A mother in labor with a breech baby will go through a normal early stage in which contractions occur frequently and the cervix gets dilated and effaced (it thins out). But as the body starts to move the fetus into the pelvic cavity, the muscles that control these movements become paralyzed, causing the fetus to remain in the same position. The mother then enters the second stage of labor when the cervix softens and allows room for the head to emerge. The cervix can only dilate so far before it becomes impassable. If the fetus is large or positioned in such a way that it cannot be delivered vaginally, then a cesarean section must be done. A vaginal delivery with a breech-presenting fetus is much more difficult and risks associated with this type of delivery include cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia, and brain damage due to being born face up instead of ventral down. A cesarean section is recommended because there is no benefit to be gained by attempting a vaginal delivery and risk is greater than with a cesarean section.