Breech Position – What If Your Baby Is Head-Up?
Around the 35th week of pregnancy, most babies turn into a head-down position, getting ready for birth. Around this time, we also routinely perform an ultrasound to check your baby’s position. Sometimes, however, a baby is still positioned with their bottom or feet facing downward – this is called a breech position. It occurs in approximately 3 to 4% of pregnancies at the end of pregnancy.
What exactly is a breech position?
In a breech position, the baby’s head is located at the top of the uterus, while the bottom or feet are pointing downward. There are several types of breech presentations, including:
Frank breech: the baby’s bottom is down, and the legs are stretched upward along the body.
Complete breech: the baby is sitting cross-legged, with knees bent and feet near the bottom.
Footling breech: one or both feet are positioned to come out first.
How is it detected?
During your routine check-ups, we feel your belly to estimate your baby’s position. If we’re unsure, or if the baby seems to be breech around 35–36 weeks, we will confirm this with an ultrasound.
Treatment Options for Breech Position
If your baby is still in a breech position around week 35, we will discuss your options with you. The two most common approaches are:
1. External Cephalic Version (ECV)
During an ECV, we try to gently turn the baby into a head-down position by applying pressure on your belly. This is done in the hospital by an experienced midwife or obstetrician. The success rate is around 40–50%. The procedure is safe and always monitored carefully, with checks on the baby’s heartbeat before and after.
2. No version – what happens next?
If you decide not to try an ECV, or if the attempt is unsuccessful, there are two options for giving birth:
Vaginal breech birth: In some cases, a vaginal breech birth can be a safe option — for example, if the baby is not too large and the position is favorable. The hospital team will assess this carefully.
Planned cesarean section: In some situations, a planned c-section is considered the safest choice. This will always be discussed with you in detail.
Finding the Right Option for You
A breech position can raise a lot of questions and bring uncertainty. We take the time to explore all the options with you, so you feel well-informed and supported in making the decision that’s right for you and your baby.
Do you have questions about your baby’s position or want to learn more about your options? Feel free to contact us — we’re here for you.
