O32.3: Maternal care for face, brow and chin presentation

Your child is lying with its face, forehead or chin downwards, or there are reasons to think this is the case.

In the final weeks of pregnancy, the child turns to the birth position. The child’s head then normally points downwards and lies in the mother’s pelvis. The child’s face usually faces the mother’s back and the child’s head is bent towards its chest. The child’s back is turned to the right or left side of the mother. During the birth the child is pushed through the birth canal. In the process it has to turn, stretch or bend its head so that it passes through the birth canal properly. The child’s body follows its head and accompanies it in its movements.

If the child is lying with its face, forehead or chin downwards, its head is not bent as it normally would be. As a result, the child may be unable to make the usual movements in the birth canal during the birth. This can cause problems and, for example, make the birth take longer or make a Caesarean necessary.