So what exactly are the risks of having a breech?

[mum2george]

The mw's keep saying that they either aren't sure which way up the baby is or they say that it is Ceph but they aren't certain.

If I do end up having a section I want to be aware of it beforehand so that I can sort out care for DS while I'm away.

Have got an appt at the hospital on Friday to see the consultant to find out which way around it is, (arranged by me as the mw seems a bit too relaxed about it IMO).

I know that there are risks giving birth to a breech baby naturally but I'm not exactly sure what the risks are. Can anybody enlighten me?

ps was 3/5ths engaged last Tues, and 35 weeks tomorrow and had DS at 38 weeks-if thats any help.

There was a study done years ago, which found that the outcome for vaginally born breech babies wasn't as good as for those born by CS (can't remember why and it's now all academic). That study resulted in a generation of MWs not being trained in breech births. The study has now been thoroughly discredited but we are still left with a generation of MWs without the knowledge of how to birth a breech baby. Therein, I think, lies the risk. Lack of confidence, lack of expertise. Anxious MW, frightened mother. Stress all round. There are independent MWs who can birth a breech baby confidently, but they cost money.

If you are booked in for a CS, they will do another scan on the morning to check baby's position. The day of my CS, DS remained head down (but had been so for weeks and weeks), while the woman in the bed next to me discovered that her baby had turned. So 35 weeks is early days, especially for a second baby.

Interesting thread!

ds was a footling breech until about 38 weeks and none of the staff seemed bothered by it and certainly discuss the possibility of a cs or any potential difficulties. Maybe my hospital was stuffed to the rafters with experienced midwives

my sil's sister had a straightforward birth with twins who were breech.

Are you having a scan mum2george?

certainly didn't...

Even midwives experienced at breech delivery aren't (from what I know) happy to do vaginal deliveries for footling breech - which is what my DS1 was.

footling breech birth at home

NQC - I've never come across another person who had a footling breech! (well, ds turned but could have been)

What happened with your ds?

I don't have any experience but thought I'd share this link which might be useful for you.

Fantastic photos on that link, Mears! Very impressive!

Hmm, our midwife was really opposed to trying anything, unfortunately. (we had an independant midwife who was generally very pro-home-birth)

We tried to have DS1 turned (and tried moxibustion, and tried all sorts of things), but he wasn't turning, so I had a CS. It sucked, but we're all ok now.

i loved that link mears ! a proper hands off the breech delivery

anyhoo, i was born a footling breech, my twin sister was born face presentation, both vaginally, 6 weeks prem ! my mum does not like talking about it...

Ds was a footling breech. The mw use to send all the trainee dowctors over to me (I was in hospital with preeclampsia for 2 weeks before he was born), to see if they could work out the presentation.

I ticked lots of midwives checklists during training as well. I like to be helpful

Amazing photos!

Mears, absolutely love the photos, your DS looks like she is climbing out of you all by herself.

Asur, thanks very much for the link, will read it later when DS is in bed.

Have got a scan on Friday morning and in all probability it will be the right way around, I just like to be informed

I don't know about the studies and experienced midwives, but a friend of mine had a breech baby, was told to go ahead and push for several hours, then wheeled off to emergency cesarean when nothing happened.

Her DD was born with both legs out of their sockets. One went in by itself, but she needed three operations on the other, all under general anesthesia. She might need another operation in a couple of years.

Sorry, I don't mean to scare you, but more info you have, more questions you can ask your doctors...

CoteDAzur - the problems you describe there are as a result of the baby lying breech whether there has been a labour or not. All breech babies in our unit have their hips scanned post delivery.

mum2george - the picures on the link aren't of me! They are excellent pictures though aren't they?

the michel odent, birth reborn programme a while ago, had film of a footling breech being born, mother in a supported squat, really odd , but mesmerising, seeing leg come out , and unfold!

Mary Cronk was on womens hour last thursday talking about this- think interview is still on listen again facility.

CoteDazur, I wonder if your friend's baby had congenital hip dysplasia which is a known side-effect of the baby being in a breech position in the uterus, nothing to do with attempting a vaginal birth.

Mears, sorry must have misread, did think they were of you. Will you forgive me and my pregnancy brain?

No problem

DS1 was breech and I spent a lot of time researching it and reading loads of studies and research papers. Risks are very very low for any problems as long as (1) delivered by experienced midwife, i.e. knows to keep hands off and (b) labour progresses well naturally. If you have given birth vaginally beofre your pelvis is 'tested' and so the liklihood of getting stuck (the biggest risk) is very very low.

For DS1 I found both my consultant and midwifes supportive of my decision to have a trial of labour and deliver vaginally as long as labour progressed at 1 cm per hour.

In fact the head of midwifery at my hospital changed her rotas to ensure that she had a senior experienced midwife on duty for the period that I was likely to go into labour. She also introduced them to me beforehand.

As it was a went into labour naturally and after 9 hours of labour had failed to progress so had a section.

Breech births.... sigh................ They are amazing! Have seen films of them, pictures of them... would love to see an actual RL one! Sigh..............