Breech Births: What You Should Know

Mothers often cower when they hear the word breech during an exam several weeks or days prior to their due date, but a breech baby doesn't necessarily mean a breech birth. While 96 percent of babies are in the "vertex" position (head down) when labor begins, others keep their parents and doctors guessing up until the last few days.

Breech births do not automatically rule out vaginal delivery; however, studies indicate that breech births have a lower risk of birth injury and complications when delivered via cesarean section. You can find solace in the fact that there are medical procedures that may help your baby assume the vertex (head down) position.

Breech Births Defined

Breech births are characterized by three different positions: incomplete (sometimes referred to as "footling"), complete, and frank (the most common of the three).

• Frank Breech: suggests that your baby is positioned to come out rear first with his or her legs extended straight up along the body with the feet near its head.
• Incomplete Breech: also known as "footling" breech means the child has one or both feet that will exit the birth canal first.
• Complete Breech: shows the child sitting cross-legged inside the womb.

You may be able to tell if your child is breech around the 36 week mark. Feeling your baby's head pressing upward while its feet kick around the lower pelvis may indicate breech. If this is the case, be sure to consult your doctor, who may conduct a cervical examination, followed by a fetal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. At this point, your doctor or midwife may suggest attempting to shift your baby around.

Causes of Breech Birth

There are no obvious reasons as to why your unborn is not poised to come out in the vertex position. However, there are several speculations as to why babies breech: limited space in the womb restricts the baby's movement, too little or too much amniotic fluid, or neurological and muscular problems also account for breech births.

There is still hope for worrisome mothers wanting a vaginal birth through two methods: external cephalic version (ECV) and postural management.

If an ECV is performed, experienced professionals will attempt to adjust the position of your baby by applying pressure to your abdomen to manually move your baby. This works more often than not, but there is still potential for your baby to migrate back into the breech position.

Postural management can be performed at home by elevating and raising your hips above your head, using gravity as means to rotate the baby. This should be done several times a day for several weeks.

Your Breech Birth Delivery Options

Although breech positions may be delivered vaginally, a c-section will be performed in a matter of minutes if your doctor decides you or your baby is in danger. Birthing centers, at this point, will no longer be an option. Before proceeding with the birth, make sure to consult your doctor about the pros and cons of both a cesarean section and a vaginal birth, and choose whichever is best for you and your baby. If you have undergone a c-section, make sure to get extra help in the following weeks for basic tasks around the house as heavy lifting is not permitted.