Great Expectations Pregnancy

Answers from Pregnancy and Baby Experts.

  • Articles
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy (general)
      • 1st Trimester
      • 2nd Trimester
      • 3rd Trimester
    • Symptoms
    • Labor and Delivery
    • Baby Gear
    • Parenting (general)
      • Toddler
      • Preschooler
  • About Sandy & Marcie
  • Book Titles
  • Contact

What Does ‘Unstable Lie’ Mean?

Marcie Jones 6 Comments

woman holding her pregnant belly

Your baby keeps moving around, sometimes up until the last hours before birth

“Unstable lie” doesn’t sound very good or reassuring, but actually just means that the baby is changing his or her position, which is what all babies do in the womb. In the final weeks of pregnancy, about 97 percent of babies will orient themselves into the head-down position in preparation for birth.

If your baby doesn’t move head down in the last weeks before your due date your doctor or midwife will check to make sure the placenta isn’t in the way, and will probably advise you to take lots of walks and/or do exercises in the all-fours position to help baby turn. Even if this doesn’t work, don’t panic: babies have been known to turn within hours of birth. If he or she still doesn’t turn after you’ve gone into labor, there’s something called external cephalic version (ECV), which is when a doctor or midwife attempts to turn the baby into the head-down position from the outside. If ECV doesn’t work, your care provider may decide that you need a c-section, which is statistically safer than a breech birth. But bottom line, unless you’re in the last days before your due date, don’t worry about what position the baby is in. If the baby is still breech or transverse (lying sideways) within a week of your due date, then talk to your health care provider about options for encouraging the baby to turn.

More from my site

  • Breech Baby and Pelvic PainBreech Baby and Pelvic Pain
  • I’m 30 Weeks, Can I Take a Road Trip?I’m 30 Weeks, Can I Take a Road Trip?
  • How to Squat While You’re PregnantHow to Squat While You’re Pregnant
  • Should I Schedule an Induction?Should I Schedule an Induction?
  • Can You Help a Baby ‘Drop’ into Position?Can You Help a Baby ‘Drop’ into Position?
  • 5 Cm 90% Effaced  – What Does That Mean?5 Cm 90% Effaced – What Does That Mean?

Filed Under: 3rd Trimester Tagged With: breech, ECV

Comments

  1. Tarela says

    January 10, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks a lot, I feel better now. I went for ultrasond and discovered that my fetus was in untable lie. I started panicking not knowing what “unstable lie” means. But I got reassured after reading your article on the topic considering the fact that I’m still in my first trimester. Thanks

    Reply
  2. santosh Sharma says

    November 10, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Thanks … A lot Your Info help me a lot

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    August 31, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    ooh thanks alot.. i had my ultrasound today which told unstable lie and i was shocked and tense but now feeling better

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    November 22, 2015 at 10:15 am

    THANKS LOTS

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    March 17, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    Thank you so much. I’ve been thinking it meant there was somethig competely wrong with my baby.

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    July 19, 2018 at 11:51 am

    Am just 19 weeks of pregnancy .I saw that in the tiffa scan report the presentation was unstable lie idont understand what it means plzzz explain is that any thing harm

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

About The Authors

We're mothers and mom experts. As baby experts, we're here to answer your questions and to offer news and advice. Learn More

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on PinterestFollow Us on RSS

Articles by subject

  • Nutrition
  • Trying to Conceive
  • Easy-Not-Queasy Recipes
  • Fitness and Exercise
  • Pregnancy (general)
  • Symptoms
  • 1st Trimester
  • 2nd Trimester
  • 3rd Trimester
  • Labor and Delivery
  • Featured
  • Baby (General)
  • Baby Gear
  • Toddler
  • Preschooler
  • Parenting (general and dads)

Recent Comments

  • JosephCruts on What is ‘Adjusted Cycle Length’?
  • Baliqees on What Does ‘Unstable Lie’ Mean?
  • Monica Treacy on Swollen Ankles! What Can I Do?
  • Marcus Hilderbrand on Why Do Feet Swell During Pregnancy? What Can You Do?
  • M. N. Guptha on What Does ‘Unstable Lie’ Mean?

© 2019 Great Expectations Maternity. All Rights Reserved.

This site is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Visitors to this site should regularly consult a physician for all health-related problems and routine care during pregnancy, after birth, and for their children.