Breech birth.
A position of the baby in the uterus in which the buttocks will appear first during childbirth.
A type of fetal presentation in which the fetus is buttocks or feet first.
Any position or presentation of the fetus in the pelvis other than head first.
A condition in pregnancy or labor in which, instead of the head, the baby’s buttocks, foot, or feet, are positioned against the mother’s cervix. In most deliveries, the baby moves into a head-down, facing-back position. But about 3 to 4 percent of babies are in a breech presentation at delivery. A breech presentation is more likely in pregnancies with a small fetus, more than one fetus, or too much or too little amniotic fluid. Women who have had several children are also at greater risk for a breech presentation because the muscles of the abdomen and uterus are more relaxed and permit the fetus to move more easily into a breech position.
The position of a baby in the womb such that it is delivered buttocks first (instead of the normal head-first position). Since this can result in a difficult birth, the baby is often turned head first before labor; if this is not possible, the delivery can be facilitated by careful manipulation of the baby during labor.
By the 32nd week of pregnancy most babies are in a head-down position in the womb. Up to 4 per cent of them, however, have their buttocks (breech) presenting at the neck of the womb. If the baby is still a breech presentation at the 34th to 35th week the obstetrician may, by external manipulation, try to turn it to the head-down position. If this is not successful, the fetus is left in the breech position. Breech deliveries are more difficult for mother and baby because the buttocks are less efficient than the head at dilating the cervix and vagina.
Fetal position in which the buttocks comes first. Breech presentation is of three types: complete breech, when the thighs of the fetus are flexed on the abdomen and the legs flexed upon the thighs; frank breech, when the legs of the fetus are extended over the anterior surface of the body; and footling, when a foot or feet present. Footling can be single, double, or, if the leg remains flexed, knee presentation.
A presentation in which the buttocks are visible at the entrance of the womb.