breech presentation meaning tagalog

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Suhi Si Baby! Bakit Nangyayari Ang Breech Baby At Paano Siya Paikutin

Madalas na ipinag-aalala ng mga nanay na maging breech o suhi ang baby na dinadala nila sa kanilang sinapupunan. Malimit, habang lumalapit ang due date ng isang buntis ay ipinagdadasal na nito na 'umikot' ang kanyang anak para maipanganak ito sa pamamagitan ng normal delivery .

READ MORE ABOUT BREECH BABY HERE:

• Watch This Doctor Turn a Breech Baby to a Head-Down Position
• 6 Ways to Help a Breech Baby Turn and Get Into Head-Down Position

Pero bakit nga ba nagiging suhi ang isang sanggol? May mga kaakibat ba itong kumplikasyon? May paraan ba para maiwasan ito? May mga techniques ba para umikot si baby?

Ano ang breech baby?

Breech pregnancy ang tawag sa isang pagbubuntis kung saan nakaposisyon o nakaturo ang mga paa ng bata sa birth canal. Sa isang 'normal' na pagbubuntis, kusang umiikot ang bata sa loob ng sinapupunan kapag malapit na ang araw ng kanyang kapanganakan. Ngunit sa ilang pagkakataon, nananatili si baby na nauuna ang paa.

Ayon sa mga eksperto, tatlo hanggang apat na porsyento ng pagbubuntis ay breech pregnancy.

Alam mo bang may iba't-ibang uri ng breech pregnancy?

Mayroong tatlo: frank, complete, at ang tinatawag na footling breech—depende ito sa kung paano nakaposisyon ang sanggol sa sinapupunan.

Ang frank breech ay kapag malapit ang pwet ng bata sa birth canal at nakataas ang kanyang mga paa malapit sa kanyang ulo.

Sa complete breech naman, malapit din ang pwet ng bata sa birth canal, ngunit nakatiklop naman ang kanyang mga paa malapit sa kanyang dibdib.

Kung footling breech naman ang inyong baby, nakaturo pababa ang mga paa ni baby at ang mga ito ang mauunang lalabas sa birth canal bago pa man ang pwet niya.

Ang pinaka-rare na uri ng breech ay ang complete breech.

Ano ang sanhi ng breech baby?

Wala pang siguradong dahilan ang mga eksperto kung bakit ito nangyayari. Sabi ng mga dalubhasa mula sa American Pregnancy Association , maraming maaaring maging dahilan kung bakit nangyayari ito.

Ito ang ilan sa mga dahilan kung bakit nagiging breech si baby:

• kung maraming beses nang nagbuntis ang nanay
• kung marami siyang sanggol na dinadala sa kanyang sinapupunan
• kung nagkaroon ang ina ng premature birth sa mga nakaraan niyang pagbubuntis
• kung hindi normal ang hugis ng sinapupunan ng nanay
• kung may placenta previa ang nanay

Nagiging suhi din ang bata kung masyadong kaunti ang amniotic fluid sa sinapupunan ni mommy. Ibig sabihin, hindi masyadong malaki ang magagalawan ni baby kaya hindi siya makakaikot kapag kabuwanan na ni mommy.

Kung masyado namang marami ang amniotic fluid, maaaring gumalaw naman nang gumalaw si baby kaya tataas ang pagkakataon na maging suhi siya. Kailangan ay tama lang ang lamang amniotic fluid para sapat ang lugar na magagalawan ni baby.

Paano malalaman kung breech si baby?

Hindi ituturing ng doktor breech baby ang bata hanggat hindi nakakarating sa ika-35 o ika-36 weeks ng pagbubuntis.

Sa mga itinuturing na normal pregnancies, malimit ay umiikot ang bata para mauna ang ulo niya bago ang 35 weeks. Kung hindi pa umiikot ang anak mo sa tamang posisyon, malaki ang pagkakataon na magiging masyado na siyang malaki para umikot.

