malpresentation and malposition

Last reviewed 01/2018

Malpresentation is the situation where a foetus within the uterus is in any position that is not cephalic - i.e. head down.

Malposition is any cephalic position other than occiput anterior.

The most common malpresentation is a breech presentation, occuring in 3% of term births (the incidence is higher at earlier stages of gestation, however the tendency is to rotate to a cephalic presentation with time)