Abdominal Palpation Guide for Fetal Position

1. Abdominal Palpation for Fetal Position

2. Purpose • Determine the position of the baby in utero • Determine the expected presentation during labor and delivery

3. Questions to ask yourself when performing the abdominal palpation examination: • Is the fundal height consistent with the fetal maturity? • Is the, lie longitudinal, transverse or oblique? • Is the presentation cephalic or breech? • If cephalic, is the attitude vertex or facial? • What is the position of the denominator? • Is the vertex engaged?

4. The fetal lie is either: • Longitudinal • long axis of the fetus is aligned to the mother’s • this is the only NORMAL position • Transverse • long axis of the fetus is perpendicular to that of the mother’s • Oblique • long axis of the fetus is 0-90 degrees (or 90-180 degrees) to that of the mother’s

5. Fetal Lie

6. The presentation is either: • Vertex • head down in the pelvis • Brow • Facial • Breech • head is up in the uterine fundus and the buttocks is down in the pelvis • Shoulder

7. Attitude • The attitude is the relationship of the fetal parts to each other: • Flexed • Deflexed • Extended

8. Denominator • The denominator (center identifying letter) is the fetal part presenting itself Occiput - O Sacrum - S Mentum - M Frontal - F Acromion - AC or Scapula SC

10. Flexed Vertex Presentation8 Possibilities • LOL • ROL • LOA • ROA • ROP • LOP • OP • OA

11. Full/Complete Breech • arms & legs flexed in the • fetal position • Incomplete Breech • Frank Breech • arms flexed but legs extended straight up over head • Footling Breech • one or both feet extended downward and may exit the birth canal first

12. Engagement • Determined by the amount of head that is above or below the pelvic brim • This is usually done by dividing the head into ”fifths” • if the head is still palpable abdominally, it is “2/5” or less engaged

13. Leopold’s Maneuver

14. PURPOSES • To provide information about fetal presentation, position, presenting part i.e. lie, attitude, and descent • To aid in location of fetal heart rates • To aid in assessment of fetal size • To determination of single versus multiple gestation

15. Leopold’s Maneuver • Four-part process • Palpation of fetal position in-utero

16. Preparation • Woman is supine, head slightly elevated and knees slightly flexed • Place a small rolled towel under her right hip

17. First Maneuver • Facing the mother, palpate the fundus with both hands • Assess for shape, size, consistency and mobility • Fetal head: firm, hard, and round • Moves independently of the rest • Detectable by ballottement • Breech/buttocks: softer and has bony prominences • Moves with the rest of the form

18. Second Maneuver Determine position of the back. • Still facing the mother, place both palms on the abdomen • Hold R hand still and with deep but gentle pressure, use L hand to feel for the firm, smooth back • Repeat using opposite hands • Confirm your findings by palpating the fetal extremities on the opposite side • small protrusions, “lumpy”

19. Third Maneuver Determine what part is lying above the inlet. • Gently grasp the lower portion of the abdomen (just above symphisis pubis) with the thumb and fingers of the R hand • Confirm presenting part (opposite of what’s in the fundus)

20. Head will feel firm • Buttocks will feel softer and irregular • If it’s not engaged, it may be gently pushed back and front

21. Fourth Maneuver • Assess descent of the presenting part. • Turn to face the woman’s feet • Move fingers of both hands gently down the sides of the abdomen towards the pubis - Palpate for the cephalic prominence (vertex)