head down?

[uk_nurse]

HI

when should a baby in the womb be head down. im just womdering im 24 weeks pregnant and my baby's head is lying on my right side, transverse i think its called. Thanks

[Jolie, BSN]

At this point, it is perfectly fine for your baby to be in practically any position. S/he still has plenty of room to swim around, move, stretch, change positions, etc., and that is exactly what a healthy fetus does! As you get further along in your 3rd trimester and the baby gets bigger, space becomes tight, baby gets cramped, and turning becomes more difficult. By about 36 weeks, it is desirable for the baby to be in a head-down position, but there is never any guarantee. Even in those close quarters, babies can and do turn unexpectedly.

If a patient nears term with a known breech position, the doc may try an external version (turning the baby manually), or may opt to schedule a C-section. But I've known patients to come in for their scheduled C-sections for breech, only to find out by exam and U/S that the baby had turned overnight, and a lady partsl delivery was now possible!