There is currently not enough evidence for encouraging the mother to adopt different postures during pregnancy in order to change a breech baby's position in the womb.
Babies born in the breech position (bottom first) are more likely to have problems during birth than babies born head first (cephalic). There are different ways of trying to encourage the baby to turn so that he/she can be born head first. Some of these involve the mother adopting different postures. This review of six trials, involving 417 women, found too little evidence to support the use of certain postures to change the baby's position in pregnancy to head down. Further research is required.
閱讀完整摘要
Babies with breech presentation (bottom first) are at increased risk of complications during birth, and are often delivered by caesarean section. The chance of breech presentation persisting at the time of delivery, and the risk of caesarean section, can be reduced by external cephalic version (ECV - turning the baby by manual manipulation through the mother's abdomen). It is also possible that maternal posture may influence fetal position. Many postural techniques have been used to promote cephalic version.
目的
The objective of this review was to assess the effects of postural management of breech presentation on measures of pregnancy outcome. We evaluated procedures in which the mother rests with her pelvis elevated. These include the knee-chest position, and a supine position with the pelvis elevated with a wedge-shaped cushion.
搜尋策略
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (22 August 2012).
選擇標準
Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing postural management with pelvic elevation for breech presentation, with a control group.
資料收集與分析
One or both review authors assessed eligibility and trial quality.
主要結果
We have included six studies involving a total of 417 women. The rates for non-cephalic births, Cesarean section and Apgar scores below 7 at one minute, regardless of whether ECV was attempted or not, were similar between the intervention and control groups (risk ratio (RR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.15; RR 1.10; 95% CI 0.89 to 1.37; RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.50 to 1.55).
作者結論
There is insufficient evidence from well-controlled trials to support the use of postural management for breech presentation. The numbers of women studied to date remain relatively small. Further research is needed.
