Breech Presentation – What You Need to Know

Breech Presentation – What You Need to Know

Breech presentation is a condition where the baby is positioned in the womb with the buttocks or feet presenting first at the mother’s pelvic inlet. This is an abnormal presentation, which can make delivery difficult.

Causes:

• Abnormalities in amniotic fluid volume

• Fetal malformations

• Uterine malformations

• Advanced maternal age (not a cause of breech presentation)

Prognosis:

The prognosis of breech presentation depends on many factors, including the mother’s health, the fetus’s condition, and the fetal presentation.

• It’s impossible to predict whether a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section will be necessary.

• There is a possibility of cord prolapse, leading to the need for an emergency cesarean section before labor.

Delivery Techniques:

• Head delivery:

• Do not pull the baby’s legs to hasten delivery.

• Encourage the mother to push forcefully.

• Combine pushing with cephalic traction on the mother’s perineum.

• Perform an episiotomy.

• Version:

• Allow the buttocks to deliver with a push during contractions when the baby’s buttocks want to push out the assisting hand.

• Incomplete breech presentation:

• The assisting hand holds the baby’s thighs and gradually moves them up.

• Mauriceau’s maneuver:

• Helps to flex the baby’s head.

Notes:

• The landmark of breech presentation is the intergluteal cleft.

• The diameter of breech presentation is 9 cm between the femoral condyles.

• In breech presentation, the left sacral anterior position has a high chance of delivering in a left sacral transverse position.

• The baby’s buttocks can rotate 450 degrees clockwise during delivery.

• The most dangerous complication of breech delivery is aftercoming head.

• The Tsovyanov maneuver helps the perineum to dilate effectively.

Conclusion:

Breech presentation is an abnormal presentation that requires monitoring and professional technical support. Doctors will determine the most appropriate delivery method for each individual case, ensuring the safety of both mother and baby.