What Are the Potential Breech Baby Birth Defects?

By Law Offices of Joseph Lichtenstein | October 23, 2017 |

If you’re an expecting parent, you know your number one job is to look after your little one. But, that starts long before he or she comes out of the womb.

A few weeks leading up to delivery, a baby will shift so its head is close to the birth canal. For some, this never happens and the baby remains in a reverse position.

That means their buttocks or their feet are at the end the birth canal. This increases the chance that your child will have a developmental issue or birth defect.

Around the 32 week mark, your doctor needs to begin evaluating where the baby is positioned. There are several different techniques you can do to maybe correct this.

If not, you run a higher risk of developing congenital or birth-related problems after delivery. Read on to learn about breech baby birth defects.

Autism

Did you know 1 in every 45 children has autism? Autism directly impacts a child’s communicative and social patterns.

It’s a whole-body disorder that causes an array of complication. Autistic children are prone to seizures, ADHD, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and much, much more.

When a baby is in the breech position, the chances of umbilical cord compression are increased. When this happens, the supply of oxygen to the baby is limited, increasing the baby’s risk for brain damage. Autism is a common disorder parents and children face from brain damage in the womb.

Down Syndrome

Another one of the more common breech baby birth defects is Down Syndrome. An average person has 46 chromosomes, whereas one with this disorder has 47.

That extra chromosome will also cause developmental complications for a baby. They face an intellectual disability, which ranges but is usually mild or moderate.

They also have very weak muscle tone, making it hard for them to carry out normal tasks.

Sadly, they’re also at higher risk for more other medical issues down the road. They’re more likely to have hypothyroidism, celiac disease, and even leukaemia.

Spinal and Hip Deformities

Since a breech baby isn’t positioned how it should, it runs the risk of spinal complications. It’s likely for them to have stunted muscle growth or spinal deformities.

A breech position is linked to various other distortions of the spinal cord. Not only can it affect your child’s back, but also its hip structure.

They’re more likely to have developmental dysplasia of the hip as the hip grows. That’s because its legs are facing downward which constrains its growth.

1 in 7 breech babies faces developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Types of Breech Birth Presentations

There are three different types of positions that you should watch out for in how your baby lays. All of the following still pose the same risk for breech baby birth defects.

Footling Breech

A footling breech is where your baby’s foot or 2 feet are expected to come out first. They’re pointed downward which can be difficult for the doctor to grab onto.

Frank Breech

This is where the baby’s buttocks are facing towards the birth canal. As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult position to begin the birthing process for the mother.

The baby’s legs are folded up against its body, which positions the feet above its head.

Complete Breech

Like a Frank breech, the baby’s buttocks are facing next to the birth canal. But, the legs are curled facing downward onto his or her body.

So, that means its feet are near its buttocks as well.

What Should I do to Prevent Breech Baby Birth Defects?

As you’re probably wondering, it’s good to know what to do in the event. Most importantly, your doctor needs to make you aware to prevent breech baby birth defects.

If they fail to realize its wrong positioning, you have absolutely no way to combat it. But, if you aware, there are a few things you can do at home or through procedure to help.

Breech Tilt

First, you’ll begin by laying straight down with your butt laying on large pillows. These pillows should be raised approximately a few inches off the ground.

Then, you’ll want to push your hips forward roughly 12 inches into the air. You’ll repeat this process for nearly 10-15 minutes, 3-5 times a day.

Make sure you are focusing on the baby and its movement. You’ll want to release any tensions, especially in the belly region.

Playing Music

You probably know your little one can already hear your voice and other sounds in the womb. So, many expecting parents try to get their child to follow along and move to the sound of music.

You can also try making tape recordings of your voice and putting in onto a phone or iPod. Then, place headphones near your belly so the baby is able to hear well.

Trace the headphones alongside your belly moving upward.

External Version

This procedure involves taking some medication which is intended to calm the uterus. From there, a professional will move the baby by pushing on the lower abdomen.

A professional must do this as the baby’s heartbeat needs to be monitored throughout. This is a highly successful method, but you don’t want to put your baby up for further complication.

Chiropractor

Visiting a chiropractor can also help calm the mother’s uterus. They have specific techniques in place that can cause the baby to turn naturally.

According to the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapies, their process is 82% effective.