Breech Presentation and Delivery - Causes

Breech Presentation and Delivery - Causes

The causes and predisposing factors for breech presentation include-

• Pre term labor - When labor starts when the baby is still small enough to move rather freely in the uterus. This usually occurs at 7-8 months rather than the usual 9 months.
• Uterine malformations - an unusual shape of the mother's uterus, where there is a partition in the uterus (septate uterus) or the uterus has two incomplete divisions

  (bicornuate), may predispose to breech presentations.

• Space occupying mass - fibroids in the lower part of the uterus may predispose to breech presentations.
• Polyhydramnios - too much of amniotic fluid may allow the fetus too much movement.
• Fetal abnormalities - like malformations of brain, neck masses and aneuploidy
• Multiple gestations (more than one fetus) - Breech presentation may result due to the limited space in the uterus.
• Multiparity - in particular grand multips. Increased maternal parity leads to increased laxity of the uterus and increases the risk of breech presentation.
• Short umbilical cord
• Placenta previa - Placental implantation over the cervical opening instead of being on the side may lead to breech presentation.
• Placental, cornual or fundal implantation - also increases the risk of breech presentation.

Breech Presentation and Delivery - References:

1. Breech Presentation - (http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3272.htm)
2. Breech birth - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breech_birth)