Breech birth is one possibility during childbirth that can come with several risks and possible complications. In this article, we’ll define the term “breech birth” and explain how it relates to birth injury law.
Key Takeaways
- Breech birth is when a baby is born in breech position, with their feet or buttocks coming out of the vagina first
- Breech birth is contrasted with vertex presentation, when the baby is born head-first, the safest position for childbirth
- Types of breech birth include complete breech, frank breech, footling breech, and transverse lie
- Causes of breech birth may include placenta previa, multiple pregnancies, too much or too little amniotic fluid, and more
- Complications of breech birth include broken bones, birth asphyxia, death, and more
- Options for breech birth include turning the baby, C-section, or breech delivery
- Breech birth can potentially increase the risk of some birth injuries
- If a healthcare professional improperly responds to breech position causing birth injury, it may be considered medical malpractice
What Is Breech Birth?
A breech birth is when a baby’s feet or buttocks are positioned to come out of the birth canal first rather than the head. About 3% to 4% of all full-term pregnancies are in breech position.
In the uterus, the baby is positioned with its head closest to the parent’s chest and its bottom closest to the vagina. Most babies will naturally move from this position by 36 weeks of pregnancy such that they are positioned to come out of the vagina head-first during birth. The head-first position is called vertex presentation, and it is the safest position for childbirth.
Types of Breech Position
There are multiple types of breech positions, including:
- Complete breech - The baby’s buttocks are pointing downward and the hips and the knees are folded under themselves
- Frank breech - The baby’s buttocks are aimed at the vaginal canal with their feet near their head and their legs sticking straight up in front of their body
- Footling breech - One or both of the baby’s feet point downward and will be delivered before the rest of their body
- Transverse lie - The baby is positioned horizontally across the uterus instead of vertically such that the baby’s shoulder enters the vagina first
Causes of Breech Birth
It is not certain exactly why breech birth occurs, but there are several potential causes including:
- Abnormally shaped uterus
- Fibroids in the uterus
- Placenta previa
- Multiple pregnancies
- Too much or too little amniotic fluid
- Not the first pregnancy
- Prior premature birth
Complications of Breech Birth
Possible complications of breech birth include:
- Cord prolapse, where the umbilical cord drops down below the presenting part of the baby and becomes compressed, happens in 1% of breech births
- Fetal head entrapment
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Birth asphyxia
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Neonatal mortality
- Dislocated or broken bones
Options for Breech Birth
Options for treating breech birth include:
- Turning the baby in utero into the head-first position
- C-section birth
- Vaginal breech birth
Turning the baby may not be safe under the following conditions:
- Placenta previa, when the placenta covers all or part of the cervix
- Low or high fetal heart rate
- A nonreactive nonstress test
- Premature rupture of the membranes
- Low level of amniotic fluid
- Bleeding from the vagina
- An abnormally small baby
- Twins or multiples
Breech Birth and Birth Injury Law
Breech birth may lead to a number of birth injuries including:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Nerve damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Fetal distress
- Seizures
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Spinal cord injury
- Erb’s palsy
- Brachial plexus injury
It is the duty of medical professionals to do everything they can to ensure safe birth and delivery. This includes detecting the breech position and doing whatever is possible to reduce the risk of injury during childbirth, including turning the baby into a safer position or planning a Cesarean section.
If your baby has suffered a birth injury because of a healthcare professional’s failure to properly handle a breech birth, you may be entitled to compensation. It is recommended that you speak to a birth injury attorney to help you navigate your legal case.
