What characterizes a breech delivery?

A breech delivery is characterized by the presentation of a part of the baby other than the head during childbirth. In this case, the most common presentation is that the buttocks or feet come out first. This occurs when the baby is positioned with its buttocks or legs facing the birth canal, which is contrary to the typical head-first position in a vertex presentation. Breech deliveries can present challenges due to the risk of complications, as the baby's head may become stuck in the birth canal if not managed properly.

While feet-first deliveries can occur, breech deliveries include both buttock-first and foot presentations, making the description "a portion of the baby, usually the buttock, is delivered first" the most accurate representation. Understanding this helps in recognizing the importance of monitoring the fetal position as part of prenatal care to prepare for potential interventions during delivery.