- A midwife or doctor will use abdominal palpation during an antenatal visit to examine a baby’s position and growth.
On this page
These diagrams show the position of the baby and demonstrate the technique of ‘abdominal palpation’, which means to examine by touching and feeling. The midwife or doctor uses this technique during your antenatal visit to examine your baby’s position and growth.
Baby in vertex (or 'head' down position)
1. Assessing the height of the fundus (top of the uterus) – seeing how many fingerbreadths below the xiphisternum (bottom of the woman’s sternum bone) the baby is laying.
2. Assessing the size of baby and feeling for the baby's back and limbs.
3. Pawlik's grip – the lower part of the uterus is grasped by the midwife to determine what part of the baby is presenting first.
4. Pelvic palpation to determine the position of the baby's head in relation to the woman’s pelvis.
5. Measuring the height of the fundus, which generally corresponds to the number of weeks of gestation of the pregnancy.
6. Listening to the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler ultrasound.
Baby in breech position (or 'bottom' down position)
1. Checking the height of the fundus (the highest point of the uterus). At 20 weeks, this measurement is taken from the belly button. When the pregnancy is at term (37 to 40 weeks), it is taken from the lower end of the woman's sternum bone (the xiphisternum).
2. Assessing the baby's position and size. Feeling for the baby's head, back and limbs.
3. Using Pawlik's grip to check that the baby's buttocks are in the pelvis.
4. Listening to the baby's heartbeat.
Where to get help
- Your GP (doctor)
- Midwife
- Obstetrician
- Contact Mercy Hospital for Tel. (03) 8458 4444
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
