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Fetal position

Fetal position

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Fetal position is the positioning of the body of a prenatal fetus as it develops. In this position, the back is curved, the head is bowed, and the limbs are bent and drawn up to the torso.

Dr. David Rosenfeld reviewed this

29 year experience in Pain Management

How long it usually lasts:

Chronic (lasts years to lifelong)

How common it is:

Very rare

Related questions

A 42-year old asked:

Is there a common fetal position?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

What is transverse fetal position?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: fetal position?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

Does the body always curl into the fetal position to protect itself?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

Why do I feel like just curling into a fetal position and covering myself?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A member asked:

Why does my child curl up into the fetal position every time I punish or yell at him?

3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old asked:

Is it true that the closer you get to death the more you curl up into the fetal position?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old asked:

Is it true that the closer you get to death the more your body start to curl up into the fetal position?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 29-year old asked:

When the psyche is hurting or in pain, why do we go into fetal position?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 17-year old male asked:

If you sleep in a fetal position do you grow taller?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 40-year old asked:

What could cause someone with leukemia to be in the fetal position and swollen?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What do you suggest if i'm looking for the correct pillow to help relieve this. I sleep in the fetal position. Any suggestions?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old female asked:

Fetal position leg jerks could i be having a seizure or would it be rls?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 32-year old asked:

What is footling breech fetal position?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 35-year old female asked:

At 35 weeks, is there any way to tell fetal position by the movements?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

I sleep in the Fetal Position. I've obtained sharp lingering pains in my chest around the Sternum for quite some time now. Should I be worried?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 18-year old female asked:

I need help getting rid of menstrual pains. I have them so bad I am in bed in the fetal position crying and my fianc doesn't know what to do. I take ?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 37-year old asked:

What does the fetal position indicate in terminal cancer patient?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 31-year old female asked:

Will sleeping in a fetal position cause belly fat buildup?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old female asked:

I am having some hardly bearable period cramps and I don't think I have any Ibuprophen. In fetal position. Please help!

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 21-year old female asked:

What would a cause a high person on THC-0 to clench their hands and toes while also their body to coil in and out of the fetal position?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 29-year old female asked:

I had sex this morning it was kind of rough afterwards my area hurt. My stomach was swollen, i was paralyzed in the fetal position, dripping sweat?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 20-year old female asked:

I sleep in a fetal position and I woke up today with a sharp pain in my chest/sternum area when I stretched. It went away within a couple minutes. Should I go get this checked? I noticed its every time I sleep on my side?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

What to do if I have high calprotectin in my stool. I continue to cramp in the fetal position for hours. What can I do?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

I'm having stomach pain below my left side ribcage. Fetal position helps, but extending hurts. Been two days now. What could it be?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 25-year old female asked:

Been feeling really nauseous since this afternoon. Stomach hurts, though lessens if i lie in fetal position. Nausea worsens with drinking water. Help?

3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 47-year old female asked about a 40-year old female:

Can sleep positions affect height? Does sleeping w/ 1 leg bent in fetal position or legs straight (feel bit pulling behind knees) add height in adults

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old male asked:

If i sleep in fetal position only, my saliva flows from my mouth that stains my pillow a litttle brown. But I do not seebloodinmymouthwhat is this?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 42-year old male asked:

My blood pressure has been high a few times over the past week or so, been to my GP and have a follow up appointment with him tomorrow but i suddenly started getting severe chest pain and tightness that basically had me in the fetal position?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

Woke from band of slight pressure across chest.Arched shoulders back and it resolved. Muscular? PCP says heart ok.Sleep in fetal position.

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

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