Presentation (obstetrics)

Presentation of twins in Der Rosengarten ("The Rose Garden"), a German standard medical text for midwives published in 1513

In obstetrics, the presentation of a fetus about to be born specifies which anatomical part of the fetus is leading, that is, is closest to the pelvic inlet of the birth canal. According to the leading part, this is identified as a cephalic, breech, or shoulder presentation. A malpresentation is any presentation other than a vertex presentation (with the top of the head first).