malposition and malpresentation

the situation in which the head of an unborn baby before and near delivery is not in the usual (occipitoanterior) position. In malposition the baby is head down but a wider part of the skull is presented to the pelvic opening because of the angle of the head. In malpresentation the baby is not head down. Both these conditions prolong and complicate LABOUR and, in the latter case especially, are likely to require delivery by CAESAREAN SECTION .