Three to four weeks before birth, most babies settle into a vertex, or head down, position to get ready for birth. However, some babies don't turn and remain in a body-down position, which is known as a breech presentation. This is usually diagnosed during an ultrasound or manual examination. The baby can sometimes be turned before labor begins, but you will have to consider a C-section for your baby's sake if that doesn't occur because birth defects are associated with having a breech baby with a vaginal delivery.
What is a Breech Presentation?
Most babies are positioned head down at birth, meaning the head of the baby presents first. However, in some cases, the baby isn't head down at the onset of labor. These babies are either transverse, meaning they are sideways in the uterus, or they are breech, meaning they are head up in the uterus. In approximately 3 percent to 4 percent of full-term births, the baby is born breech, notes the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
What are the Types of Breech Presentations?
Breech presentations come in three types: complete, frank and footling. A complete breech presentation occurs when the baby's legs are crossed and the feet are by the buttocks. A frank presentation occurs when the baby's legs are straight in front of the body with the feet by the head. A footling presentation occurs when the baby's foot is pointing down and will exit the cervix first if a vaginal delivery is attempted.
Is a Vaginal Delivery Possible?
A vaginal delivery is possible with some breech presentations, but it is usually safer to have a C-section, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Babies who are breech and born vaginally are at risk of birth defects such as hip dysplasia. Additionally, problems with the umbilical cord, such as umbilical cord prolapse, can occur. When these occur, your baby can suffer from nerve or brain damage. A baby who is in a frank breech position is the most likely to be able to be born vaginally. A footling presentation and a complete breech presentation are always born via a C-section.
Is it Possible to Turn the Baby?
Some practitioners will try to turn a breech baby between weeks 32 and 37 of the pregnancy using a technique called external cephalic version, also known as external version or ECV. It involves applying gentle pressure to the woman's abdomen in an attempt to turn the baby into a head-down position. The baby is monitored for signs of distress, and the procedure is stopped if any are noted. Chiropractic care and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used, notes the American Pregnancy Association. You can also try elevating your hips approximately 1 foot by placing a firm pillow under your buttocks while laying down for 10 to 15 minutes at a time three times per day.
Does Being Breech Mean Something is Wrong with My Baby?
Most breech babies are healthy, but in some cases birth defects might prevent the baby from turning into a head-down position. Breech presentation is more likely if you are having multiples, if you have had previous pregnancies, if your amniotic fluid level is too high or too low, if your baby is preterm, if you have placenta previa, or if you have an abnormally shaped uterus.
