EP19.02: Levator ani muscle coactivation is associated with breech presentation in nulliparous women at term.

This article, published in the journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, examines the correlation between levator ani muscle coactivation and breech presentation in nulliparous women at term. The study found that women with fetuses in breech presentation had smaller anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the levator ani muscle (LAM) under pushing, a higher prevalence of LAM coactivation, and a smaller change in APD from rest to maximum pushing compared to women with fetuses in cephalic presentation. The results suggest that proper pelvic floor relaxation may favor fetal cephalic presentation, while levator ani muscle coactivation and smaller increase in APD at maternal pushing are associated with an increased risk of breech presentation. [Extracted from the article]