Asynclitic birth

When a baby is born, they usually come out with their head facing downwards and the top of their head fitting nicely through the mother's pelvis. But sometimes, the baby's head can be tilted slightly to one side, which is called "asynclitic".

Think of it like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole, but the round peg is tilted slightly to one side. It can be harder to fit the peg into the hole, right? The same thing can happen when a baby's head is tilted to one side during labor and birth.

This can make labor harder and longer, and sometimes can lead to a harder time for the baby to come out. But doctors and midwives can help by using special techniques to help guide the baby's head into the right position. These techniques can include different positions for the mother during labor, or sometimes just gently moving the baby's head with their hands to get it into a better position.

Once the baby's head is in the right position, they can usually come out smoothly and safely, just like any other baby.