Kakapain ito ng iyong doktor para malaman niya kung breech ang baby. Malimit ay kinukumpirma ito sa pamamagitan ng ultrasound bago ka pa man manganak.

May mga kumplikasyon bang kaakibat ang breech baby?

Sabi ng mga eksperto , malimit ay wala namang kaakibat na kumplikasyon kung breech baby. Ngunit importanteng malaman na kung breech si baby, tumataas ang pagkakataon na maipit siya sa birth canal at malimitahan ang kanyang oxygen supply.

Ang malimit na tanong ng mga ina ay kung ano ang pinakaligtas na paraan para maipanganak si baby kahit na breech ito. Base sa mga pag-aaral noon, ang pinakaligtas na paraan ay kung ilalabas ang bata sa pamamagitan ng cesarean operation.

Mayroon pa ring mga pagkakataon na ipinapanganak sa pamamagitan ng vaginal delivery ang isang breech baby—lalo na kung bihasa sa breech ang doktor mo. Ngunit madalas, mas pinipili ng mga doktor ang pinakaligtas na paraan kaya nagiging cesarean ang delivery.

Paano paikutin ang breech baby?

Paliwanag ng mga eksperto, mayroong mga paraan para paikutin ang isang breech baby. Ang success rate o tagumpay nito ay depende sa dahilan kung bakit suhi ang sanggol.

Sa mga pag-aaral ng American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , maraming mga doktor ang magpapayong gawin ang tinatawag na external version (EV). Ginagawa sa ospital ang EV sa ika-36 o ika-38 weeks ng pagbubuntis.

Dalawang tao ang gagawa nito at habang ginagawa ito ay minomonitor ang lagay ng sanggol sa loob ng sinapupunan para maiwasan ang ano mang kumplikasyon.

Mayroon ding mga pagkakataon na mismong ang mga nanay na ang gumagawa ng paraan para umikot ang breech baby. Wala itong garantiya na magiging matagumpay, ngunit hindi rin makakasama kung susubukan, basta't may payo ang doktor tungkol dito.

Narito ang ilang mga paraan para paikutin ang breech baby:

Pelvic rocking

Sinabi ni Heidi Murkoff sa kanyang libro na What to Expect When You're Expecting , makakatulong ang pag-ugoy mo sa iyong sarili habang nakaluhod ka at nakalapat ang mga kamay mo sa sahig na para bang gagapang ka.

Forward-leaning inversion

Maraming paraan para magawa ang tinatawag na forward-leaning inversion, ngunit kailangan lang maging maingat para hindi ka mahulog.

Lumuhod ka lang sa gilid ng kama o sofa at saka mo unti-unting ilapat ang iyong mga kamay sa sahig. Kailangang mataas ng pwet mo habang unti-unti mong inuuga ang iyong sarili.

Magpatulong kay hubby o sino mang pwedeng umalalay sa iyo para masiguro mong hindi ka mahuhulog o madudulas sa gilid ng kama habang ginagawa mo ito.

Pelvic tilts

Mahiga ka sa sahig at saka mo itaas ang iyong balakang habang patuloy ang inhale at exhale mo.

Makakatulong din ang ilang marahang paglangoy sa pool kung mayroon kayo.

Maaari ring makatulong ang malimit na paglalakad at yoga para umikot ang breech baby. Kailangan lang siguraduhing mayroon itong gabay at pahintulot ng doktor.

Ilan lamang ang mga ito sa mga paraan para mapaikot mo ang iyong breech baby. Importante lang na hingin ang payo ng iyong doktor para magabayan ka sa tamang paraan ng pagpapaikot sa iyong anak.

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Breech birth, or "suhi" in Filipino, happens when instead of being in a head down position inside the uterus, the fetus is in a feetfirst position. | Photos: Pixabay.com

Moms, here’s what you need to know about suhi or when your baby is breech at birth.

What can you read in this article?

