Breech delivery refers to the delivery of a baby buttocks-first rather than head-first. The phonetic transcription of this word is /bri:tʃ dɪ'lɪvərɪ/ which shows that the first syllable is pronounced with a long "ee" sound and the "ch" is pronounced as a voiceless velar fricative. The second syllable has a short "i" sound and the stress falls on the second syllable. The final syllable has a neutral vowel followed by the sound "r" and "I" pronounced together as a diphthong. The correct spelling of this word is crucial in medical settings to ensure proper care during childbirth.
A breech delivery refers to the childbirth process in which a baby is born buttocks or legs first, rather than the typical head-first position. It occurs in approximately 3-4% of all full-term pregnancies, but the incidence may vary depending on various factors such as the gestational age, the number of fetuses, and the mother's previous delivery history.
During a breech delivery, the baby's bottom or feet emerge from the birth canal first, while the head remains in the upper part of the uterus. This differs from a vertex or head-first presentation, which is considered the optimal position for delivery.
Breech deliveries can fall into three main types: frank breech (the buttocks present first with the legs bent at the hip and the knees straight), complete breech (the baby sits cross-legged with the knees bent and the feet beside their bottom), or footling breech (one or both feet present first, with the buttocks higher up in the uterus).
The management of breech deliveries requires careful consideration and skilled obstetric care due to the potential complications that can arise, including cord prolapse, head entrapment, birth asphyxia, and trauma to the baby's limbs. Depending on the baby's position and the mother's individual circumstances, healthcare providers may opt for either vaginal or cesarean delivery to ensure the safest outcome for both the mother and the baby.
In certain cases, specific maneuvers or techniques may be employed to facilitate a successful vaginal delivery of a breech baby, such as the use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or changes in the mother's position to widen the birth canal. However, these methods carry potential risks and require the expertise of experienced healthcare professionals.
The word "breech" comes from the Old English word "briec" or "bryc", which originally meant "the hind quarters of an animal" or "the buttocks". It has roots in the Proto-Germanic word *brūkaz, meaning "buttocks" or "breeches". Over time, "breech" was adopted in English to specifically refer to the part of the body between the hips and the thighs.
The term "breech delivery" is used in obstetrics to describe a specific type of childbirth in which a baby is delivered feet or buttocks first, rather than headfirst. The use of the term "breech" in this context is derived from the anatomical position of the baby during delivery, with the baby's buttocks or breech being the presenting part.