Breech Position and Breech Birth

Exams and Tests

You are most likely to discover that your fetus is in the breech position during a routine prenatal exam late in your pregnancy. Your doctor:

• Will gently press on various areas of your abdomen. Often a fetus's position can be determined by noticing that the head (which is relatively hard) is above the buttocks (which are relatively soft), or that the heart is higher up than normal.
• May examine your cervix. This is done by placing gloved fingers into the vagina and feeling the cervix. During this exam, the round, smooth feel of the fetal head pressing on the cervix can often be distinguished from the soft, irregular feel of a breech presentation.

See pictures of different breech positions.

If the exam suggests that your fetus is in the breech position, a fetal ultrasound test will be done to confirm the diagnosis.

If your doctor attempts to move the fetus into a head-down position (external cephalic version):

• Fetal ultrasound will be used before, after, and possibly during the procedure to evaluate the fetus's position and heart rate.
• Electronic fetal heart monitoring will be used before and after the procedure. An active fetus whose heart rate increases normally with movement is usually considered to be healthy. If the fetus's heart rate becomes abnormal, the version procedure may be stopped.

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: April 28, 2008
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine William Gilbert, MD - Perinatology
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