North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Which position is characterized by the fetal back being in the right maternal flank and the cephalic prominence being on the left?

1. Right Occipito-Transverse (ROT)

2. Left Occipito-Posterior (LOP)

3. Right Occipito-Posterior (ROP)

4. Left Transverse Lie

The correct answer is: Right Occipito-Posterior (ROP)

The position described in the question, where the fetal back is located in the right maternal flank and the cephalic prominence is on the left, aligns with the characteristics of the Right Occipito-Posterior (ROP) position. In this position, the back of the fetus is facing towards the mother's right side, while the head of the fetus is tilted slightly forward, which allows the forehead or cephalic prominence to be located towards the mother's left side. In a Right Occipito-Posterior position, the orientation of the fetus can contribute to certain labor dynamics, such as more back pain for the laboring person and the potential for a longer labor. Understanding this position is vital for midwives as it aids in determining appropriate labor support strategies and positions to encourage optimal fetal positioning during labor. Other options such as Left Occipito-Posterior (LOP) and Left Transverse Lie have different orientations and implications. In the LOP position, the fetal back would be on the mother's left side with the head facing posteriorly, and a Left Transverse Lie implies the fetus is lying horizontally across the uterus rather than in a vertex position. Thus, the anatomy and positioning described in the question clearly point to the Right Occipito