Method of breech management incoporating use of fetal blood sampling.

We have developed a method of breech management based on the use of fetal blood sampling. Twenty-five cases were studied throughout labour, and fetal blood samples taken throughout the first and second stages. These showed that the Apgar score at one minute correlated closely with the fetal pH just before delivery. We believe that cord compression is an important variable factor which can be assessed only by fetal blood sampling. If this shows that fetal anoxia is becoming severe then immediate delivery is mandatory.