Outcomes of a Breech Birth Program in Canada, Quality Assurance Project.

Abstract

To report antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal factors associated with breech birth from our Breech Program at South Health Campus, Calgary. We reviewed all maternal and neonatal patient records where breech birth was documented from 2013 to 2018. Neonatal blood gas values, Apgar scores, birth weight, admissions to NICU, antenatal ultrasound reports, inpatient electronic medical records, and operative and delivery reports, were reviewed. Any indices known as indications, contraindications, or outcomes associated with breech birth were recorded and summarized. Among the 499 breech births that occurred over the study period, there were109 attempted external cephalic versions, 411 planned and 39 unplanned cesarean deliveries, and 49 vaginal deliveries. Unplanned cesarean delivery was performed for newly diagnosed breech presentation in labour (14), footling presentation in labour (9), abnormal fetal heart rate (4), labour dystocia (8), ultrasound findings of low fluid (2) or unfavourable fetal position (1), and worsening maternal hypertension (1). Despite the absence of reported contraindications in the majority of patients and the presence of a program that supported vaginal breech delivery, cesarean delivery was more common. Mothers who chose to labour were highly successful in achieving vaginal birth with excellent maternal and neonatal outcomes.