Title: Baby is breech
Course: Antenatal Care Part 1 - Ethiopia (Full)

Baby is breech

Breech babies are often born without any trouble, especially if the mother has had other children and her births were easy. But breech babies are more likely to get stuck, or have other serious problems.

If the baby is breech at 36 weeks (8 months), refer the woman to a health centre. Don't try to turn a breech baby (see Box 11.1).

Box 11.1 Don't try to turn a breech baby!

Only a midwife, health officer or physician who has been trained to turn a breech baby should try to do so, and it should be done in a hospital. Trying to turn the baby by pushing on the uterus is very dangerous. Even a midwife, health officer or physician should not try to turn a baby if the mother's water has broken, or if she has had vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure, surgery on her uterus, or caesarean surgery.

If the baby is not head down when labour starts, it is safer for the mother to give birth in a hospital. The midwife, health officer or physician can use forceps (pulling tools) if the baby gets stuck. Or they can do a caesarean surgery.