 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Fetal position" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(December 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Fetal position (British English: also foetal) is thepositioning of thebody of a prenatalfetus as itdevelops. In this position, the back is curved, the head is bowed, and thelimbs are bent and drawn up to the torso. A compact position is typical for fetuses. Many newbornmammals, especiallyrodents, remain in a fetal position well after birth.
This type of compact position is used in the medical profession to minimize injury to the neck and chest.
Some people assume a fetal position whensleeping, especially when the body becomes cold.[1] In some cultures bodies have been buried in fetal position.[2]
Sometimes, when a person has suffered extremephysical orpsychological trauma (including massivestress), they will assume a similar compact position in which the back is curved forward, the legs are brought up as tightly against the abdomen as possible, the head is bowed as close to the abdomen as possible, and the arms are wrapped around the head to prevent furthertrauma.[citation needed]
This type of position has been observed indrug addicts, who enter the position when experiencing withdrawal. Sufferers of anxiety are also known to assume the same type of position during panic attacks.
Assuming this type of position and playing dead is often recommended as a strategy to end abear attack.[3]