why are babies born head first (Cephalic) rather than Breech?

Question

apparently nearly 90% babies are born head first when term is reached.

Answer 1

We are the only mammels that arn't physically shaped for child birth. The reason child birth hurts so much is because we go around the earth on 2 legs instead of 4. Nature came up with the solution of not forming a complete skull, (that soft bit on a baby's head). We come out head first so that we won't suffer any brain damage when the skull moves inwards. And once the head is out the rest just falls out behind. Brain damage doesn't always happen with a breach but head first is the safest way to be born.

Answer 2

The head is the largest part, and therefore most likely to get stuck. In a head-first delivery, as soon as the head passes through the vagina the rest of the baby follows, whereas in a breech delivery there is significant risk that the baby's body will emerge but the opening will not yet be wide enough for the head. This causes increased trauma for the baby since its body is now stuck in the violently contracting birth-passage muscles. Also, since the placenta detaches during labour, cutting off the baby's oxygen supply, there is therefore a significant danger that the baby will suffocate if this happens before the baby's head has emerged.

Answer 3

I think nature intended this coz the head and neck are so fragile at birth that if a baby is born breech the doc has no grasp on the head and neck to ease the baby out. in fact most breech births are 'c' sections, only in an emergency will a doc deliver a breech vaginally. think about it, easing a newborn out by the feet when the head is the largest part of the body, makes me scared that the head will get stuck or injured.

Answer 4

I AM JUST GLAD THAT BABIES ARE BORN THIS WAY
MY INTERPRETATION IS THIS...
IF WE GAVE BIRTH BREECH, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DO....JUST THINK OF THE HIGH CEASARIAN RATE. AS BABIES WOULD NO DOUBT GET STUCK IF THEY HAD BIG HEADS..
I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF BIRTHS AND I KNOW THAT PUSHING THE HEAD OUT IS THE BIGGEST PART OF A BABY...THE REST OF THE INFANT THEN SEEMS TO SLIDE OUT NO MATTER WOT...LOL
IF WE GAVE BIRTH BREECH THE PELVIS MIGHT NOT BE ADEQUATE TO ACCOMADATE THE CIRCUMFERANCE OF THE HEAD...AND THIS WOULD CAUSE UNDUE TRAUMA TO THE MOTHER AND ALSO THE BABY. AND IN SOME CASES DEATH IN THE NEWBORN....
NOT FORGETTING THAT THE VAGINAL WALLS CONTRACT SO PUSH BABY OUT..CLEARING ITS CHEST CAVITY READY FOR THE FIRST CRY. SO IF BABIES WERE NOT TO EXPERIENCE THIS WE MIGHT SEE MANY MORE SPECIAL CARE COTS TAKEN UP WITH INFANTS THAT HAD INFECTIONS AND BREATHING DIFFICULTIES...

I HOPE THIS ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION...THERE ARE MORE REASONS WHY BIRTH IS CEPHALIC BUT I AM SURE OTHER PEOPLE WILL RELATE THESE TO YOU..

XX.

Answer 5

If you have to ask that question than you obviouslly are not ready to have a baby. You learn all that in birth control classes or at you ob-gyns office when you go to the doctor. You can't push out the feet due that they are afraid the feet will spreed and will tear the mothers vagaina open and then it will be an emergency c-section. I have had a tear and its not pretty so that is why the head has to come out first so that they can grab on to the head and get the baby out with out hurting mom or baby while you are pushing the doctors hold on to the head.

Answer 6

the largest part of the body at birth is the head. the angle and they way the baby is born help it to come out without complication, in the CHIN DOWN position, head first.
breech babies head are sometimes hard to deliver because in this position the chin can be up...causing the head to become stuck. also the head stretches the surrounding tissue when it passes through the birth canal allowing space for the rest of the body to easily pass through, breech babies again..get their heads stuck because of lack of space, the body first position just doesn't stretch the tissues out enough to aid the head in delivery.
it is safer for the baby to be born head first. because some breech babies get stuck...precious minutes tick by while the Dr. or midwife try to dislodge the head...and complications can occur, (although rare these days).

Answer 7

For various reasons. If the cord is round the neck the midwife can stop it from strangling the baby during the birth. Also the arms and legs cannot get caught at the neck of the womb thus preventing the baby getting stuck or harmed. The head paves the way for the rest of the body, once that is out it is easier for the rest of the body to slide out.

Answer 8

Because babies instinct is to turn head down for the exit. Feet first would be dangerous - this is why the midwives try and turn breech babies round often.

And for useless info Cephalic in Greek - Kefali means head. So now you know.

Answer 9

this is because, when a baby is head first, the widest part of the baby is born first, alowing the vagina to stretch, and let the rest of baby through, if breech the baby's body is born, and the vagina hasnt had enough time to stretch, so difficulty can arrise in delivering the head, i think there is also a higher risk of the umbilical cord being trapped and the oxygen supply being cut off to baby.

Answer 10

babies born head first are pushing the largest parts of their bodies out first. when they are coming down the birth canal and the mother is having contractions, the infant isn't able to breathe. therefore the head coming out first allows oxygen to reach the baby sooner. if a baby is in breech position, the mother will most likely have a C-section toa void complications.