Caesarean section for breech presentation | Birth from a breech end position

Caesarean section for breech presentation

If the risk for the child is too high or if the conditions for a natural birth are not met, a caesarean section is indicated in the case of a breech presentation. Furthermore, a Caesarean section can also be preferred to a natural birth at the request of the mother. For example, a caesarean section is obligatory if the birth is too early before the 36th week of pregnancy, if the child is too light, if the child is too large or if there is a disproportion between the child and the mother’s pelvis.

Since a Caesarean section is associated with an increased risk for the mother, the procedure should always be well-considered, as with any operation. In general, the following risks should be taken into account when performing a Caesarean section: Bleeding complications, infections or wound healing disorders are typical postoperative risks. Furthermore, adhesions of the surrounding tissue can occur.

Head shape of the baby after birth in the breech presentation

The child’s head in the pelvic end position before birth may be slightly larger, as growth is not hindered by the mother’s pelvis. However, the differences to children in the skull position are small. Immediately after birth the head is more elongated and ovoid, as it deforms during birth.

This is because the head has to pass through the mother’s relatively narrow pelvis and the skull plates in infants have not yet grown together and can therefore overlap. After birth, however, the skull usually re-forms within a few days and becomes rounder again.