Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Breech Baby is this a Complication?

by Javed
(India)

I am 32 and my first baby was delivered by Cesarean because my was not opened fully. Everything else was normal.

Now I am in the eight month of my second pregnancy. My doctor told me my baby's position is breech.

Is this abnormal, are there any complications or anything to worry about?

Answer:

Hi Javed,

A breech baby can be delivered vaginally without complications. However, many doctors are not willing to try and schedule c-sections for breech baby.

You'll want to talk to the doctor and see if a trial of labor is normal, or if a second, scheduled c-section will be recommended.

Sometimes there are complications with breech babies in delivery, since the baby's bottom is born first. It is a smaller part of the baby and doesn't open the mother as wide for the baby's head.

A skilled doctor can help the baby manuever out quickly. In addition, there are positions a mother can be in to help her baby be born quickly. Being on hands-and-knees is a good position. Standing up is also a good position and many mothers are able to deliver breech babies without assistance standing up.

In the end it comes down to what you are comfortable with.

Breech babies will often turn to vertex before labor begins. You can help encourage the baby to turn. Swimming is one good way.

You can read more in my article on Turning Breech Babies.