• Causes a breech pregnancy?
• What do moms need to know about suhi or breech at birth

As a pregnant woman’s due date draws near, one of the things that the doctor checks is the baby’s position inside the womb. This is because this has an effect on a woman’s labor and delivery.

Pregnant moms know very well that the baby inside their womb has a habit of moving around and sometimes even kicking.

But, right before a mom gives birth, most babies usually move to a head-down (anterior) position, facing the mother’s back. This is the most common and wanted position because the baby is ready to exit the birth canal, so it makes natural birth easier.

However, some babies don’t move to this head-down position and are instead stuck in a feet-first position. This is called a breech birth, or “suhi” in Filipino.

What is suhi or breech position?

As previously mentioned, a breech position occurs when the baby is positioned head-up in the woman’s uterus, and his feet are pointed toward the birth canal.

There are three kinds of breech position:

Complete breech –  when the baby looks like he’s sitting with his legs crossed in front of him, his buttocks facing the birth canal.

Footling o incomplete breech –  the baby’s legs can be crossed or not, and his feet are pointing downwards towards the birth canal.

Frank breech –  position where the baby’s legs are raised near his face and the buttocks are towards the birth canal.

Breech position | Image from Pinterest

The breech position is said to be the most dangerous one when it comes to giving birth. Although a lot of babies come out healthy, there is an increased risk of birth defects and trauma because of the length of the delivery. This is why moms have a lot of questions when it comes to this specific topic.

Things you need to know about suhi or breech at birth

Causes of breech birth.

One of the things a pregnant woman need to know about breech or suhi is the possible reasons why this happens. Here are some possible factors that contribute to it:

• The pregnant mom has placenta previa . This is when the placenta of the baby totally covers the mother’s cervix.
• Abnormal shape of the uterus or has complications
• Multiple pregnancies
• Too much or too little amniotic fluid in the uterus
• If the pregnant mom had a premature birth back then

How do I know if my baby is suhi?

According to Healthline, your OB-GYN will be able to tell if your baby is breech just by feeling your baby’s position through your stomach. However, to confirm this, they will probably ask you to undergo an abdominal ultrasound by the 36h week and again in the hospital before you give birth.

Can my baby in breech position still turn?

According to Dr. Rebecca Singson , an OB-gynecologist from the Makati Medical Center , 2 out of 3 babies are in the breech position in their 20th week inside their mother’s womb, but change to the anterior position by the time their reach 36 weeks.

“Even as much of 2/3 of babies are in breech before 20 weeks, but by the time they reach 36-37 weeks, only 7% remain in breech. They usually turn to cephalic position on their own” she said in Filipino.

But Dr. Singson added that for the baby in a breech position to turn, it also depends on how much wiggle room there is in the mother’s pelvic area. Because as the baby descends to the birth canal, he will be looking for a position where his head can fit.

“Usually, thats related on how adequate the pelvis of the mommy is. Because the head of the baby is the biggest diameter of the body, bigger than the butt, so his head will naturally go towards the biggest diameter. If there is adequate in the pelvis, baby’s head can go down. So it also depends on how much room there is in the mom’s abdomen for the child to turn,”  she explained.

READ MORE: 

What should I know if my baby is in a breech position?

Mga posisyon ng baby sa loob ng tiyan: Alamin kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito

Mom of three experienced normal, CS, and VBAC—spills the beans on which delivery is the best

What are a mom’s options?

There are some ways that a mom can try to get her baby to turn. But keep in mind that the priority is always the baby’s safety. Here are some things that moms with breech babies can do to help make sure that they can deliver their baby successfully:

Have a C-section

The greatest risk of a breech birth happens if the baby is delivered vaginally, or through natural birth. The baby can experience trauma or injuring during the delivery. That’s why the most common means of dealing with a breech birth or suhi would be to perform a cesarean section delivery. This is the safest way to get the breech baby out, especially if he is in a footing breech position.

However, C-sections also have their own risks, so a different option would be to reverse the baby’s position early on.

