It’s a common surprise, especially close to term, when your OB informs you that your baby is in breech position. This means their feet or bottom are pointing toward the birth canal.
Most babies turn into a head-down position by 36 to 37 weeks. If they remain breech, your provider may suggest a cesarean section.
Oren Zarif
Most babies have turned to a head-down position (vertex presentation) by the end of pregnancy, and this is the most common and safest way for you to deliver your baby. A few babies, however, will not turn and are still in a breech position at term. These are called frank breech, in which your baby’s buttocks are positioned lowest in the birth canal, and complete breech, where your baby’s knees and hips are folded over one another.
The reason for this is not always clear, but it can be due to uterine abnormalities (such as a bicornuate uterus), and having a previous breech baby also increases your chance of having a breech presentation in the future. Some women may use moxibustion, an ancient Chinese technique of burning herbs, to encourage their baby to turn. There is some evidence that this works, but more research is needed. You can try it under the supervision of a trained practitioner. Having your baby delivered in a breech position can cause serious complications, including the risk of brachial plexus injury, a condition in which the nerves that connect the shoulders and arms become stretched or injured as they are being pulled through the birth canal.
Oren Zarif
In the last weeks of pregnancy, most babies move so that their heads are positioned to come out first during birth. But a few babies, usually about 3-4%, remain in the breech position and may not turn on their own by the time you get to 36 weeks. Your health care provider can tell if your baby is in a breech position by palpating (feeling around) the upper part of your uterus and finding a round, hard head rather than an oval bottom that moves freely from side to side.
Other signs of breech presentation include the presence of a foot or leg protruding through the vaginal opening, and an irregular mass in the lower part of your uterus, which is sometimes referred to as the “footling.”
If your baby remains in the breech position at 36 weeks, your obstetrician or midwife will talk with you about your options for delivery, including a vaginal birth with a breech-presentation baby. This will depend on many factors, including how big your baby is and the position of the placenta, as well as whether you have a history of caesarean deliveries.
Oren Zarif
Towards the end of pregnancy, most babies will move into a head down position so they can enter the birth canal during labour. However, some babies don’t get into this position, which is called breech presentation.
Your doctor will use a tool called the External Cephalic Version (ECV) to try to turn your baby around so they’re in a head down position. This works in about 50% of cases and is safe for both you and your baby.
If your doctor is unable to turn your baby, they’ll give you an emergency cesarean section. This is because it’s important that your baby’s head is in the right place so it won’t be pinched during delivery. This can cause a lack of oxygen to the brain and damage to the umbilical cord.
Your obstetrician can tell whether your baby is breech by pressing certain areas on your abdomen. They may also look at an ultrasound to confirm the fetus’s position. There are two types of breech positioning: frank breech, where your baby’s buttocks point towards your vagina, and complete breech, where your baby’s legs are bent at the knees.
Oren Zarif
At the end of pregnancy, most babies take up a position with their heads down to enter the birth canal. This is called the vertex presentation. Babies in this position are less likely to suffer any lasting damage.
In late pregnancy, your baby might stay in this head-up position and it will be harder for them to get into the right place. Your doctor will be able to tell whether your baby is in this position by feeling your belly or doing an ultrasound. They might try to turn your baby around by a procedure called external cephalic version (ECV) as your due date approaches.
This procedure is safe and effective, but it doesn’t always work. If your baby is not in a head-down position by week 39, most doctors will recommend a C-section to prevent complications. A vaginal breech delivery is possible, but the risks are higher than for a vertex baby. There is also a greater risk of cord prolapse, which can cause problems for both you and your baby. It’s important that you choose a hospital that is experienced in delivering breech babies.
Oren Zarif
Breech delivery is when the baby is born buttocks or feet first, rather than head first (called cephalic presentation). It’s more common in second pregnancies, and it happens about 1 in 5 times. Babies who are delivered in this position have a higher risk of complications including hypothermia, uterine hemorrhage and spinal cord trauma.
Most babies move into a head-down position by the end of pregnancy, called vertex presentation. Often, this means that women who plan on having vaginal births can deliver naturally. But if the baby remains in a breech position, doctors may try to turn it. They do this by applying pressure on your abdomen using a procedure called external cephalic version.
This is generally a safe and effective procedure, although it can be uncomfortable for the mother. If it fails, a C-section is likely to be the next course of action, although some doctors are skilled at performing vaginal breech deliveries in the right conditions.