The type of breech position your baby is in will affect the choices for a vaginal breech or caesarean birth and the safety and success of possible interventions used to turn the baby, such as an
ECV. There are three main types of breech positions, with variations possible for each one. They include:
Frank breech is the most common type, especially for women having their first baby. It is also referred to as an extended breech. The baby's bottom sits over the woman's cervix, their hips are flexed (or bent) and their legs are extended (or straight). This means the baby's feet are usually placed on either side of their head, near their ears.
A frank breech is regarded as the most favourable type of breech for a vaginal birth, because the baby's bottom sits snugly on the woman's cervix and is about the same width and consistency as their head. This makes the baby's bottom an efficient dilator of the woman's cervix during labour. Babies in this position are also considered more feasible for being turned by the caregiver into a head down position, called an
external cephalic version.
Frank breech babies also have less chance of their cord slipping down into their mother's vagina, in front of the baby if the waters break before or during labour known as a
cord prolapse. The incidence is about 0.5%, similar to babies in a head down position.
Image 6-34shows a baby in a frank breech position.
A complete breech is the second most common type of breech position, also referred to as a flexed breech. Women having their second or subsequent baby will more likely have a breech baby in this position.