Breech baby, what to do?

milliebear00001

My scepticism is based on the general reading (and discussion with other mothers) around the general medicalisation of birth in the UK rather than specific research into breech birth. My point isn't so much that I think the OP should go for a vaginal delivery, more that I think she has the right not to take the medical profession's advice at face-value. It is her choice. Taking the medical profession's advice at face value has led to a CS rate of 25% in the UK - way higher than it needs to be. These are women (including myself) many of whom are having surgery with all of its inherent risks, needlessly - the OP need to be sure in her own mind that she has made the right choice for her and her baby. Clearly that will take more for her than a doctor's 'say so' and she has every right to ask that they justify clearly why they think she needs to take that option. Problem is, many don't (or can't) do that in any great detail.

If all the OP has met with so far is 'this is the choice you need to make', then she really needs to talk to somebody who can offer the other side of the coin - specifically, a midwife with good experience of dealing with vaginal breech delivery

The OP hasn't asked for studies and I'm not sure that's what she's after, but if she does want them, there are several recent Dutch studies that question the conclusion that CS is safer than vaginal breech delivery, and which also consider all the mitigating factors. They are easy to Google..

chaliepud

My 3rd baby was breech and I was offered a c section or manual version (turning) I opted for the version as my 2nd birth has been so quick and easy. They turned him, I didn't think it was painful, just uncomfortable, went into natural labour two days later. From then it was my worst labour ever! I knew from early on he wsan't going to be able to get out but no one listened, despite me having had 2 natural deliveries before, he got stuck on my spine which was excrutiating, all the anaes were busy dealing with a major accident so had to wait hrs for an epidural, finally they tried ventouse and forceps before having to have a c section anyway!

Would def choose a section any day, quicker, easier to organise around family (and dog care in my case) and really doesn't take that long to get over, I was driving in 3 weeks.

Good luck with whatever you decide, wish I could have another baby, but OH is adamant 3 kids and 3 dogs are enough! Spoil sport!