Breech
A breech presentation is defined as the condition in which the baby is in longitudinal lie and the podalic pole presenting at the pelvic brim with the head occupying upper pole of uterus. A breech birth is the birth of a baby from a breech presentation. In the breech presentation the baby enters the birth canal with the buttocks or feet first as opposed to the normal head first presentation. In breech presentation Fetal Heart Sounds are heard just above the umblicus.
The bottom-down position, called breech presentation, presents some hazards to the baby during the process of birth, and the mode of delivery (vaginal versus Caesarean) is controversial in the fields of obstetrics and midwifery.
Though labour and vaginal birth are possible for the breech baby, certain fetal and maternal factors influence the safety of vaginal breech birth (see below). The majority of breech babies born in the United States are delivered by Caesarean section. Certain factors can encourage a breech presentation. Prematurity is likely the chief cause. Twenty five percent of fetuses are in the breech position at 32 weeks gestation; this drops to three percent at term. The increasing size of the fetus near term traps the fetus into the head down position normally. Pregnancies ending in preterm birth simply recruit more breeches before they can turn to head down. Factors predisposing to term breech presentation include:
The bottom-down position, called breech presentation, presents some hazards to the baby during the process of birth, and the mode of delivery (vaginal versus Caesarean) is controversial in the fields of obstetrics and midwifery.
Though labour and vaginal birth are possible for the breech baby, certain fetal and maternal factors influence the safety of vaginal breech birth (see below). The majority of breech babies born in the United States are delivered by Caesarean section. Certain factors can encourage a breech presentation. Prematurity is likely the chief cause. Twenty five percent of fetuses are in the breech position at 32 weeks gestation; this drops to three percent at term. The increasing size of the fetus near term traps the fetus into the head down position normally. Pregnancies ending in preterm birth simply recruit more breeches before they can turn to head down. Factors predisposing to term breech presentation include:
- multiple (or multifetal) pregnancy (twins, triplets or more)[citation needed]
- abnormal volume of amniotic fluid: both polyhydramnios and oligohydramnios[citation needed]
- fetal anomalies: hydrocephaly, anencephaly and other congenital abnormalities[citation needed]
- uterine abnormalities[citation needed]
- prior Caesarean section
- contracted pelvis
- placenta praevia
- congenital malformation of the uterus such as septate or bicornuate uterus
- multiparae with lax abdominal wall