should have a flat base. Having taken a position on her side, a woman should lie down for 3 to 10 minutes. After this, you need to turn on the other side and lie down for the same period of time. Repeating exercises is recommended two to three times a day. To go to bed during the day, as well as at night, doctors advise on the side on which the child’s head rests.
Back position
A woman lies on her back, while the pelvis should rise 20-30 cm above her head. To do this, you can put a pillow under the lower back or create a slope using an ironing board, which can be put with emphasis on the sofa and on the floor. At an angle, the baby begins to rest its head against the wall of the uterus. This position becomes uncomfortable, and the fetus gradually begins to unfold from the pelvic position to the head position. Doctors recommend performing such actions twice a day on an empty stomach.
If you were diagnosed with pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks, exercises of this type help the baby roll over in 75% of cases.
Contraindications to exercises
- Scars on the uterus after cesarean section.
- The diagnosis of placenta previa, low fixation and proximity to the reproductive tract.
- Toxicosis in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
- Uterine tumor.
Is pelvic presentation normal? Is there a risk of complications?
Many pregnant women are tormented by the question: "Pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks - is this normal?" At this time, the baby weighs about 300 grams, and his height is about 25 cm. If the doctor made such a diagnosis at 21 weeks of gestation, then this is normal, and do not despair, because the baby can still turn around. Exactly half of the term remained before the onset of childbirth, and by doing special exercises for pregnant women, as well as performing exercises to turn the child into a head position, you can change the situation.
However, at 34-37 weeks, if the baby has not accepted the head presentation, the doctor may prescribe an external rotation in the absence of contraindications. In obstetric practice, 21 weeks of pregnancy are especially noted. Pelvic presentation of the fetus is not a sentence, but the possibility of using gymnastics and special exercises to reduce the risks of premature and complicated births. If before 38 weeks the baby does not roll over, the woman will be prescribed a direction for a caesarean section.
What types of pelvic presentation are there?
- Buttock. The child rests his buttocks on the small pelvis, legs are extended along the body or bent at the hip joints. This situation occurs in 67% of pregnant women with a diagnosis of pelvic presentation. And with mixed gluteal - in 20%.
- Foot. The legs can be bent at the knee and hip joints with full presentation. Partially, one leg is higher, the other lower.
- Knee With this presentation, the legs are bent at the knee joint, this situation occurs in 13% of pregnant women.
Pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks: reviews about pregnancy and childbirth
After diagnosis, many women still prefer to give birth on their own, since they believe that a cesarean section can be performed at any time. Many pregnant women with a diagnosis of pelvic presentation and cord entrapment note that they themselves gave birth to a baby. The baby's body was so long that he could not roll over on his own. Childbirth was successful, and an incision was made to the perineum to exit the head.
What is the danger of pelvic presentation of the fetus at 21 weeks? Those who had such a course of pregnancy leave feedback that they did not want to injure either the birth canal or the baby, so they preferred to perform a cesarean section.
There are contraindications for vaginal delivery when the baby is facing upwards:
- placenta previa;
- narrow pelvis;
- fruit weighing more than 3.5 kg;
- male child;
- entanglement;
- scar on the uterus.
In other cases, a woman can give birth on her own. All these factors should be analyzed by a doctor. With this diagnosis, women are placed in the antenatal department in advance. Already on the spot, they choose the method of delivery and the plan for the upcoming birth.