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Small fetal size: a risk factor for breech birth at term
C L Roberts1, C S Algert, B Peat
1NSW Centre for Perinatal Health Services Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sydney, Australia. christiner@pub.health.usyd.edu.au
Summary
Smaller fetal size is a risk factor for term breech birth. Infants below the 10th percentile for gestational age had increased odds of breech presentation, highlighting the importance of fetal growth assessment.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Fetal Development
Background:
- Breech birth presentation at term is a significant obstetric concern.
- Fetal size and growth are critical factors influencing birth outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fetal size and the incidence of term breech birth.
- To identify fetal size as a potential risk factor for breech presentation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of singleton breech and cephalic births at gestational age >= 37 weeks in New South Wales, Australia (1990-1996).
- Utilized birthweight percentile to quantify fetal size at birth.
- Employed logistic regression to analyze factors associated with term breech birth.
Main Results:
- Identified advancing maternal age, primiparity, female sex, and small size for gestational age as independent predictors of term breech birth.
- Infants < 10th percentile for gestational age demonstrated an adjusted odds ratio of 1.33 for breech birth compared to those between the 25th-75th percentiles.
Conclusions:
- Smaller fetal size for gestational age is directly associated with term breech birth.
- Indirect associations were observed with female sex, primiparous birth, and congenital anomalies, further supporting the link between fetal development and breech presentation.