Breech birth

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Breech birth: a simple explanation

What is breech birth?
A breech birth happens when a baby is delivered buttocks or feet first, rather than head first. This can be riskier for the baby and is often planned as a cesarean (C-section) in many places.

How common is it?
Around 3 to 5 out of every 100 pregnancies at term have breech babies.

Types of breech
- Frank breech: legs are straight up in front of the body, feet near the head.
- Complete breech: buttocks come first with legs folded.
- Footling breech: one or both feet come out first.
- Kneeling breech: baby is on knees, feet up.

Why babies become breech
A baby might stay breech if it can’t turn to head-down late in pregnancy. Factors include limited space in the uterus, the shape of the uterus, or胎 other medical reasons. Twin pregnancies also have higher chances of breech.

Possible complications
- Umbilical cord prolapse, where the cord slips out first and can reduce oxygen to the baby.
- Head may get stuck if the body comes out first.
- Oxygen supply to the baby can be reduced, risking brain injury if delivery is delayed.
- Other injuries can occur, especially in longer or more complicated labors.

Ways to safely manage breech birth

External cephalic version (ECV)
- A doctor tries to turn the baby to head-down by gently pressing on the abdomen.
- Usually tried late in pregnancy (about 36–40 weeks).
- If successful, it increases chances of a vaginal birth and can reduce the need for a cesarean.
- The World Health Organization recommends attempting ECV before planning a cesarean, if it’s safe to do so.

Delivery choices
- Planned cesarean: common in many developed countries to protect the baby when breech is detected.
- Vaginal breech birth: possible in carefully chosen cases with very experienced birth teams and close monitoring. Not all breech babies are suitable for this.

Twin breech
- In twin pregnancies, breech is common, especially if babies are born early.
- If one twin is head-down, sometimes the second twin can be delivered vaginally. If both are breech or there are other risks, cesarean may be chosen.

Turning the baby (ECV) and after
- If turning works, it helps make vaginal birth more likely.
- Special techniques and skilled care are used to safely deliver the baby if breech is continued.
- Medicines may be used to help relax the uterus and improve turning chances.

Key takeaway
Breech birth means the baby is not head-first at birth. Many breech babies are delivered by cesarean, but with skilled teams and careful planning, vaginal breech birth or turning the baby to head-first can be possible in some situations. If breech is detected, your healthcare team will discuss safe options based on the mother’s and baby’s health and the available resources.