A breech birth requires careful consideration and consultation with your midwife or doctor.

When a baby is positioned bottom-down late in pregnancy, this is called the breech position.

Malpresentation is when your baby is in an unusual position as the birth approaches. Sometimes it’s possible to move the baby, but a caesarean maybe safer.

Even if you’re healthy and well prepared for childbirth, there’s always a chance of unexpected problems. Learn more about labour complications.

The pelvis helps carry your growing baby and is especially tailored for vaginal births. Learn more about the structure and function of the female pelvis.

In preparation for a safe birth, your health team will need to turn your baby if it is in a bottom first ‘breech’ position.

Breech presentation occurs when your baby is lying bottom first or feet first in the uterus (womb) rather than the usual head first position. In early pregnancy, a breech position is very common.

This information brochure provides information about an External Cephalic Version (ECV) for breech presentation

By around the eighth month most babies will be in a vertical, head down position in the birth canal

The articles in this section relate to having a baby – what to consider before becoming pregnant, pregnancy and birth, and after your baby is born.