Illustration of a female pelvis showing a foetus that is in the breech position during labour, or childbirth. Breech means that the foetus is delivered buttocks or feet first, rather than head first. This foetus is in the footling breech position, with it's feet at the cervix (neck of the uterus). A hand inserted through the vagina (birth canal) to the uterus (womb) is attempting to rotate the baby so that the head is facing the back of the body. From An Improved System of Midwifery, by Wooster Beach (1794-1868), published in 1851.