In pregnancy, the term "lie" refers to the orientation of the fetus's spine in relation to the mother's spine.
According to information from Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation):
- The lie describes whether the baby is positioned up-and-down (longitudinal), sideways (transverse), or at an angle (oblique) in the uterus.
Types of Lie
Generally, the baby should be in a longitudinal lie for a vaginal delivery. The other lies are described as follows:
- Longitudinal Lie: The fetus's spine is parallel to the mother's spine. This is considered the normal and ideal lie for birth.
- Transverse Lie: The fetus is lying sideways, perpendicular to the mother's spine. Vaginal delivery is not possible in this position.
- Oblique Lie: The fetus is lying at an angle between longitudinal and transverse. The baby may spontaneously correct to a longitudinal or transverse lie, but if it persists, vaginal delivery may not be possible.
