Normally, around the eighth month, a baby is positioned in the uterus in the head-down position. This position, called vertex, allows a baby to be delivered head-first. More than 96 out of 100 babies are born vertex. Some babies are positioned in the uterus feet-first or buttocks-first: these positions are called breech.

There are three main types of breech position:

• Frank breech:
• The infants' hips are flexed and the knees are extended, with the feet near the shoulders.
• Incomplete breech:
• One, or both, of the infant's hips are flexed. The baby's legs are delivered through the birth canal first.
• Complete Breech:
• Both knees are flexed rather than extended. The baby's buttocks are delivered through the birth canal first.

If your baby is breech, your doctor may be able to turn the baby by pressing on your abdomen. If this is not successful, there are some other things the doctor can try to turn the baby internally. The combination of preterm labor and a breech baby almost always warrants a c-section.