MANAGEMENT OF BREECH PRESENTATION IN PREGNANCY AND LABOR

Evidence that the management of breech presentation in pregnancy and labor is a controversial issue continues to appear.1Much has been written on the subject stressing the higher natal and neonatal mortality and the greater incidence of morbidity and injury to both the mother and baby attending this manner of birth. The prophylactic value of external cephalic version late in pregnancy is generally recognized, and there is manifest a definite trend of opinion favoring a partly spontaneous rather than a completely artificial termination of the second stage of labor. Statistics show that a low fetal mortality is attainable provided the attendant observes certain fundamental and recognized principles peculiar to breech delivery, allows ample time for maximum dilatation of the cervix, and does not attempt delivery from below if borderline or positive cephalopelvic disproportion exists. It is the purpose of this paper (1) to show the reduction in the incidence of

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[9]  R. Bartholomew.  Prophylactic external version , 1927 .