Breech presentation at term: Caesarean section or vaginal delivery?

Abstract

Introduction. Term breech presentation occurs in 3-4% of all deliveries. Most obstetricians are completely sure how to end delivery when the foetus is in breech presentation, by caesarean section as the only option. Objective. The main goal of the paper was to present the method of delivery for term breech presentation analyzed at the Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Clinical Centre in Kragujevac, and parameters that influenced the decision on the method of choice to perform delivery with the foetus in breech position. Methods. During a three-year prospective study, the course and outcome of all term breech deliveries were under follow-up. The study involved only deliveries in breech presentation, with a trial of labour ending by vaginal delivery, while elective caesarean section due to breech presentation of the foetus was not included in the study. The following parameters were compared: body mass, newborn’s first minute Apgar score and head circumference, gestational maturity, gestational age, delivery duration, maternal level of education and maternal parity. Results. Of total 6,470 deliveries, 653 (10.10%) were finalized by caesarean section. Of these, there were 202 (3.12%) term breech presentations, of which 72 (35.64%) women had caesarean and 130 (64.36%) vaginal delivery. A difference was detected in newborn’s body mass and head circumference, delivery duration, maternal level of education and parity between pregnancies terminated surgically in comparison to vaginal delivery, while pregnancy duration, maternal age, first minute Apgar score, and most significantly, perinatal morbidity did not show any difference regardless of the method of delivery for term breech presentation. Conclusion. With respect of all known parameters, vaginal delivery in breech presentation is also accepted.

Keywords

• breech presentation
• caesarean section
• vaginal delivery