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Dangers

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

A breech presentation carries risks for mother and foetus:

Maternal dangers:

  • trauma
  • infection
  • haemorrhage
  • lower segment caesarian section
  • anaesthesia

Foetal dangers:

  • trauma
  • asphyxia
  • death

The rate of cord prolapse with breech presentations is approximately 4%. The major contributor to this figure is the increased incidence of cord prolapse with flexed and footling breeches. The rate of cord prolapse with extended breech presentations is similar to that seen with vertex presentations (approximately 0.3%).

The perinatal mortality rate for breech presentations is 4-7 times higher than for cephalic presentations.

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