Breech position

A breech position means you baby would be born feet or bottom first rather than head first. This can make birth more complicated. If your baby is breech, it's important to discuss your options with your midwife or doctor.

If your baby is lying in a breech position during pregnancy , it means they are bottom-down or feet-down, rather than in a head-down position. Your baby can move position right up to the end of pregnancy, but if they are in a breech position at 36 weeks, your midwife or doctor should talk to you about your options. These may include a procedure to turn the baby in the womb called external cephalic version (ECV), a Caesarean section or a vaginal breech birth. 

There are benefits and risks associated with both caesarean section and vaginal breech birth, and these should be discussed with you so that you can choose what is best for you and your baby.  

A caesarean section is recommended as being safer for the baby around the time of birth by both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).