Breech Birth

Breech birth is presentation of the fetal buttocks, one foot, or both feet at the cervix at the time of labor. Three percent of term pregnancies, 13% of
pregnancies at 30 weeks of gestation.

Causes. Prematurity, fetal or maternal anomalies (e.g., fetal hydrocephalus, maternal uterine anomalies), multiple gestation.

Risk factor. Prematurity, fetal or uterine anomalies, multiple pregnancies.

Signs & Symptoms

• Fetal head located outside the pelvis on abdominal palpation (Leopold’s maneuvers)
• Fetal heart heard high in the uterus
• Buttock, one foot, or both feet palpable on cervical examination

Workup

_ Ultrasonography may be used to confirm presentation.

_ Special tests. Fetal heart rate and uterine activity monitoring

Management_ External version, evaluation for route of delivery. External version is successful in >50% of patients.