Michael S. Porter
Eric C. Nordby
Breech position, also known as breech presentation, occurs when a fetus is positioned with the buttocks or feet closest to the cervix instead of the head. It is typically detected near the end of pregnancy. In a normal pregnancy, babies usually turn head-down (called cephalic or vertex position) in preparation for birth, but approximately 3 to 4 percent of full-term pregnancies involve a breech presentation. This positioning is more common earlier in pregnancy, as many fetuses successfully rotate to the head-down position during the third trimester.
Breech presentations are classified based on the fetus’s specific positioning:
- Frank breech: The baby’s hips are flexed and the legs are extended upward toward the head, with the buttocks presenting first.
- Complete breech: The baby is sitting cross-legged with both hips and knees flexed.
- Incomplete breech (footling breech): One or both feet or knees are positioned to deliver first.