A breech position or breech delivery is a medical term that describes the upside-down position of a baby just before delivery. Normally, babies are born head first, but in a breech delivery, the foot or the buttocks may present first. Medical technology offers safer breech delivery than ever before, thanks to imaging equipment and safe Caesarean deliveries, also called C-sections, which offer enhanced safety for both mother and child. Understanding the dangers or complications of a breech delivery can help parents make wise choices regarding delivery options.
Fetal Injury
A breech delivery may injure an infant during the birthing process. The baby's buttocks are usually smaller than the circumference of the head, which may make final delivery of the head difficult in a breech delivery. The position of the baby's head, whether it's facing forward or backward, may affect its ability to deliver fully through the birth canal. In such situations the baby's spine may be stretched, leading to nerve damage, according to the Merck Online Medical Library.
Fetal Distress
In a breech delivery, the lower half of an infant may deliver, and the umbilical cord be visible. If the upper half of the baby is not delivered immediately, the umbilical cord wrapped around the infant or squeezed between its body and the wall of the vagina may compress the cord, also known as cord prolapse, cutting off or restricting blood and oxygen flow to the infant. Such a condition may result in brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
C-Section Risks
In many cases of a breech delivery, especially in the event of a footling breech presentation, or when both feet present first, or a complete breech, as in the case where the buttocks and the bottom of the feet present first, a Caesarean section may be required. Risks of Caesarean sections may include, but are not limited to, development of adhesions caused by scarring, infection and hemorrhage. In some cases, the bowel or bladder may be nicked during the surgical process, leading to infection. Caesarean sections take longer to heal, and may require extended hospital stays, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Mortality rates are higher for Caesarean section births than vaginal births, and a woman who undergoes a Caesarean section may not be able to delivery vaginally for subsequent pregnancies because of weakened abdominal wall structure.
