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osition your fetus is in during childbirth can spell the difference between a normal birth and a complicated birth, depending on how they are oriented. A typical childbirth has the baby delivered head first with its face down, which is also referred to as the occiput anterior position. However, if the fetus is delivered in a different position, it can be considered a breech birth. Breech births can lead to many different health problems and abnormal development, including the onset of cerebral palsy.

What position is my fetus displaying?

It is common for a fetus to change positions for the duration of the pregnancy. As the pregnancy reaches its final stages (around the 32nd to 38th week mark), the rate of which the fetus shifts position slows dramatically and typically settles in the occiput anterior position. However, there is about a 3 percent chance that the fetus will be in a breech position by the end of the pregnancy. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as an abnormal amount of amniotic fluid or complications related to the mother's uterus or placenta.

Ultimately, it is up to the medical practitioner to determine what position the fetus is in once labor and delivery is underway. There are several ways to determine this, such as performing Leopold's Maneuvers, examining the vagina or using an ultrasound. An ultrasound can even be used late in the pregnancy before labor and delivery has begun.

Options for delivery

Breech presentations can be problematic, but they are not impossible to deliver. Since it's not likely that the baby will safely pass through the birth canal, a C-section is usually necessary. The medical practitioner may first attempt to position the baby in the occiput anterior position, either directly through the vaginal opening or using a technique known as External Cephialic Version. In either case, the vital signs of the baby should be closely monitored, either through ultrasound or fetal heart monitoring (usually through both).

The risks of a breech delivery

Although sometimes it is possible to deliver a breech baby traditionally, doing so presents many risks. These can include issues with the umbilical cord, birth defects and elevated chance of fetal distress, which could be either temporary or permane

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