If you are considering a breech birth - read this !

[pupuce]

Five years to the term breech trial: The rise and fall of a randomized
controlled trial.
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 194(1):20-25, January 2006.
Glezerman, Marek MD

Abstract:
Objective: On the basis of the end points of neonatal morbidity and
death, the authors of the term breech trial concluded unequivocally that
cesarean delivery was safer for breech babies.

Study design: Analysis of the original and new data gives rise to
serious concerns as far as study design, methods, and conclusions are
concerned. In a substantial number of cases, there was a lack of
adherence to the inclusion criteria. There was a large
interinstitutional variation of standard of care; inadequate methods of
antepartum and intrapartum fetal assessment were used, and a large
proportion of women were recruited during active labor. In many
instances of planned vaginal delivery, there was no attendance of a
clinician with adequate expertise.

Results: Most cases of neonatal death and morbidity in the term breech
trial cannot be attributed to the mode of delivery. Moreover, analysis
of outcome after 2 years has shown no difference between vaginal and
abdominal deliveries of breech babies.

Conclusion: The original term breech trial recommendations should be
withdrawn.
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This is real research (many knew the original was flawed so it's good that it is recognised by US obstetricians - who are quite section happy! - .... when will practice change who knows???? But quite possibly a lot of damage has been done

Wow. You almost never get to hear of natural breech births anymore. Do midwives/doulas have experience in how to facilitate one - not being facetious, genuinely interested.

BTW, I was a naturally delivered breech baby many many decades ago.

Certainly some independent midiwves do breech births... I think in hospital they tend to be breech deliveries (which are not recommended but makes the doc feel more in control - legs in stirrups and LOTS of management).
Doulas would only support you in making a choice. They cna't tell you what to do. They may help you find the info and the right resources. They shoudl support you what ever you decide.

Wow, thanks for posting that pupuce. I only hope it leads to more training surrounding vaginal breech birth, rather than an apathy towards it.

(In an "oh well, we're not well enough equipped in terms of education, experience or practice to effectively birth breeches vaginally so may as well carry on as we are" type of thing. Not referring to individual midwifes, obviously, rather the powers that be.)

But this could be a major turning point!

ds1 was breech and delivered by CS. Would love to know what could have been...... ( 3 CS's later)

This is interesting as my (independent) midwife was telling me about this yesterday. She was saying that although the Apgar scores are lower at birth over 5 years there is no difference in the development of breech babies. She also said the way to deliver a breech vaginally is with the woman on all fours.