Vaginal breech delivery...

[etonmymind]

As I just posted elsewhere, this boy child is breech at 35 weeks.  I expect labor to start around 37, so I'm weighing lots of options and trying lots of things!

Anyway, I was informed at my last visit that vaginal breech delivery is an option at our hospital.  The midwife I saw that day (not my "regular" m/w but one of the practice) is fairly well against it but admitted it was because she had seen the baby break his neck at the last one she witnessed--prior to that, she favored them.  Not a nice story, reminds me of when my old, old, old OB tried to scare me out of my first VBAC, even though to be fair to the midwife, she was just answering my direct questions truthfully...

I am having a hard time finding unbiased or reliable-seeming information about the pros and cons of this decision.  Obviously I wouldn't make the decision to section lightly either, but I'm not militantly against it.  I'll make peace with whatever happens.  But I was really hoping to find out more about the breech delivery BEFORE I go back in 7 days.

Can anyone offer me any information, resources, or personal experience with vaginal breech?  This would be my second VBAC, I'll be in a progressive university hospital, and no drugs.  Oh, and baby appears to be footling.  I have heard that makes a difference, and that some docs feel that frank presentation is a much better candidate for vaginal delivery.

thank you so much!

et/seattle

planning VBAC #2!

[Engineering_Mama]

I was born frank breech way back in 1973. So I know its possible to be done safely. One of the birth videos my child birth educator showed had a women who delivered her second twin (who was breech) pretty much by herself. Her midwife didn't make it in time. So again its certainly possible. From what I've heard the biggest problem with a vaginal breech birth is finding a provider who knows how to do one. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in with something better than an anecdote. Peace in making your decision.

[AlexisT]

Footling breech is a problem. It's not just "some" OBs--from what I've read, most OBs and MWs who do breech deliveries only do frank breech. Footling has a higher risk of cord prolapse because they can't engage in the pelvis. I do not know if ECV is an option for footling breech.

If baby shifts to frank, then breech delivery is an option with a skilled and experienced provider.

[Tumble Bumbles]

deleted -- (only anecdotal evidence was provided) 

I'll just say I've seen many a footling breech delivered in a hands-off approach in home birth and unassisted birth situations (on video). Mama is almost always on hands/knees OR in a birthing tub. I wouldn't have an elective c-section for it myself.

[etonmymind]

Just an update.  We aren't sure anymore that the baby is footling, yay!!  Head is still up but some signs it's frank instead.  Confirming more on that on Monday.  We also have a good lead and recommendation on the doc at our hospital who is very experienced with vaginal breech--so if this little stinker doesn't turn, we're going to try to get in to talk to him. 

Birthing at home is not an option for me this time due to a few other items I didn't list. :)

In the meantime, I've been Webster-ed, acupunct-ed, homeopathed, and everything in between.  I'm getting really curious to see if he is tangled in the cord.