What you need to know on how breech birth or suhi na baby starts | Image from Shane on Unsplash

External Cephalic Version, or ECV

Another way of dealing with breech birth is through External Cephalic Version, or ECV. ECV is performed by the doctor to gently turn your baby using his hands while the baby is still inside the womb. The process is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require any complicated procedures. It’s usually done at about 37 weeks into the pregnancy.

However, there are situations wherein an ECV is not advised, such as the following:

• If the mother experiences vaginal bleeding
• If there is a low level of amniotic fluid
• The fetus has an abnormal heart rate
• If the placenta is near the uterus
• When the mother has twins or multiple pregnancies

What you need to know on how breech birth or suhi na baby starts | Image from Dreamstime

ECV can also have some risks, but the chances of them happening are very slim, especially with an experienced doctor doing the procedure. Here are some of the potential risks:

• The baby might turn back to breech after the procedure is done.
• Fetal distress can lead to an emergency C-section.
• There may be a premature rupture of the membranes.
• Sudden onset of labor may occur.
• There may be small blood loss for the fetus or the mother.

The success rate for an ECV is about 58%, so it’s important for mothers to take that into consideration whenever they have a breech birth.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to prioritize both the baby as well as the mother’s health. So for everything that you need to know about suhi or breech position at birth, or anything relared to your pregnancy, don’t hesitate to consult your OB-gynecologist.

familydoctor.org , Healthline , Cleveland clinic

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Extended Breech, Flexed Breech and Footling Breech

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The position of the baby inside the uterus keeps changing during pregnancy. At the time of delivery, the best position for the baby to be in is the head-down position. This position allows safer and easier passage of the baby via the birth canal and minimizes complications during child birth. However, this is not always the case and other fetal positions are common.

What is breech?

A fetus is said to be in a breech position if the baby is in a bottom-down position instead of head down. In breech presentation, the buttocks or foot / feet of the baby presents at the bottom of the uterus instead of the baby’s head.

During the last few weeks of pregnancy, health care providers check the position of the fetus with the help of a clinical examination and an ultrasound. In case breech presentation is confirmed, doctors discuss the matter with the woman and her partner and decide on options that will ensure a safe delivery.

Types of breech

Depending on which part is presenting as the lowest part of the fetus during a clinical examination, breech is classified into 3 types.

Extended breech – In this position, the hips of the baby are flexed and its legs are extended at the knee joint. The baby appears bottom first with its feet seen near its head.

Complete or flexed breech – Here, both the hips and knees of the fetus are flexed, the feet are stretched up and not seen below the level of the buttocks.

Footling breech – In this type of breech, one or both feet of the fetus extends downwards and lowers over the cervix, presenting as the lowest part of the fetus.

Risk factors contributing to breech presentation

Some risk factors at the maternal and fetal level can increase the chances of breech presentation. They are as follows:

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Maternal factors

• Previous breech birth
• First pregnancy
• Early labor
• Abnormal shape of the uterus
• Presence of fibroids in the uterus
• Excess or low levels of or amniotic fluid
• More than one baby in the womb
• Placental abnormalities such as placenta previa in which placenta is on the lower part of the uterine wall and blocks the cervix

Fetal factors

• Short umbilical cord
• Extended fetal legs
• Abnormal fetus
• Poor growth of the fetus

Clinical examination

In late pregnancy, a clinical examination is carried out to assess the presentation of the fetus.

Breech presentation is suspected in the following cases:

• During abdominal examination, the lowest part of the fetus or the presenting part feels irregular and a hard round part is found in the fundus, which is the upper part of the uterus.
• Heart sound of the fetus comes from the upper portion of the abdomen, typically above the navel or the umbilicus.
• During pelvic examination, the hard round head cannot be felt in the pelvis and instead the soft buttocks and / or the feet of the fetus are felt. Once the membrane breaks, thick, dark green feces called meconium may be present

When a breech presentation is suspected by 37 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound may be done to confirm the type of breech - extended, flexed, or footling breech - and exclude fetal head hyperextension and placenta previa.

