What is breech childbirth?
Most babies are positioned head down in the womb. This is so they can come out of the birth canal (vagina) head first. Sometimes, the baby is positioned so the feet or buttocks will come out first during childbirth. This is called a breech presentation.

There are three ways a breech baby might be positioned:

FRANK BREECH
Legs point up with feet by the baby’s head.

COMPLETE BREECH
Legs folded with feet at the level of the buttocks.

FOOTLING BREECH
One or both feet point down so the legs would emerge first. Pictures below

Why are some babies breech?

Often, there is no obvious reason why a baby is breech. It may simply be that your baby is most comfortable in this position. Some factors that may influence why a baby might be in breech position are:
labour earlier than 37 weeks

too much or too little of the liquid (amniotic fluid) around the baby in the womb

more than one fetus in the womb

the length of the umbilical cord

the size of the uterus

an irregularly shaped uterus or uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths on the wall of the uterus)

certain physical abnormalities in the baby.

A breech birth usually does not affect your baby’s long-term health.

How are breech babies delivered?
In some cases, it is common for most breech babies to be delivered through a caesarean section (C-section). With this method, the baby is delivered through incisions made in the mother’s stomach. Today, health-care professionals recommend that in some circumstances, breech babies may be delivered the traditional way, through the vagina. Vaginal childbirth has health benefits for the mother such as a faster recovery and less pain, as well as a better chance of having a vaginal childbirth in the future.

When can a mother deliver her baby the traditional way?

It may be possible to deliver a breech baby vaginally if your health-care professional is trained in vaginal breech childbirth and other birth factors are normal:

Labour occurs at term date (40 weeks)

The baby is the correct weight

The baby is in complete or frank breech position

You and your baby are otherwise healthy with no abnormalities

What happens during vaginal breech childbirth?

The head is the widest part of the baby’s body. During normal vaginal childbirth, it would come out first. However, in a breech vaginal birth, the head comes out last.

During vaginal breech childbirth, your obstetrician will ask you to push your baby out to the point where the legs and lower belly are delivered.

Then, your health-care professional will support your baby’s body while an assistant (such as a nurse or midwife) presses on your lower abdomen. This will help your baby’s head pass through the pelvis as you push. In some cases, the health-care professional may use other manoeuvres or an instrument called a forceps to help deliver your baby’s head.

Even if you and your doctor decide to try a vaginal childbirth, a C-section may be necessary for you and your baby’s well-being if the labour is not progressing properly. For this reason, a breech delivery should happen in a hospital, where a C-section is available if you need one.

When is a caesarean section recommended?
With a breech presentation, your doctor may recommend a C-section if:

labour is not progressing normally

the umbilical cord comes out before the baby

the baby is not in complete or frank breech position

A C-section, like any major surgery, has its risks, such as increased bleeding, pain, or infection.

The recovery time is longer than vaginal childbirth, so expect to stay in the hospital longer. Once you go home, you will need to take it easy by avoiding any strenuous activities while you heal. Talk to your health-care professional about recovering from a C-section.

How do I know the baby’s position?
You probably will not know the position of your baby in the womb. You will likely find out if your baby is breech towards the end of pregnancy or when labour has started. A health-care professional will examine you to feel the position of the baby’s head, back, and buttocks.

Ultrasound will be used to confirm the position. This produces an image of the baby inside the womb you may view on screen.

Changing the baby’s position
Most babies are positioned head down in the last four weeks in the womb, but if your baby is breech, and you are past your 36th week of pregnancy, your health-care professional may try to turn the baby around so its head is down near the birth canal. A technique called
version is used to gently roll the baby around so the head is in the best position for labour and delivery. Your health-care professional will place his or her hands on your abdomen, then push or lift. You may be given a medication to relax the uterus and make the version procedure easier.
During the procedure, your baby’s heart rate will be monitored and ultrasound may be used to check the baby’s position. Very rarely, version may cause problems with the baby’s heart rate or lead to early labour. Your health-care professional will be ready to deliver your baby if necessary, vaginally or by C-section.

Sometimes, the baby will move back into breech position. If you believe your baby has switched positions again, discuss this at your next prenatal check-up. Your health-care professional may try version again, but as the baby grows in the final weeks of pregnancy, there is less room for movement in the womb.

Note: breech childbirth does not necessarily mean you have a C-section, as your health care provider will make you understand your options and let's you make the best decision.

Have a safe delivery.

Version procedures in pic

nice article.. cc. lalasticlala our pregnant ladies might be needing this... help push this..

Very insightful

Wow.. Thanks @lasun clinics.... But most hospitals don't enlighten their patients on this, instead they just carry out the operation.. Lalasticlala .... Do the needful ....

Highly informative...
These are the kinda of quality post that should be hiring the front page.

To the waiting mothers, it's your season in Jesus name. And to the pregnant mothers, I wish you safe delivery like the Hebrew women in the Bible

Hi, please where is your hospital located?

Very beautiful and educative piece. what about kids like me who stayed 10months+ in the womb. What do you call that?

Lol.
Since 2016 post.
MODS these days sha.

H

Informative.

check my SIGNATURE

Good One.
Not "DIE BY FIRE" as usual

Nice there! All you need to know before you become a mum or slay baby mama.

Akanbibabatunde:
Wow.. Thanks @lasun clinics.... But most hospitals don't enlighten their patients on this, instead they just carry out the operation.. Lalasticlala .... Do the needful ....

They do just that people often choose ignorance.

Very insightful post. I sure did learn a thing or two.

Wow

Interesting...

Make i go continue my search for bitcoin to buy sha... Check my signature.. Best rate always.

It's LadyF again.

IGE adubi.

same way my woman delivered our twins.

am damn scared. but I thank God it went smoothly

Front page worthy and not those Instagram photos they're forcing down our throats

okay

To all those women that have gone through child labour and delivery. I respect you....

Wow, insightful post

All you need to know about "Ige Adubi"

See as them open remembrance book for this op matter o. May the heavens open my own book too o.

The moniker no even dey active again. May I not be inactive before the heavens remember me o.

Some very stubborn kids, would show you and refuse to turn.....

They would refuse to pop out of the hole..... Unbeknown to them, CS is an alternative option......

ONE MILLION AND one accolades to every mother out there...


On behalf of every man on this thread we say a big thank you.

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∆ Check your time ∆


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