What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (2024)

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (1)

Updated 14 April 2020 |

Published 20 March 2019

Fact Checked

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (2)

Reviewed by Kate Shkodzik, MD, Obstetrician and gynecologist

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Babies often twist and turn throughout pregnancy, but most of them will move into the delivery position (head first) a few weeks before birth. When this doesn’t happen, the baby’s feet and/or butt are positioned in such a way that they get delivered first. This position is known as a breech presentation. Breech births are rare but occur in about 1 out of 25 full-term pregnancies.

Causes of breech presentation

What causes a breech presentation isn’t fully understood, but the American Pregnancy Association states that a breech birth has a tendency to occur more frequently in the following situations:

  • if the pregnant woman has a history of several pregnancies
  • if a woman is pregnant with multiples
  • if a woman has a history of delivering prematurely
  • if a woman has placenta previa
  • if the uterus contains either too little or too much amniotic fluid
  • if the woman’s uterus has an abnormal shape or other problems such as fibroids

Breech baby positions

A breech presentation happens when a baby doesn’t move into a delivery position before birth and instead stays in a bottom-down position. There are three types of breech baby positions: complete, footling, and frank breech.

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (3)

Complete breech baby

In this breech presentation, the baby’s butt points down and their legs are folded at the knees, with the feet tucked in.

Frank breech baby

In frank breech presentation, the baby’s butt is aimed towards the birth canal, and their legs are straight up in front of their body, with their feet near the face or head.

Footling breech baby

In this breech presentation, one or both of the baby’s feet point down, so that they are the first part of the body to come out during delivery.

Turning a breech baby: is it possible?

If you have a breech presentation, you can try to turn the baby when you are between the 32nd and 37th weeks of your pregnancy. There are various methods to turn a baby, and the success rate of each method is different. You should discuss all the options with your obstetrician and follow their recommendations.

Medical techniques

External version (EV): This is a non-surgical method of turning a breech baby in the uterus. Most doctors suggest using this technique between the 36th and 38th weeks of pregnancy. During the procedure, your doctor will give you medicine to help your uterus relax. They may also use an ultrasound to locate the placenta, determine the baby’s position, and measure the quantity of amniotic fluid.

Your doctor will try to gently push your lower abdomen so that the position of your baby changes from breech to head down. Throughout this procedure, the doctor closely monitors your baby’s heartbeat. If any kind of problem occurs, they immediately stop the procedure. The success rate of EV is more than 50 percent. This procedure for turning a breech baby becomes more difficult as your due date approaches.

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (4)

Chiropractic care: A technique developed by Larry Webster of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association allows chiropractors to decrease stress on a pregnant woman’s pelvis, relaxing her uterus and the surrounding ligaments. Due to the relaxed state of the uterus, it becomes easier for the breech baby to turn naturally.

This technique of turning a breech baby is referred to as the Webster Breech Technique. According to a study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the technique was found to have an 82 percent success rate. The study results further suggest that you should perform this technique during the eighth month (third trimester) of your pregnancy.

Natural techniques

The breech tilt: While lying on your back, use large, firm pillows to raise your hips about a foot off the floor. Do this three times every day for 10–15 minutes. You can do this technique when the baby is active and on an empty stomach. While doing this technique, concentrate on your baby, particularly in your abdominal area, and avoid tensing the body.

Vaginal breech delivery vs. cesarean breech birth

Most doctors don’t attempt a vaginal breech delivery, but your doctor may attempt it in the following situations:

  • Your baby is in frank breech position and is full term.
  • Your doctor has been monitoring your baby’s heart rate, and they’re showing no signs of distress.
  • The labor proceeds smoothly and steadily with your cervical opening widening with the descent of the baby.
  • Your baby isn’t too big or your pelvis too narrow for your baby to pass safely through your birth canal.
  • Anesthesia and the possibility for cesarean section are available on short notice.

Your doctor will probably not attempt a vaginal breech delivery if:

  • You have a footling breech baby.
  • Your baby is smaller or larger than average.
  • Your baby is lying in a certain position in the uterus; for instance, their neck is tilted back, making delivery difficult.
  • You suffer from preeclampsia.
  • You have placenta previa.

Complications and risks of a vaginal breech delivery

During a breech birth, the baby’s head is the last part of the body to come out, which can make it harder for them to ease through your birth canal. In some cases, the doctor may use forceps to guide the baby’s head out.

Another thing that can happen during vaginal breech delivery is cord prolapse when the umbilical cord gets squeezed while the baby is moving towards the opening of the uterus. This slows the supply of blood and oxygen to the baby. During vaginal breech delivery, your doctor will monitor the baby’s heartbeat during the entire labor process. If your baby starts to show signs of distress, the doctor may consider a cesarean section (C-section).

When is a cesarean section done with a breech position?

Most doctors recommend a C-section for all babies with breech presentation, especially when they’re premature. This is because premature babies are smaller and more fragile. Their heads are also relatively larger than their bodies, so in breech position, they can’t stretch the cervical opening as much as a full-term baby can. This makes it even more difficult for the head to emerge.

