RCOG and SOGC estimates of term breech mortality

With the recent release of the 2019 SOCG breech guidelines, I created this updated graphic. It illustrates the likelihood of perinatal/neonatal mortality after vaginal breech versus planned cesarean section.

Using the RCOG's numbers, the *additional* risk of a vaginal breech birth, compared to a vaginal head-down birth, is 1/1000.

Here's another way of looking at it:

Baseline risk of mortality after pCS @ 39 weeks: 1/2000

+

Additional risk from last weeks of pregnancy & labor: 1/2000

+

Additional risk of a vaginal breech birth: 1/1000

=

2/1000

Ps, if you liked this post, would you please consider donating to Reteach Breech? Thanks to a matching grant, all donations will be doubled AND all perks are half-price! Donations are tax-deductible in the US.

https://chuffed.org/project/reteachbreech