Breech Position and Breech Birth - Breech Position and Breech Birth in Hindi

Around 3-4% of all pregnancies have a breech presentation at full term. That’s a four out of 100 chance of your baby being breech. These odds are quite low, and so there is no need to panic about it. If your baby is indeed breech, you must visit a doctor to evaluate the situation and discuss your options.

It’s very difficult to tell if your baby is not breech before 35-36 weeks of pregnancy. If you are 36 weeks pregnant or farther along in your pregnancy and can feel your baby’s head pushing high in your belly, or feel the baby kicking in the lower belly still, you should go to the doctor immediately. An obstetrician or experienced midwife will be able to place their hands on the belly to find out where the baby’s head is to know if he or she is still breech.

Ultrasounds and special X-rays can also be used to identify the position of the baby and the size of the pelvis. These methods can also help determine if vaginal delivery is at all possible for a breech baby.

There are three main breech positions:

• Complete breech: The buttocks point downwards and the legs are folded at the knees with the feet tucked near the buttocks.
• Frank breech: The buttocks point downwards and the legs are straight up in front of the body, with the feet near the head. This is the only breech position in which a vaginal delivery may still be safe.
• Footling breech: The buttocks point downwards, but one or both legs stretch out below the buttocks. In this case, either or both legs will be delivered before the rest of the body. This position is also known as an incomplete breech.

The exact causes of a breech presentation are not known yet. But a few conditions are linked to the occurrence of the baby’s breech position:

• If the woman has given birth before.
• If the woman is pregnant with twins.
• If the woman has a history of premature delivery.
• If the woman’s womb has too much or too little amniotic fluid.
• If the woman’s uterus is abnormally shaped, or has uterine growths like fibroids.
• If the woman has placenta previa or preeclampsia.

Your baby being breech doesn’t usually mean that there is something wrong with him or her. Most breech babies are born completely healthy, especially if they’re delivered via cesarean. This is because trying to vaginally deliver a breech baby can cause the umbilical cord to be compressed in the process. This can lead to a lack of oxygen during the birthing process, and in extreme cases cause cerebral palsy or even stillbirth.

However, a few breech babies might have birth defects. It’s important to remember that these birth defects are not caused by the breech position. Quite the opposite: if your baby has a congenital condition like spina bifida, this might be the reason why your baby was unable to turn in the womb and was in a breech position.

The idea that breech babies are stronger, and being kicked by them can cure aches and pain, is a myth. Breech babies are not stronger or bigger than other babies. If they are born with birth defects or anomalies, they might, in fact, be more susceptible to comorbidities and other health issues.

It is preferable to turn a breech baby during the time when he or she should naturally turn in the womb. This time period is between the 32nd and the 37th weeks of pregnancy. There are a number of ways to turn the baby. The following are two methods that may be employed by your doctor.

While it is not advisable to try strange and potentially harmful home remedies to naturally turn a breech baby, there are some safe, natural techniques that you can try at home. These techniques are risk-free and won’t cost you anything. However, there is no assurance of their success, which means that you might have to consider ECV or cesarean delivery if they don't work.

If your baby does not turn naturally using any of the above-mentioned techniques, or ECV is not an option, most doctors will ask you to steer clear of a vaginal breech delivery and choose cesarean delivery.

Vaginal delivery of a baby in breech position can be attempted only under the following circumstances:

• The baby is full-term.
• The baby shows a frank breech presentation.
• The cervix is widening properly, indicating that the labour process will be smooth.
• The doctor estimates the baby is not too big and the mom-to-be's pelvis is not too small.
• Anesthesia is available and so is cesarean delivery on short notice in case complications show up mid-birth.

In case all these factors play in your favour, vaginal delivery might be possible. It is usually recommended that mothers with breech babies give birth on all fours.

Cesarean delivery is comparatively safer, and can ensure that the baby is delivered without any danger to himself or herself, or to the mother for that matter.

If the baby is breech and premature, the doctor will invariably choose cesarean delivery. This is because the head of premature babies is larger in proportion to their bodies, and the mom's cervix might not stretch enough to accomodate vaginal birth.