The Impact of Postural Management Techniques on Breech Presentation: A Cross-Sectional Study of Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Breech presentation in term pregnancies, increases the risk of complications during labor and delivery. External cephalic version (ECV) is a standard intervention but carries potential risks. Postural management techniques, such as the knee-chest position and pelvic elevation, offer non-invasive alternatives, but their efficacy remains underexplored. However, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of postural management techniques on breech presentation and pregnancy outcomes.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at PUMHS, Nawabshah from Sept 2023 to March 2024, including 88 women with confirmed breech presentation at gestational ages ≥32 weeks. Data on pregnancy outcomes were collected using structured proformas. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20, with a significance level set at p<0.05.

Results: The mean participant age was 27.07±4.99 years. Among the participants, 23.9% underwent breech vaginal delivery, 42.0% achieved cephalic vaginal births, and 34.1% underwent cesarean sections. A significant association was observed between cephalic presentation and breech management (59.1% vs. 34.1%, p=0.019). Neonates in the breech-offered group had higher APGAR scores ≥7 (81.8% vs. 68.2%) and lower NICU admission rates (6.8% vs. 15.9%), though these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Postural management techniques were associated with increased rates of cephalic presentation and favorable neonatal outcomes. While the findings suggest the potential of these techniques as low-risk alternatives to invasive methods, further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to establish their efficacy and guide clinical practice.