In case of fetal head hyperextension beyond 90 degrees, there is a high risk of damage to the spinal cord during vaginal delivery and hence delivery via caesarean is recommended. The chance of a breech baby spontaneously turning into a cephalic position declines as pregnancy advances, but it is still possible in nearly 25% of women after 36 weeks.

• https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000623.htm
• https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/
• http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43972/1/9241545879_eng.pdf

Further Reading

• All Pregnancy Content
• Early Signs of Pregnancy
• Is it Safe to Exercise During Pregnancy?
• Pregnancy: 0-8 weeks
• Pregnancy: 9 - 12 weeks

Last Updated: Dec 29, 2022

Susha Cheriyedath

Susha is a scientific communication professional holding a Master's degree in Biochemistry, with expertise in Microbiology, Physiology, Biotechnology, and Nutrition. After a two-year tenure as a lecturer from 2000 to 2002, where she mentored undergraduates studying Biochemistry, she transitioned into editorial roles within scientific publishing. She has accumulated nearly two decades of experience in medical communication, assuming diverse roles in research, writing, editing, and editorial management.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

Cheriyedath, Susha. (2022, December 29). Extended Breech, Flexed Breech and Footling Breech. News-Medical. Retrieved on September 11, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Extended-Breech-Flexed-Breech-and-Footling-Breech.aspx.

Cheriyedath, Susha. "Extended Breech, Flexed Breech and Footling Breech". News-Medical . 11 September 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Extended-Breech-Flexed-Breech-and-Footling-Breech.aspx>.

Cheriyedath, Susha. "Extended Breech, Flexed Breech and Footling Breech". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Extended-Breech-Flexed-Breech-and-Footling-Breech.aspx. (accessed September 11, 2024).

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Fetal Presentation, Position, and Lie (Including Breech Presentation)

• Variations in Fetal Position and Presentation |

During pregnancy, the fetus can be positioned in many different ways inside the mother's uterus. The fetus may be head up or down or facing the mother's back or front. At first, the fetus can move around easily or shift position as the mother moves. Toward the end of the pregnancy the fetus is larger, has less room to move, and stays in one position. How the fetus is positioned has an important effect on delivery and, for certain positions, a cesarean delivery is necessary. There are medical terms that describe precisely how the fetus is positioned, and identifying the fetal position helps doctors to anticipate potential difficulties during labor and delivery.

Presentation refers to the part of the fetus’s body that leads the way out through the birth canal (called the presenting part). Usually, the head leads the way, but sometimes the buttocks (breech presentation), shoulder, or face leads the way.

Position refers to whether the fetus is facing backward (occiput anterior) or forward (occiput posterior). The occiput is a bone at the back of the baby's head. Therefore, facing backward is called occiput anterior (facing the mother’s back and facing down when the mother lies on her back). Facing forward is called occiput posterior (facing toward the mother's pubic bone and facing up when the mother lies on her back).

Lie refers to the angle of the fetus in relation to the mother and the uterus. Up-and-down (with the baby's spine parallel to mother's spine, called longitudinal) is normal, but sometimes the lie is sideways (transverse) or at an angle (oblique).

For these aspects of fetal positioning, the combination that is the most common, safest, and easiest for the mother to deliver is the following:

Head first (called vertex or cephalic presentation)

Facing backward (occiput anterior position)

Spine parallel to mother's spine (longitudinal lie)

Neck bent forward with chin tucked

Arms folded across the chest

If the fetus is in a different position, lie, or presentation, labor may be more difficult, and a normal vaginal delivery may not be possible.

Variations in fetal presentation, position, or lie may occur when

The fetus is too large for the mother's pelvis (fetopelvic disproportion).

The uterus is abnormally shaped or contains growths such as fibroids .

The fetus has a birth defect .

There is more than one fetus (multiple gestation).

Position and Presentation of the Fetus

Variations in Fetal Position and Presentation

Some variations in position and presentation that make delivery difficult occur frequently.

