breech baby: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyTechnical/Medical, occasionally everyday (in parenting contexts)
Quick answer
What does “breech baby” mean?
A baby positioned in the womb buttocks or feet first, rather than head first, at the time of delivery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A baby positioned in the womb buttocks or feet first, rather than head first, at the time of delivery.
1. In obstetrics, specifically refers to the foetal malpresentation where the buttocks or lower limbs present at the cervix during labour. 2. Can colloquially refer to a child who was delivered in such a position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Spelling of related terms differs: British 'breech birth' vs. American 'breech delivery' is common but not a strict rule.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In everyday UK speech, it may be slightly more familiar due to higher exposure to the BBC series 'Call the Midwife'.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, used almost exclusively in medical or personal birth-story contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “breech baby” in a Sentence
[Subject: mother/doctor] + [Verb: deliver/have/turn] + [Object: breech baby][Determiner: a/the] + breech baby + [Verb: is/was/presents]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breech baby” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The midwife will attempt to externally cephalic version the foetus if it remains breech.
American English
- The OB will try to version the baby if it's still breech at 37 weeks.
adverb
British English
- The baby was lying breech.
American English
- The fetus was positioned breech.
adjective
British English
- The scan confirmed a breech presentation.
American English
- She was scheduled for a C-section due to the breech position.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and midwifery literature, textbooks, and research papers.
Everyday
Used in conversations about pregnancy, childbirth experiences, and parenting forums.
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical notes, obstetric guidelines, and communications between healthcare professionals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breech baby”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breech baby”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breech baby”
- Misspelling as 'breach baby' (which would imply a broken agreement).
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a breech baby delivery' is correct, but 'the baby was breech' uses 'breech' as an adjective; 'breech baby' itself is a noun phrase).
- Confusing it with 'breech birth', which refers to the event of delivery rather than the baby itself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A breech presentation at term carries higher risks for vaginal delivery compared to a head-down position, which is why it requires careful management by an obstetric team. It is not inherently dangerous to the baby's health before labour.
Yes, a procedure called External Cephalic Version (ECV) can sometimes be performed after 36-37 weeks to manually turn the baby into a head-down position from the outside of the mother's abdomen.
Often the cause is unknown. Factors can include: too much or too little amniotic fluid, uterine abnormalities, multiple pregnancies (twins etc.), or placenta previa.
No, but it is the most common outcome in many countries. Vaginal breech birth is possible but is considered higher risk and requires an experienced practitioner and specific conditions to be deemed safe.
A baby positioned in the womb buttocks or feet first, rather than head first, at the time of delivery.
Breech baby is usually technical/medical, occasionally everyday (in parenting contexts) in register.
Breech baby: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbriːtʃ ˌbeɪ.bi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbritʃ ˌbeɪ.bi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms. The phrase 'breech of contract' is unrelated and a false friend.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Breech' sounds like 'breach' – a breach is a break or opening. The baby is coming through the 'breach' (birth canal) the wrong way, with its breech (bottom) first.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATH/ORIENTATION: Birth is conceptualised as a journey where the correct orientation (head-first) is the norm. A breech baby is on a 'non-standard path' or is 'facing the wrong direction' for the journey.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a breech baby?