by Rebecca K.

Created on: September 24, 2009   Last Updated: September 26, 2009

Until recently, I did not think it was possible to delivery a breech baby successfully without a c-section. Now, being pregnant with my second child, I may be placed in a position to make the decision whether we want to try a breech birth or have the surgery. Women have been having babies for decades before c-sections became routine, so it stands to reason that with a very experienced doctor or midwife, one may be able to deliver a breech baby. This is not without a higher risk however so one should decide very carefully.

When my ultrasound was done at about 20 weeks, the baby was sitting breech. Now at 33 weeks, the baby still seems to be either breech or sideways. At my last doctor visit, she could not feel where the head was for sure. Also, I am feeling a lot of kicks and pressure lower down and when I was pregnant with my first, his feet were up in my ribcage by this point. I read that I have until 35 or 36 weeks for the baby to turn around before it is no longer optimal to try to turn them.

I've read that babies can turn anytime even once you have gone into labor. Your doctor may reccomend to you an ECV or exterior cephalic version, which is when they apply force to your belly and try to turn baby. While versions may be successful sometimes, they aren't always. They are usually painful to the mother as she cannot have anything more than a muscle relaxer and can stress out the baby, which is why when a version is preformed it must be done at a hospital. If a version fails, your doctor may try again later or if the baby becomes too stressed, you'll have to have a c-section that very day.

That leaves the other option of a breech birth. I suppose if a person was being delivered by a highly experienced doctor or midwife, it may be ok to try. Women of the past had no other option but to have a breech birth as medical technology wasn't what it is today. I'm a big advocate for having natural births and less intervention, but for my personal choice, I would not try a breech birth.

I belive this is one instance when it is nice to be living in our century where we can take advantage of technology. A second ultrasound will show how my baby is sitting and if it is still breech by the time I go into labor I will probably take one for the team and have the surgery. Breech births have much higher risk to infant and mother and I just don't feel comfortable even trying it. So, for my situation, it's either the baby turns on its own, have a version or c-section. Medical science can be helpful sometimes.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca K..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.