Normal Birth vs. Breech Birth

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Last updated: Nov 8th, 2024
Normal Birth vs. Breech Birth
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At birth, the baby may be in the normal or breech position. Five percent of newborns are born breech where the fetus has not rotated to a headfirst presentation at the cervix, but rather, where the buttocks are the presenting part.

The principal concern of a breech birth is the increased time and difficulty during the expulsion stage of birth. Any attempts at realigning the fetus through the use of forceps could injure the infant. If an infant cannot be delivered breech perhaps due to the mother's pelvis being too small or a leg-first presentation, a cesarean section may be necessary. This is a surgical procedure where delivery of the fetus is achieved through an incision into the abdominal wall and uterus.