The influence of spontaneous breech delivery on the integrity of the central nervous system of the newborn (a prospective study).

The effect of breech delivery on the condition of the newborn infant was studied in a population of 48 consecutive, mature, newborn infants delivered spontaneously and having birth weights between the 5th and 95th percentiles for gestational age. The integrity of the central nervous system of all infants was assessed semiquantitatively by Prechtl's method of neurological examination. The results were compared to those obtained in a previous study of a similar group of infants born in vertex presentation. In contrast to retrospective studies, no differences in neurologic condition were found blood and neurological score, demonstrated previously in infants born in vertex presentation, was found in the breech infants.