2. Breech

Question 1

Breech birth is:

Answer 1

Where feet or buttocks are born first, not the head.

Question 2

Breech birth can cause ___ which means it is likely the baby will require ___.

Answer 2

Fetal hypoxia, resuscitation.

Question 3

Breech babies are likely to pass ___ and this needs to be ___

Answer 3

Meconium. Documented and handed over to maternity staff. This doesn’t require different treatment.

Question 4

Pre alert and rapid transport when: (3)

Answer 4

The buttocks aren’t visible or don’t advance, a foot presents without the buttocks, a hand presents without the buttocks.

Question 5

An imminent breech is when

Answer 5

Buttocks are visible and advancing.

Question 6

Maternal position for breech:

Answer 6

Upright so that gravity can assist.
(End of bed semi recumbent, all fours, kneeling etc)
Bottom off the floor so baby can hang down.

Question 7

Breech timing:

Answer 7

5 minutes from buttocks to fully born.

Question 8

When both buttocks are born the woman should be encouraged to:

Answer 8

Push continuously and do not wait for contractions.

Question 9

Breech is often born without intervention. Manoeuvres should be performed if

Answer 9

Parts that are born are not well perfused and have no tone, white empty umbilical cord.

Question 10

If the baby descends spontaneously,

Answer 10

There is no need to handle the baby.

Question 11

Baby should have their bum…

Answer 11

…towards mothers tum

Question 12

In all fours position, baby will be positioned

Answer 12

Facing you

Question 13

In semi recumbent position, baby will be positioned

Answer 13

Facing away from you

Question 14

If legs are delayed

Answer 14

apply pressure behind the knees to release the legs (causing the foot to come down through the canal).

Question 15

If arms are delayed (elbows visible)

Answer 15

WITHOUT TURNING, hook your finger into the ACF and draw the arm down and out. Do this to both sides.

Question 16

If arms are delayed (arms not visible)

Answer 16

Rotate baby with your hands around the baby’s pelvis until a shoudler is uppermost. Gain consent to insert a finger to locate the axilla, feel down to the elbow, place finger into ACF and draw the arm across the body and down. Rotate and repeat if the other arm does not deliver. Rotate baby back to the correct facing direction.

Question 17

If head is delayed (all fours)

Answer 17

Place both hands against babys chest and apply pressure to flex babys head forward.

Question 18

If head is delayed (semi recumbent)

Answer 18

Place one hand through babys legs to support body, place two fingers on babys cheekbones, insert the other hands fingers to apply firm pressure to the back of babys head to bring chin to chest. Raise baby upward to life through curve of the pelvis.