Pregnancy is a beautiful experience that is also fraught with a host of complications and risks. One of them concerns the normal orientation of your baby inside your uterus, which is essential for a smooth delivery. This article will explain all about abnormal forehead presentation and its associated causes, complications, diagnosis, treatment and precautions.
Babies assume a fixed position in the uterus, that is with their chins tucked firmly into their chests. This position is ideal to exit the uterus smoothly. However, in some cases, the baby’s head and neck will extend backwards away from their chest. This is known as a brow presentation or forehead presentation. It is an extremely rare condition, occurring once in 1500 births. Brow presentation might obstruct vaginal births from occurring as there is less space for the baby to drop down towards the pelvic girdle. However, if brow presentation occurs early in labour, there is still time for them to flex their neck back to the right position. If not, labour might be hindered, causing stress for both, the mother and the baby. In these instances, your doctor might recommend a caesarean section. A brow baby tends to occur in women pregnant for the second or third time, or due to physical defects like an abnormally developed spine.
Brow babies are rarely detected before labour begins, but around half of them will shift to a face first or crown first presentation suitable for delivery. A brow presentation delivery will take much longer than normal, which is usually when the condition is discovered.
There are several potential reasons for your baby to assume this orientation. Some of them are:
to diagnose brow presentation, an experienced doctor will be able to help. Ultrasound scans are compulsory for monitoring the situation. Your doctor might even conduct a digital examination to check the orientation of the baby’s facial features. If they find that the baby’s head does not rotate enough for a natural birth, they might recommend a caesarean section.
Several risks come with brow presentation birth. Some of them are:
As explained already, a baby in brow presentation might not have enough space to move downwards towards the cervix. If this happens, there are a few methods your doctor might implement to reduce the complications of natural birth. These methods require medical skill and enough space within the cervix to be attempted.
As there are several complications linked with brow presentations, here are some precautions for you to take before and after labour to have a successful pregnancy.
Babies might end up with abnormally shaped heads if they go through vaginal birth with a brow presentation. However, as their heads are malleable, they will return to normal shape in a few days. Extended labour might cause stress in your baby who has been stuck in an uncomfortable position the whole time. This might also lead to vertebral problems, so consult a paediatric osteopath if you are concerned.
Brow presentation can happen to anyone, so not encountering it in your first pregnancy does not mean you will not see during later pregnancies. Consume a balanced, nutritious diet, stay hydrated and get enough sleep. Avoiding tension and anxiety will help you stay strong for when your baby arrives.