Breech presentation (feet-first position) is very common in the early stages of pregnancy.
Most babies turn to the head-down position as the pregnancy progresses.
if your baby is breech, you may be offered an external cephalic version (ECV). This is a procedure to turn your baby in the womb. This may be discussed with you if you are 36 weeks pregnant and your baby is still breech.
If you are late in your pregnancy and labour has not started, a caesarean is recommended. This is because it is safer for your baby.
Your medical team will discuss this you. They can help you make the best decision for you and your baby (informed consent).
Caesarean birth
A caesarean birth is particularly recommended if it is your first baby. This is generally done at 39 weeks.
If you go into labour before this, an emergency or urgent caesarean is likely to be recommended.
It may not be recommended if:
- the labour is well advanced
- doctors are confident a vaginal birth will be safe
Undiagnosed breech
Sometimes late in pregnancy, the baby’s position changes from head-first to bottom-first (breech). This means you can go into labour with the baby in the breech position.
In this situation, you will not be aware that your baby is in the breech position. Your obstetrician and midwife will notice this when examining you during labour.
The doctors will scan you to confirm breech. This helps them decide if a caesarean or labour is best.
They may advise allowing the labour to continue if:
- you had a previous birth with no complications
- there are no major concerns
- the baby is not expected to be very large
Otherwise, they will recommend a caesarean birth.
Vaginal birth
A vaginal birth is possible if:
- this is not your first pregnancy
- your baby is coming before 37 weeks
- the hospital can facilitate an emergency caesarean, if needed
- the hospital has enough skilled doctors with experience in vaginal breech delivery
Vaginal breech birth is common in twins where the second baby is in breech position. If the first twin is breech, the doctors usually recommend a caesarean.
Vaginal breech birth is more complicated than other types of vaginal birth. This option will not be suitable or safe for everyone.
The biggest concern is that the baby’s head could get stuck in the pelvis. This can cause serious injury to the baby.
Related topics
Staying active and upright during labour
Contractions and other signs of labour