breech birth

[~RememberToForget~]

What type of breech birth is generally considered the safest or easiest? I don't know much about this and am just curious.Is there a breech that cannot be attempted?

[JamieCatheryn]

Well, transverse, that's baby lying on it's side neither head nor butt down, certainly cannot be born unless it turns. Footling breech, one or both feet down, is considered dangerous because the cord could prolapse or baby could start coming out before dilation was far enough along to let the head pass. Baby kneeling is slightly better. A frank breech, with the baby's bottom presenting and legs folded up, has the best odds for a vaginal birth. Still need either an experienced care provider or a birthing mom completely in tune with her body for it to go well.

[hapersmion]

There's also complete breech, where the baby is bottom first, but with crossed legs instead of having the legs straight up as they are in a frank breech. That's the second safest position, after frank breech.

I hadn't heard about kneeling breech being safer than footling, that's interesting. I think it's really quite rare, though.

If you poke around, you'll find lots of successful birth stories with all the types of breech. I would say all you need is to have people around you who will keep their HANDS OFF! There are still increased risks with a breech birth, but it's not the catastrophe that some people think.

I'm still glad my son was frank breech, though. Weighing my options would have been harder with a footling.

[ann_of_loxley]

This is a fab link on breech births!

Here it is - click me click me! lol

This is the spinning babies website which is also good!

[~RememberToForget~]

Thank you for the info ladies! I'll definitely be checking out those links when I get a chance.I'm not pregnant right now,I've already had 2 c-sections but would like to deliver my next baby naturally and just in case the next one is breech I wanted to be prepared well in addvance!

[jeminijad]

The only breech birth that CANNOT be attempted is a stargazer.

After that, I believe footling is next dangerous. Kneeling breech is rare... not sure how dangerous it is. Complete breech isn't ideal.

Hopefully a pro will comment on the stargazer breech.

[hapersmion]

I'm not sure I'm a pro, but I'll answer. A stargazer is a baby whose head is tipped back, looking up at the sky (no matter what position the legs are in). That position carries a high risk of spine damage - I think it's pretty dangerous even in a c-section, since the baby's head can still get stuck when being pulled through the incision. Since the stargazer position only involves the head, I'm not sure how they would tell before birth, since the head can move so easily, but I think the position can be caused by problems that are already present, sometimes at least.

[kltroy]

For the most part keeping your hands off seems to be the thing to do, but there are several maneuvers that are used as needed during a vaginal breech birth. I can't remember all of the names, but they basically involve tucking the baby's chin under so that it clears the pelvic bones. Otherwise the baby's head can become hyperextended or stuck during the last part of the birth, which is obviously bad. Knowing if, when, and how to do these maneuvers is a key skill that you'd want to have in a birth attendant, and is the reason experience is good.

[Mamatoto2]

Originally Posted by jeminijad

The only breech birth that CANNOT be attempted is a stargazer.

I dunno. I couldn't find anyone who would do a vaginal delivery for transverse breech (my second was transverse). Even Ina May transfers transverse breech babes.

[AlexisT]

Transverse is often considered separately from breech--while many popular birth books talk about "transverse breech", I've heard providers say that there's no such thing. Breech means head up, and transverse is separate. So if you're holding by that definition, then the post is correct.