How to Understand Cephalic Fetal Positions

The medical terminology used to describe cephalic fetal positions can seem pretty foreign. As a matter of fact, I spent most of my prenatal appointments in a state of confusion. I personally think that there should be a 'plain English' law passed that applies to all doctors talking to worried mothers. But, until then here's a guide to understanding cephalic fetal positions.

A baby's fetal position describes the way your baby is positioned inside of your uterus. The position can be determined by your midwife or doctor by palpating your abdomen with their hands. However, ultrasound is the best way to determine the baby's fetal position, especially if there is some concern.

Cephalic position means that the baby is facing head down, toward the vaginal canal. In general, this is desirable and seems simple enough to understand. But, there are actually eight different cephalic positions that doctors like to abbreviate just to make sure you're really confused. Let's shed a little light on these.

OP or Occiput Posterior

Occiput refers to the back of the baby's head. Posterior means back. Together, occiput posterior means that the back of your baby's head is against your posterior side (your back), and your baby's face is towards your belly. If your baby is in this cephalic fetal position when it is born, labor may take longer (although this is relative).

ROP or Right Occiput Posterior

Same thing as above. Except the baby's face is tilted a little to the left. I know, it says right in the description, but that would be too simple. Right actually refers to the position of the fetal occiput. So, the back of his head is tilted left, and his little face is looking towards the left.

ROT or Right Occiput Transverse

This time, the baby's cephalic fetal position is nearly the same as ROP, except facing all the way left. Think of your baby as lying on its side, facing your left leg.

ROA or Right Occiput Anterior

The baby's occiput is facing the lower right side of the abdomen, and the baby's face is facing the left buttock. By now, we can see that our baby's little head is moving like a clock through the positions. Right now, his little nose is at 4:30.

OA or Occiput Anterior

This means that the baby's occiput is flush against the mother's anterior, or front. This means that the baby's face is facing towards the mother's back. Although it seems like an awkward position for the baby, it is actually the optimal cephalic fetal position for labor.

LOA or Left Occiput Anterior

The fetus' nose is facing 7:30, and his occiput is flush against the mother's lower left abdomen.

LOT or Left Occiput Transverse

Now, our little fetus is lying on his side again, but this time his occiput is facing left, and his little nose is at 9 o'clock.

LOP or Left Occiput Posterior

In the final cephalic position, the fetus' occiput is facing the mother's left buttock, and his little nose is at 10:30.