what is breech position

Breech position is a fetal position in which the baby is positioned feet or bottom first in the uterus instead of head-down, which is the ideal position for a vaginal birth. Most babies will naturally move to a head-down position by 36 weeks of pregnancy, but some babies remain in the breech position. There are different types of breech positions, including complete breech, frank breech, and footling breech. If a baby is still in the breech position at around 36 weeks of gestation, the obstetrician and midwife will discuss delivery options with the mother. Some breech babies can be born vaginally, but a C-section is usually recommended. If a baby is in a breech position at 36 weeks, an external cephalic version (ECV) may be offered to try to turn the baby into a head-down position by applying pressure on the mothers abdomen. However, if the babys feet are below its bottom or the baby is larger or smaller than average, a vaginal breech delivery is not recommended.