Maternal thyroid function in pregnant women with a breech presentation in late gestation.

Abstract

Breech presentation occurs in 3-5% of all full-term pregnancies, and is associated with obstetric complications. The known risk factors for breech presentation include prematurity, low birth-weight, multiple pregnancy, primiparity, polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios, fetal anomalies (e.g. placenta praevia, hydrocephaly or anencephaly) and uterine abnormalities (e.g. septate/bicornuate uterus). A study from the Netherlands has suggested that maternal thyroid hormone deficiency during late pregnancy is also a risk factor.(1) In this cohort study of 1058 pregnant women, 58 women with breech presentation had higher serum TSH at 36 weeks gestation than those with cephalic presentation, and TSH level ≥2.5mIU/L at 36 weeks gestation was associated with over a two-fold higher risk of breech presentation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.