Breech Position And Breech Birth: Exams And Tests

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Exams and Tests

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

• 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 illustrations 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 health professional 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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Last updated:	May 05, 2006
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, William Gilbert, MD - Perinatology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman