Breech position: Everything to know if your baby is breech

What is a breech baby?

A breech baby or breech pregnancy occurs when your baby’s feet or buttocks are positioned to emerge first from the mother’s vagina. Its head is closest to your chest, while its bottom is closest to your vagina. During childbirth, most newborns will naturally position themselves so that their head comes out of the vagina first.

Before 37 weeks, there is a tiny chance that your baby will not be able to move into a head-first position. 3 per cent to 4 per cent of all full-term pregnancies have breech position babies.

Some newborns don’t reveal their final destination until they’ve already arrived at the hospital. Vaginal delivery may be difficult, if not impossible if your fully-term baby is born in a breech position during pregnancy. It’s possible to alter your course before you go into labour, and your doctor can assist you in doing so if necessary.

Types of breech position baby

If you’re pregnant, your baby can be found in a variety of positions. Head-down, facing backwards, with chin tucked into their chest is the ideal breech position in pregnancy for your baby. Breech babies can be found in a variety of postures, including the following:

1. Frank breech position: In this position, your baby’s bottom is down, her legs are pointing up, and her feet are close to the top of her head.
2. Complete breech position: The baby is sitting cross-legged with her head up and her buttocks down.
3. Footling breech position: One or both feet are dangling down, which means the baby could come out feet first (if delivered vaginally) if you were to give birth by caesarean section.
4. Shoulder breech position or transverse lie: Rather than vertically positioned, the baby is horizontally spread throughout your uterus in this case. As a result, their shoulders would enter the vagina before their other body parts.
5. Footling breech position:  The toes of one or both of your infant’s feet point downward.
6. Cephalic or vertex breech position(occiput):  Your baby is lying in a posture that is normal for giving birth. Her head is bowed and she’s glancing back at you.
7. Cephalic or vertex breech position (occiput posterior):  Even though the baby may be laying down, your baby may still be facing you in the direction of her head.

What signs do you look for to see whether your baby is in the breech position?

At 35 or 36 weeks, a baby is not considered a breach. It is common for a baby to turn its head down to prepare for birth in normal pregnancies. Before 35 weeks, it’s typical for newborns to be lying on their backs or even sideways. There is a limit to how far a newborn can turn, so it becomes increasingly difficult for them to find the ideal posture as they grow.

It’s possible to know you have a breech position baby if you have previously given birth to a head-first baby. You may experience breech birth if you feel lumps and kicks in the locations where you normally feel them.

Pregnant women with breech babies can tell their doctor by feeling their breech position in pregnancy in their abdomens. In the office and the hospital, they will most likely use ultrasounds to confirm that the baby is breech.

What causes a breech position baby?

When it comes to pregnancies in which the baby is facing the wrong way, there are three main classifications: frank, complete, and footling breech. Breech pregnancy places the baby’s bottom toward the birth canal, rather than its head, rather than the other way around.

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), breech pregnancy occurs for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the following factors:

• Multiples are expected (twins or more). As a result, it becomes more difficult for each infant to find the ideal posture.
• The amniotic fluid is either too much or too little.
• Uterine abnormalities, such as fibroids, alter their usual shape or growth.
• In most cases, the uterus resembles an upside-down pear in shape. A full-grown infant may not have adequate room if the shape of the uterus is different.
• All or part of the cervix is covered by the placenta (a condition called placenta previa)
• Premature birth has been detected. This indicates that they are less than 37 weeks along in their pregnancy and may not yet be in a head-first position when they give birth.
• Your kid was born with a congenital condition that prevents them from lowering their head.
• If you’ve had a breech baby in the past, you have a greater probability of having another breech baby.
• Smoking during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of a breech baby, according to research.

How and When the breech baby is diagnosed?

When your healthcare professional rests their hands on your abdomen, they may be able to detect which direction your baby is facing. It’s usually feasible to tell where the baby’s head, back, and buttocks are located by squeezing the baby’s limbs. The baby’s position can be confirmed with an ultrasound.

At some point in their lives, all babies are breech. A head-down position is likely to be established between the 32nd and 36th week of your pregnancy. Your healthcare practitioner will use their hands to examine your abdomen and assess the location of your baby. During the third trimester, this will be a common occurrence. In most breech pregnancies, the baby will not turn on its own after 37 weeks. You’ll be able to talk to your doctor about delivery choices.

