Pregnancy Health Center
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Breech - series

Breech - series

Breech Birth And Other Positions

In the last weeks of most pregnancies, your baby will be head-down in your uterus. A small percentage of babies assume different positions, some of which make vaginal birth risky and require medical intervention. Here are some abnormal delivery positions you should be aware of:

Rare abnormal delivery positions include face-first, brow-first, and compound, in which a hand or foot emerges from the birth canal with the head or buttocks.

Symptoms And Diagnosis

Your health care provider will usually assess the position of the baby before you go into labor by feeling your uterus. A suspected abnormal position can be confirmed with ultrasound, and you and your health care provider can discuss the safest delivery options.

A few abnormal positions are more likely to occur under specific circumstances:

Treatment

With all abnormal positions, there is additional risk to the mother and fetus. A damaged or obstructed umbilical cord may threaten the baby's oxygen supply. If the baby goes without oxygen for too long, he can develop brain damage or even die. There is also an increased risk of cervical or vaginal tears with abnormal positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I had a pregnancy with an abnormal position, what are the chances it will happen again?

A: If the baby was positioned abnormally because of the shape of your pelvis or your uterus, your chances of having an abnormal position in your next pregnancy are increased. In other cases, the position may have been associated with a condition such as premature labor or placenta previa and would not happen in another pregnancy unless that condition occurred again.

Review Date: 1/2/2007
Reviewed By: Douglas A. Levine, MD, Gynecology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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