Pelvic presentation of the fetus is an incorrect position of the fetus in the uterus, when the child is located with the pelvic end, legs or buttocks in the direction of exit.
If the child is in the pelvic presentation during the period from 20 to 27 weeks of pregnancy, when there is enough free space around it for movements, this does not really matter. Another thing is when he takes such a position closer to childbirth.
The births in pelvic presentation are pathological and can occur with complications.
According to statistics, pelvic presentations are found in 3-5% of cases. Most often in such situations obstetricians resort to a cesarean section.
What is dangerous is the pelvic presentation of the fetus?
In addition to the fact that pelvic presentation can cause caesarean section as a method of delivery, it also leads to various complications of pregnancy.
The most common among them are:
- gestosis;
- threat of premature termination of pregnancy;
- fetoplacental insufficiency.
Similar complications can also be accompanied by hypoxia, an abnormal amount of amniotic fluid, a cord injury, a delay in fetal development.
In addition, the birth in pelvic presentation can lead to natal injuries, asphyxia in the child, posthypoxic lesions of the central nervous system of the child, birth trauma in the mother and baby.
Let's try to understand why the fetus can have a pathological pelvic presentation.
Causes of pelvic fetal presentation
Factors leading to pelvic presentation of the fetus include:
- presence in pregnant ovarian tumors, uterine fibroids, abnormal pelvic forms and uterine structure, which prevent the fetal head from establishing itself in the entrance to the small pelvis;
- limited mobility of the fetus with a short umbilical cord, anemia, or an umbilical cord;
- increased fetal mobility caused by hypotrophy, polyhydramnios , prematurity, microcephaly, hypoxia, hydrocephalus, anencephaly;
- the presence of a hereditary predisposition in a woman to the gluteal and foot advances;
- scar on the uterus, neurosis, neurocirculatory dystonia, overwork, stress;
- weighed down with endometritis, uterine curettage, multiple pregnancies, cervicitis, abortions, complications of a woman's anamnesis;
- low location or placenta previa.
As a rule, in most cases it is difficult to establish the real cause of pelvic presentation. In addition, in a number of cases, often pelvic presentation is determined by several factors.