Management of breech presentation at term

The management of 159 consecutive women with singleton breech presentation occurring at 37 or more weeks of gestational age was reviewed. They were stratified into three groups: (a) caesarean section without trial of labour (87), (b) trial of labour resulting in caesarean section (21), and (c) trial of labour culminating in successful vaginal delivery (51). The criteria for allowing a trial of labour were described. Careful review of material and foetal variables indicated that a trial of labour in carefully selected patients resulted in vaginal delivery in 70.8% and that this was achieved without an increase in foetal or maternal mortality or morbidity.