To analyze the influencing factors of external cephalic version (ECV) for breech presentation in singleton pregnancies.

Twenty pregnant women were single pregnancy with breech presentation during 35-38 weeks of gestation. They were without other indications for cesarean section and volunteered to undergo ECV, who were admitted in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from November 2015 to April 2016. The clinical data of 20 pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed. The factors influencing the success rate of ECV were analyzed by χ² tests.

The success rate of ECV was 70% (14/20), and 12 cases (60%) underwent vaginal delivery at the end. There was no significant difference in the success rates between frank breech presentation and complete breech presentation (seven ninths vs. seven elevenths). Compared with primiparas and multiparas (five eighths vs. nine twelfths), it was not significant different. Compared in placenta position, deliver time, amniotic fluid volume and umbilical cord condition, there were not different. The incidences of fetal distress, placental abruption and premature delivery were 10.0%(2/20 cases), 5.0%(1/20 cases) and 14.3%(2/14 cases), separately.

To reduce the cesarean section rate, ECV for signal pregnancy with breech presentation in full-term and nearly full-term can effectively adjust the fetal position.