What is the impact of a breech baby on pregnancy?

Pregnancy is rarely impacted in any way. The majority of breech newborns are healthy, however, there is a slightly heightened risk for several birth abnormalities. In the beginning, your baby’s motions may feel a little odd. Lower in your tummy, you’ll feel your baby’s kicks for the first time. A firm bump around your ribs may be felt. This is the head of your baby.

A breech baby could alter your plans for a vaginal delivery. Having a vaginal delivery with a breech birth can be dangerous and challenging. You may be able to deliver your baby vaginally, but your doctor will most likely prescribe a Cesarean section (C-section).

What is the impact of a breech baby on the delivery?

After 36 weeks of pregnancy, if your baby is breech, your birthing plan is likely to change. The risk of damage to a breech baby during vaginal birth is high. Planned C-sections are the safest method of delivering your child in the vast majority of circumstances. Vaginal breech birth may be acceptable to some healthcare practitioners. While still in your womb, you may be able to place your baby in a head-down position. After that, your kid is born head-first.

What are some of the complications associated with having a breech baby?

Pregnancy complications associated with a breech baby normally don’t reveal themselves until the baby is delivered. Vaginal delivery is safe for certain breech newborns. Attempting a vaginal breech pregnancy has the following risks:

• A fracture or dislocation of a bone in your baby’s arm or leg.
• Obstacles related to the umbilical cord- During childbirth, the umbilical cord can be twisted or flattened as needed. The shortage of oxygen in the blood might harm the nerves and brain.

Breech births, on the other hand, carry a greater risk of problems than vaginal births.

During breech pregnancy, scheduled caesareans were safer for the baby than vaginal births. Planned caesareans for breech newborns resulted in a lower incidence of infant death and sequelae. However, both caesarean and vaginal birth groups had similar rates of problems for moms. A caesarean section is a serious surgical procedure, which may explain why moms have a higher likelihood of problems.

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Is it possible to flip a breech pregnancy?

If your baby is breech, your doctor may suggest that you turn him or her so that you can have a vaginal delivery. Attempting to turn your infant may not be safe in some situations, or the dangers may outweigh the advantages.

1. External cephalic version (ECV): It is the most common procedure for turning a breech infant. Around 37 weeks of pregnancy, your healthcare professional will execute the procedure. In the event of an emergency, this surgery is conducted in the hospital. While your baby is still in your uterus, you place your hands on your belly and apply strong pressure to turn your baby into a head-down position. It’s around 65% effective and comes with some dangers.
2. Natural methods

• Breech tilt, or pelvic tilt: Bend your knees and place them on the floor with your feet flat on the ground.  Lift your hips and pelvis into a bridge position, then lower them. For around 10 to 20 minutes, keep your head in the tilt. It’s okay to complete this workout three times per day. When your kid is moving about in your uterus, you may find it easier to accomplish this.
• Inversion: There are a few ways to employ gravity to turn the baby, such as inversions. They aid in the relaxation of your pelvic and uterine muscles. Resting in the child’s posture for 10 to 15 minutes is another option. You can also gently rock back and forth on your hands and knees to help relieve the discomfort. You can also create circles with your pelvis to encourage movement.
• Music: Your baby may enjoy listening to certain types of music. To get your uterus to turn, place a pair of headphones or a speaker at the bottom.
• Temperature: Your baby’s response to temperature may be similar to that of music. Put something cool on your stomach, just above your baby’s head, and see if that helps. Finally, apply something warm but not hot on the bottom of your abdomen.
• Webster technique: This is a chiropractic approach. Relax your uterus by putting it in the correct position. Your goal is to get your baby to turn around.
• Acupuncture: The energy of your body is balanced by inserting needles into pressure spots. Your uterus will relax and your baby’s movements will be stimulated.

When does labour begin if your baby is in the breech position?

It doesn’t matter if your baby is breech if you experience contractions or the rupturing of your membranes. A scheduled C-section is the most common recommendation from your healthcare professional. It’s possible that you won’t experience any signs of labour if your delivery is scheduled.

The ultimate confirmation of your breech position in pregnancy will be done in the hospital if you are in labour and need to be taken to the hospital for delivery. To be on the safe side, your healthcare professional may choose a C-section rather than a vaginal delivery.

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