In a buttocks-presenting delivery, if the head does not deliver within 3 minutes, what may occur?

• A. The newborn may suffocate
• B. The mother will have complications
• C. The placenta will deliver first
• D. The baby will cry immediately

Answer: (A)

In a breech (buttocks-presenting) birth, the head is the largest part and usually delivers last. If the head does not come out within a few minutes, the baby can be deprived of oxygen because the head can become trapped and the birth canal may compress the umbilical cord or prevent adequate ventilation. This slows or stops the flow of oxygen to the fetus, leading to asphyxia. That risk of oxygen deprivation is why the scenario focuses on the newborn potentially suffocating when head delivery is delayed.

The other options don’t explain the immediate danger in this situation: the mother’s complications aren’t what’s directly caused by a delayed head delivery, the placenta delivering first isn’t typical in breech births, and the baby crying immediately isn’t likely if there’s significant hypoxia.