When the breech meets the resistance ofthe perineum the anterior buttock climbs up the fourchette. With the 'climbing up' of the anterior buttock the anus is then visible and the posterior buttock then distends the perineum. The patient is then placed in lithotomy position and an episiotomy is performed after pudendal block and local infiltration. With footling breech presentation the episiotomy should be performed when the buttocks reach the perineum. The fetus is then allowed to deliver up to the umbilicus spontaneously. Some advocate pulling down a loop ofcord to avoid stretching and compression ofthe cord but this should be omitted ifthere is resistance as it may tighten a loop around the neck or arm. Compression of the cord invariably occurs during delivery of shoulders and head, and pulling down a loop of cord may be less beneficial than originally thought. Ifthe legs are not delivered spontaneously once the umbilicus is delivered, assistance will be necessary. Two fingers are placed behind the fetal thigh (Figure 1) to flex the hip and knee to aid delivery ofthe leg. This is done for each leg in turn. The fetal back should remain anterior and any tendency to rotate backwards should be prevented. The fetus is kept warm by a sterile towel wrapped