Breech Presentation.
It's one of those things that I didn't think about even being a possibility during my four pregnancies. I just always assumed that my babies would prepare for delivery in the head-down (vertex) position.
In fact, I wasn't even very educated on breech when I became obsessed with everything birth related until a dear friend and family member encountered it during her first pregnancy. While doing my best to assist as her doula, I fully immersed myself into the world of information surrounding breech birth that is rarely discussed. I found several resources that are not freely shared with the average Mom.
My goal with this blog is to inform you of the resources and options available for breech babies. Your only option is most definitely not just a cesarean, even though the average OB would probably tell you that is the case. As a disclaimer, I am not a medical professional, but I can read (as the beloved Penny Simpkin once stated), and I do make it my life's goal to assist Mothers in knowing their options in situations related to birth.
As a warning, this may be a pretty dry post to read through. My goal is to present you with options an resources, not to entertain you, so I apologize if it is exceedingly dull.
Without further delay, let's get into it:
As a starting point, I would highly recommend that every woman that is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant in the future, listen to this podcast episode by Birthing Instincts on the subject of breech birth. It is a great educational resource.
Why should every woman be informed on the subject of breech birth?
Because a baby can move to the breech position at any time! With that in mind, it is vital to be informed of your choices and know where your provider stands on the issue of vaginal breech delivery ahead of time, and have a plan in case of a last-minute breech baby.
Approximately 7 out of every 100 babies (or 7%) of babies are in the breech position at 32 weeks gestation.
The vast majority of those babies are now born via planned cesarean in the U.S. (according to Evidencebasedbirth.com)
Vaginal breech delivery became a lot less popular among OBs with the publication of the Term Breech Trial in 2000. This study was later found to be faulty. (Dr. Stu covers this in the podcast linked above.) ACOG has since (very cautiously) updated their recommendations for management of breech birth to reflect this. You can find that here: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/08/mode-of-term-singleton-breech-delivery
Another great source of information regarding Term Breech Trial is the documentary Heads Up.
You can find that here: https://informedpregnancy.com/heads-up/
It is well worth your rental fee to watch!
As for homebirth midwives, many of them are still trained in the art of breech delivery, and are confident and experienced in this variation of normal.
I can't mention these amazing birth workers that uphold the choice of a Mother to choose what path is better for her and her baby (cesarean or vaginal delivery) without also adding a study proving that home and birth center births are a great option for a successful vaginal breech delivery. I'm sure most of us aren't surprised about that!
What are my options as a parent if my OB/Midwife won't deliver a breech baby?
Glad you asked. 🤗
Let's start with the least invasive options:
1. Find a New Provider.
You can look for one in your area here:
2. Exercises/Spinning Babies Techniques
(this book is available for free to my doula clients upon request.)
3. Webster Certified Chiropractic Care.
4. Moxibustion.
5. Homeopathy.
There are some homeopathic remedies believed to help turn a breech baby before birth. Consult a homeopath for guidance. Homeopathy is best used under their recommendations based on your individual needs!
6. ECV (Breech Version).
It is recommended typically, that if your baby moves to the vertex position after being breech as you're nearing delivery, that you consider belly binding as a way to keep baby from having plenty of room to turn again. This can also be an option after an ECV, in place of an immediate induction that some care providers recommend.
6. Cesarean.
If you do choose cesarean for your breech birth, I would encourage you to be aware of the risks associated with this choice as well. Cesareans are not a completely risk-free option.
Here is a great informative podcast on that subject:
If you feel that a cesarean is the only or best option for you, please know that you can make your cesarean your own! You do have choices in what happens to your body, even during a surgical birth. Penny Simpkin has a great article on this subject!
If breech birth is a possibility for you in the future, I would recommend purchasing this book:
I had the privilege of reading over a few pages of the revised and updated edition before it was sent to the editor, and I was completely mesmerized! I can't wait to read the entire new edition!
Links to more Breech Resources:
Timing of Turning a Breech Baby:
I feel that I barely scratched the surface of breech birth in this blog post, but I also feel that it is quite a bit of information on the subject compared to what is typically discussed in the realm of birth topics. I hope that you have found it informative and encouraging if you're a Mom experiencing a breech baby, or someone seeking to support a Mother in this position.
Until Next Time, ♡ Bethany
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