Occiput posterior position

In occiput posterior position (sometimes called sunny-side up), the fetus is head first (vertex presentation) but is facing forward (toward the mother's pubic bone—that is, facing up when the mother lies on her back). This is a very common position that is not abnormal, but it makes delivery more difficult than when the fetus is in the occiput anterior position (facing toward the mother's spine—that is facing down when the mother lies on her back).

When a fetus faces up, the neck is often straightened rather than bent,which requires more room for the head to pass through the birth canal. Delivery assisted by a vacuum device or forceps or cesarean delivery may be necessary.

Breech presentation

In breech presentation, the baby's buttocks or sometimes the feet are positioned to deliver first (before the head).

When delivered vaginally, babies that present buttocks first are more at risk of injury or even death than those that present head first.

The reason for the risks to babies in breech presentation is that the baby's hips and buttocks are not as wide as the head. Therefore, when the hips and buttocks pass through the cervix first, the passageway may not be wide enough for the head to pass through. In addition, when the head follows the buttocks, the neck may be bent slightly backwards. The neck being bent backward increases the width required for delivery as compared to when the head is angled forward with the chin tucked, which is the position that is easiest for delivery. Thus, the baby’s body may be delivered and then the head may get caught and not be able to pass through the birth canal. When the baby’s head is caught, this puts pressure on the umbilical cord in the birth canal, so that very little oxygen can reach the baby. Brain damage due to lack of oxygen is more common among breech babies than among those presenting head first.

In a first delivery, these problems may occur more frequently because a woman’s tissues have not been stretched by previous deliveries. Because of risk of injury or even death to the baby, cesarean delivery is preferred when the fetus is in breech presentation, unless the doctor is very experienced with and skilled at delivering breech babies or there is not an adequate facility or equipment to safely perform a cesarean delivery.

Breech presentation is more likely to occur in the following circumstances:

Labor starts too soon (preterm labor).

The uterus is abnormally shaped or contains abnormal growths such as fibroids .

Other presentations

In face presentation, the baby's neck arches back so that the face presents first rather than the top of the head.

In brow presentation, the neck is moderately arched so that the brow presents first.

Usually, fetuses do not stay in a face or brow presentation. These presentations often change to a vertex (top of the head) presentation before or during labor. If they do not, a cesarean delivery is usually recommended.

In transverse lie, the fetus lies horizontally across the birth canal and presents shoulder first. A cesarean delivery is done, unless the fetus is the second in a set of twins. In such a case, the fetus may be turned to be delivered through the vagina.

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• Labor & Delivery

What Causes Breech Presentation?

Learn more about the types, causes, and risks of breech presentation, along with how breech babies are typically delivered.

What Is Breech Presentation?

Types of breech presentation, what causes a breech baby, can you turn a breech baby, how are breech babies delivered.

FatCamera/Getty Images

Toward the end of pregnancy, your baby will start to get into position for delivery, with their head pointed down toward the vagina. This is otherwise known as vertex presentation. However, some babies turn inside the womb so that their feet or buttocks are poised to be delivered first, which is commonly referred to as breech presentation, or a breech baby.

As you near the end of your pregnancy journey, an OB-GYN or health care provider will check your baby's positioning. You might find yourself wondering: What causes breech presentation? Are there risks involved? And how are breech babies delivered? We turned to experts and research to answer some of the most common questions surrounding breech presentation, along with what causes this positioning in the first place.

During your pregnancy, your baby constantly moves around the uterus. Indeed, most babies do somersaults up until the 36th week of pregnancy , when they pick their final position in the womb, says Laura Riley , MD, an OB-GYN in New York City. Approximately 3-4% of babies end up “upside-down” in breech presentation, with their feet or buttocks near the cervix.

Breech presentation is typically diagnosed during a visit to an OB-GYN, midwife, or health care provider. Your physician can feel the position of your baby's head through your abdominal wall—or they can conduct a vaginal exam if your cervix is open. A suspected breech presentation should ultimately be confirmed via an ultrasound, after which you and your provider would have a discussion about delivery options, potential issues, and risks.

