Information regarding breech position
In the case of a breech position, the baby lies with its head up in the uterus. A breech position is not an abnormality; it is a variation in location.
In the month before the due date, 15% of babies are not in a head-down position. Around the due date, 3 to 4% of the babies do not lie head-down. A large percentage of babies turn to head-down position on their own. The longer a baby lies in the breech position while you are pregnant, the less likely your baby is to turn from this position on its own.
In babies who have been in breech position for a long time, the hips may be less well developed. Therefore, this will be checked with an ultrasound 3 months after birth. For this you will automatically get an appointment.
In what positions can my baby lie?
Head-down/cephalic
The head is down.
Imperfect breech position
The buttocks are down and both feet are up.
Complete breech position
The buttocks and the feet are down.
Semi-imperfect breech position
One foot is down and one foot up.
Oblique (diagonal), unstable or transverse (across the abdomen)
The baby is lying somewhere between a head and a breech position in your womb. With this variation, a vaginal delivery is not possible.
ECV
We offer an ECV because, if the baby is head down at the time of delivery, the chance of a caesarean is much smaller. With surgery (caesarean) there is a chance of problems that you do not have with a vaginal delivery of a baby in head-down position.
If you do not choose ECV, or if your baby is not lying head down despite the attempts to turn it, you will be referred to the outpatient obstetric clinic of the OLVG-West. During an appointment with an obstetrician, the different ways and possibilities of giving birth to a baby in breech position will be discussed.