A paired controlled study of vaginal and abdominal delivery of the low birth weight breech fetus.

In a paired, controlled, retrospective study, 44 low birth weight breech fetuses delivered vaginally were compared with 44 breech fetuses delivered by cesarean section. Seven deaths occurred in the vaginal delivery group, compared with only 1 in the abdominal delivery group. Asphyxia, trauma, and intracranial hemorrhage were also found more frequently among vaginally delivered fetuses. The authors conclude that for the low birth weight breech fetus, delivery by cesarean section is preferable.