When Is Vaginal Birth Safe For A Breech Baby?
The most common and easiest breech presentation to deliver is the frank breech position. In this position, the baby’s bottom is presented first, with the feet and legs stretched upward toward the ears and face. About 60-70% of breech babies present this way. The other breech positions—crossed-legs, feet first or kneeling—are less common and more difficult to deliver vaginally. Make sure your doctor has had experience delivering breech births, and discuss the options before the big day arrives so you’re fully informed. What Is ECV? If your baby is still breech by next week (week 37) your doctor may recommend trying to turn the baby with external cephalic version (ECV.) Basically, your doctor will try to turn the baby externally using pressure on your abdomen. You will be offered medication to relax the uterus and ultrasound may be used to monitor the baby’s progress. This procedure is successful 55% of the time. Transverse pregnancies (where the baby is lying sideways) have an almost 10