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Vaginal Breech Births

Discussion in 'General Midwifery Discussion' started by rockchick, May 12, 2010.

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  1. rockchick Member

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    Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    Hi everyone,
    I was shocked today to hear a community midwife (and midwife of 15 years) say that she had never even seen a breech vaginal delivery. I realise that most women are recommended to have a c-section but never thought it was quite such a rare occurance. How many of you have witnessed or helped a woman birth her breech baby. The midwives I was talking to seemed very anti allowing a woman to even try.
    Thanks guys xxx

    :rockon:
    rockchick, May 12, 2010
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  2. Mkunga Staff Manager

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    I've seen one!!!!

    I cared for the woman with my mentor, and when she got to fully, the docs came in and took her to theatre, so that they could "deliver her" in lithotomy... :-(
    It was at the end of my first year and I truly wish that my mentor and I had felt confident enough to suggest that the birth be conducted in the room.

    It was lovely to see, however it was more of a vaginal breech "delivery", rather than a vaginal breech birth - in that the doctor did certain manoevres to assist the birth, compared to a breech birth where the woman would be in an upright position and gravity and the pelvic floor would influence and assist the birth of the baby with no (or minimal) hands on.
    Mkunga, May 12, 2010
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  3. Rebel Duck Member

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    I have seen one as part of a twins delivery. It was 35 week second twin (twin 1 cephalic) and the mum was a para 4 already so even though the doctor delivered, the mum was already pushing involuntarily and did most of the work and the baby himself was quite small so the doctor really didn't do that much. It was interesting to see though and the mum was so lovely.

    It is becoming a issue as to whether midwives are becoming greatly deskilled in these areas of midwifery. It's hotly debated these days.
    Rebel Duck, May 12, 2010
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  4. iolaus Education Moderator

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    Real life 3 term vaginal breeches, all in lithotomy though

    2 primips - 1 a footling breech
    other one a multip VBAC (prev section for breech)

    2 diagnosed at full dilation when we saw the foot or testicles, the other discovered at 8cm in a birth centre, transferred in and was fully when she got there and was told she 'was having a vaginal birth' - first 2 less than 20 minutes pushing, 3rd about 35minutes pushing

    All no problems (but were given episiotomies)

    There have been a few on the MLC where I have worked in the past (and one now) all delivered upright, no problems with intact perineums but wasn't lucky enough to see them

    We probably get 10 or so a year where I work, some of them are second twins though
    iolaus, May 12, 2010
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  5. EmmaR New Member

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    My mum had twins & my sister who was born second, was breech. Mum had the twins by natural birth but this was 28 years ago.
    EmmaR, May 12, 2010
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  6. RedRidingHood Member

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    can someone tell me what lithotomy and 'para 4' means please? x
    RedRidingHood, May 12, 2010
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  7. rockchick Member

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    Lithiotomy is feet in stirrups with the end of the bed taken away. Para 4 means this is her 4th pregnancy xxx
    rockchick, May 12, 2010
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  8. RedRidingHood Member

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    thanks lovely x
    RedRidingHood, May 12, 2010
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  9. iolaus Education Moderator

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    4th baby rather than 4th pregnancy - gravida is pregnancy parity is babies born past viability
    iolaus, May 12, 2010
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  10. iolaus Education Moderator

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    Re: Vaginal breech birth......have you seen one???

    BTW I recommend anyone who can go on the Jane Evans and Mary Cronk Day at the Breech study day - tis fab
    iolaus, May 12, 2010
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