O64: Obstructed labour due to malposition and malpresentation of fetus

O64.1: Obstructed labour due to breech presentation

In the final weeks of pregnancy, the child turns to the birth position. The child’s head then normally points downwards and lies in the mother’s pelvis. The child’s face usually faces the mother’s back and the child’s head is bent towards its chest. The child’s back is turned to the right or left side of the mother.

The breech position is when the child is not lying with its head towards the bottom. The child is lying with its head towards the top. Below it then are other body parts such as its bottom, feet and knees.

The child’s head is the part of the body which has the largest diameter. Normally, the head dilates the birth canal during birth. The other parts of the child’s body can then follow more easily. If the head is the last part of the body to pass through the birth canal, the birth canal may not be as well-dilated as usual.

The breech position caused you problems during the birth. Problems like these can make a birth take longer than usual. It may also be the case that the child cannot then be born in the usual way, but that a Caesarean is required.