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Terms for Maternal and Fetal Positioning

Back to Main Glossary

Position of fetus (still in womb):
LOA - left occiput anterior
LOP - left occiput posterior
LOT - left occiput transverse
OA - occiput anterior
OP - occiput posterior
ROA - right occiput anterior
ROM - rupture of membranes
ROP - right occiput posterior
ROT - right occiput transverse

Presentation of Baby:
Anterior- Toward the front
Asynclitic- cephalic, but the head is tilted
Brow- head is deflexed enough that the forehead is presenting first
Cephalic/Vertex- head down
Face- head is so deflexed the face presents first
Military- head is straight instead of flexed (think position of head when saluting)
Oblique diagonal
Posterior- toward the back
Shoulder- shoulder is presenting first (could also be called transverse)
Transverse- laying across, crosswise

Breech Presentations:
Complete / Full breech- legs are bent at knees
Footling breech- one or both feet present first
Frank breech- legs are straight with feet by face bottom on cervix

Position of Mother:
Lamaze semi-reclining
Lithotomy on the back (feet usually in stirrups)
Prone laying face down
Simms Woman on her left side with her right knee drawn up
Supine Laying flat on back
Trendelenburg On back with feet elevated 45 degrees

 

 

 
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