Final answer:
In a breech delivery, a Cesarean section is the common surgical procedure employed for the safe delivery of the baby. This method helps avoid complications associated with vaginal delivery of a baby in breech presentation, and is considered a safer option for both mother and child.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event of a breech delivery, where the infant is oriented with the buttocks down, it is more common today to perform a Cesarean section to deliver the baby rather than opting for a vaginal birth. This decision largely stems from safety considerations for both the mother and the infant. A Cesarean section is a major abdominal surgery and although it can lead to post-surgical complications for the mother, it is sometimes the safest method for delivering a baby in breech presentation. Before this procedure, physicians before the 1960s frequently delivered breech presentations vaginally, but the risk of complications has led to a shift towards the surgical approach in modern times.
The delivery process typically goes through three stages; the first one involves the dilation of the cervix, the second stage is the expulsion of the baby, and the last stage is the delivery of the placenta and fetal membranes. If the labor stalls before the second stage is completed, medication such as synthetic oxytocin, also known as Pitocin, can be administered to restart and sustain labor. Post-delivery, it is critical that the obstetrician examines the expelled placenta to ensure it is intact and that no fragments remain to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Continued uterine contractions, as well as breastfeeding, facilitate the process of involution, returning the uterus and abdominal organs to their pre-pregnancy state.