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (5)

Breech birth diagnostics

Your doctor will diagnose a breech presentation a few weeks before your due date by placing their hands on your lower abdomen and locating the baby’s head, butt, and back. If they feel that your baby may be lying in a breech presentation, they may use an ultrasound to confirm it.

Your doctor may also use special X-rays to determine the position of the baby and the size of your pelvis.

Breech birth happens when a baby doesn’t move into a head-first position before birth and instead stays in a bottom-down position. The cause of a breech presentation isn’t fully understood, but various situations make it more likely.

There are three types of breech baby positions, depending on the position of the baby in your uterus: complete, footling, and frank breech position. There are various methods for turning a breech baby, and you can try them between the 32nd and 37th weeks of pregnancy.

History of updates

Current version (14 April 2020)

Reviewed by Kate Shkodzik, MD, Obstetrician and gynecologist

Published (18 March 2019)

What Is a Breech Birth? Types, Causes, and Giving Birth (2024)

FAQs

What can breech births cause? ›

When the breech baby's pelvis or hips deliver first, the woman's pelvis may not be large enough for the head to be delivered also. This can result in a baby getting stuck in the birth canal, which can cause injury or death. The umbilical cord may also be damaged or blocked. This can reduce the baby's oxygen supply.

What type of birth is breech? ›

Breech presentation refers to the fetus in the longitudinal lie with the buttocks or lower extremity entering the pelvis first. The three types of breech presentation include frank breech, complete breech, and incomplete breech.

What are the types of delivery in breech? ›

Three types of vaginal breech deliveries are described, as follows:
  • Spontaneous breech delivery: No traction or manipulation of the infant is used. ...
  • Assisted breech delivery: This is the most common type of vaginal breech delivery. ...
  • Total breech extraction: The fetal feet are grasped, and the entire fetus is extracted.
Jan 20, 2022

What is a breech birth quizlet? ›

What is breech presentation? The fetus whose presenting part is the buttocks and/or feet. What is the epidemiology of breech presentation? Occurs in 3-5% of fetuses at term (37-40 weeks).

What birth defect causes breech babies? ›

Causes of Breech Baby

In about 15% of breech cases, a uterine abnormality is the cause. Other reported risk factors include: A previous sibling or either parent who was in breech presentation. Uterine abnormality (bicornuate or septate uterus, fibroid)

Can breech babies still be born? ›

If your baby is still breech towards the end of pregnancy, you may be able to have a procedure called ECV to try to turn your baby to a head-down position. If your baby is breech, a caesarean birth is often safer for them, but some people can try to have a vaginal breech birth under certain conditions.

What are the 4 types of breech presentation? ›

Overview. There are three types of breech presentation: complete, incomplete, and frank. Complete breech is when both of the baby's knees are bent and his feet and bottom are closest to the birth canal. Incomplete breech is when one of the baby's knees is bent and his foot and bottom are closest to the birth canal.

What type of breech is most common? ›

Frank breech

That's when the knees aren't bent, and the feet are close to the baby's head. This is the most common type of breech presentation.

How do I get my baby out of breech? ›

ECV is one way to turn a baby from breech position to head down position while it's still in the uterus. The doctor will apply pressure to your stomach to turn the baby from the outside. Sometimes, they use ultrasound as well. Many women who have normal pregnancies can have ECV.

Do breech babies have problems? ›

However, more complications can occur if the baby is breech. A baby who is breech may be very small, or it may have birth defects. Breech babies may also have accidents during delivery that can damage the umbilical cord or cause asphyxia, or even cause death of the mother or baby.

What is the opposite of a breech birth? ›

posterior position (occipito-posterior) - facing the opposite way with their backs to your back. breech position - where their bottom leads first, and their head is at the top.

What is breech and transverse birth? ›

Babies often twist and turn during pregnancy, but most will have moved into the head-down (also known as head-first) position by the time labour begins. However, that does not always happen, and a baby may be: bottom first or feet first (breech position) lying sideways (transverse position)

How many stages are in the birth process? ›

Labor is divided into three stages: Labor. Pushing and birth. Delivery of the placenta.

Do breech babies have complications? ›

However, more complications can occur if the baby is breech. A baby who is breech may be very small, or it may have birth defects. Breech babies may also have accidents during delivery that can damage the umbilical cord or cause asphyxia, or even cause death of the mother or baby.

Do breech babies have autism? ›

Autism May Be Linked To Being Firstborn, Breech Births Or Moms 35 Or Older. Summary: Children who are firstborn or breech or whose mothers are 35 or older when giving birth are at significantly greater risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder, according to a new study with Utah children.

What happened to breech babies in the past? ›

Before 1959, virtually all breech babies were delivered vaginally. Today, however, most are born by cesarean section (C-section). Learn more about the reasons behind this change, and what to do if you want to attempt a vaginal breech delivery for a singleton baby.

Is it rare to have a breech baby? ›

How common is the breech position? Breech position (bottom first) is present in 3% to 4% of term pregnancies.

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