Highlights & Basics
- Breech presentation refers to the baby presenting for delivery with the buttocks or feet first rather than head.
- Associated with increased morbidity and mortality for the mother in terms of emergency cesarean section and placenta previa; and for the baby in terms of preterm birth, small fetal size, congenital anomalies, and perinatal mortality.
- Incidence decreases as pregnancy progresses and by term occurs in 3% to 4% of singleton term pregnancies.
- Treatment options include external cephalic version to increase the likelihood of vaginal birth or a planned cesarean section, the optimal gestation being 37 and 39 weeks, respectively.
- Planned cesarean section is considered the safest form of delivery for infants with a persisting breech presentation at term.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
Impey LWM, Murphy DJ, Griffiths M, et al; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Management of breech presentation: green-top guideline no. 20b. BJOG. 2017 Jun;124(7):e151-77.[Full Text]
Hofmeyr GJ, Hannah M, Lawrie TA. Planned caesarean section for term breech delivery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Jul 21;(7):CD000166.[Abstract][Full Text]
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. External cephalic version and reducing the incidence of term breech presentation. Mar 2017 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Cluver C, Gyte GM, Sinclair M, et al. Interventions for helping to turn term breech babies to head first presentation when using external cephalic version. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 9;(2):CD000184.[Abstract][Full Text]
de Hundt M, Velzel J, de Groot CJ, et al. Mode of delivery after successful external cephalic version: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Jun;123(6):1327-34.[Abstract]
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