There are three types of breech babies: frank, footling, and complete. Learn about the differences between these breech presentations.

Frank Breech

With frank breech presentation, your baby’s bottom faces the cervix and their legs are straight up. This is the most common type of breech presentation.

Footling Breech

Like its name suggests, a footling breech is when one (single footling) or both (double footling) of the baby's feet are in the birth canal, where they’re positioned to be delivered first .

Complete Breech

In a complete breech presentation, baby’s bottom faces the cervix. Their legs are bent at the knees, and their feet are near their bottom. A complete breech is the least common type of breech presentation.

Other Types of Mal Presentations

The baby can also be in a transverse position, meaning that they're sideways in the uterus. Another type is called oblique presentation, which means they're pointing toward one of the pregnant person’s hips.

Typically, your baby's positioning is determined by the fetus itself and the shape of your uterus. Because you can't can’t control either of these factors, breech presentation typically isn’t considered preventable. And while the cause often isn't known, there are certain risk factors that may increase your risk of a breech baby, including the following:

• The fetus may have abnormalities involving the muscular or central nervous system
• The uterus may have abnormal growths or fibroids
• There might be insufficient amniotic fluid in the uterus (too much or too little)
• This isn’t your first pregnancy
• You have a history of premature delivery
• You have placenta previa (the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix)
• You’re pregnant with multiples
• You’ve had a previous breech baby

In some cases, your health care provider may attempt to help turn a baby in breech presentation through a procedure known as external cephalic version (ECV). This is when a health care professional applies gentle pressure on your lower abdomen to try and coax your baby into a head-down position. During the entire procedure, the fetus's health will be monitored, and an ECV is often performed near a delivery room, in the event of any potential issues or complications.

However, it's important to note that ECVs aren't for everyone. If you're carrying multiples, there's health concerns about you or the baby, or you've experienced certain complications with your placenta or based on placental location, a health care provider will not attempt an ECV.

The majority of breech babies are born through C-sections . These are usually scheduled between 38 and 39 weeks of pregnancy, before labor can begin naturally. However, with a health care provider experienced in delivering breech babies vaginally, a natural delivery might be a safe option for some people. In fact, a 2017 study showed similar complication and success rates with vaginal and C-section deliveries of breech babies.

That said, there are certain known risks and complications that can arise with an attempt to deliver a breech baby vaginally, many of which relate to problems with the umbilical cord. If you and your medical team decide on a vaginal delivery, your baby will be monitored closely for any potential signs of distress.

Ultimately, it's important to know that most breech babies are born healthy. Your provider will consider your specific medical condition and the position of your baby to determine which type of delivery will be the safest option for a healthy and successful birth.

ACOG. If Your Baby Is Breech .

American Pregnancy Association. Breech Presentation .

Gray CJ, Shanahan MM. Breech Presentation . [Updated 2022 Nov 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.

Mount Sinai. Breech Babies .

Takeda J, Ishikawa G, Takeda S. Clinical Tips of Cesarean Section in Case of Breech, Transverse Presentation, and Incarcerated Uterus . Surg J (N Y). 2020 Mar 18;6(Suppl 2):S81-S91. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1702985. PMID: 32760790; PMCID: PMC7396468.

Shanahan MM, Gray CJ. External Cephalic Version . [Updated 2022 Nov 6]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. 

Fonseca A, Silva R, Rato I, Neves AR, Peixoto C, Ferraz Z, Ramalho I, Carocha A, Félix N, Valdoleiros S, Galvão A, Gonçalves D, Curado J, Palma MJ, Antunes IL, Clode N, Graça LM. Breech Presentation: Vaginal Versus Cesarean Delivery, Which Intervention Leads to the Best Outcomes? Acta Med Port. 2017 Jun 30;30(6):479-484. doi: 10.20344/amp.7920. Epub 2017 Jun 30. PMID: 28898615.

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