When a woman is pregnant, one thing that is certainly never lacking are the doubts that arise during this delicate time, especially when it comes to first-time mothers. During prenatal appointments, many of these doubts can be resolved, such as questions about breech babies, which are more common than we imagine. And although a doctor can answer all the technical questions about the situation, there will always be more doubts. After all, what should you do when a woman has a breech baby? That’s the topic we’re going to discuss today. But first, we need to delve a little deeper to fully understand what we are dealing with.
What Is a Breech Baby?
“Breech presentation” occurs when the baby does not turn head-down in preparation for birth to happen naturally, since this is the ideal position for delivery. A breech baby, therefore, is simply a baby who has a breech presentation—that is, who remains seated even when the ideal is to turn head-down. Cases of breech babies are very rare, accounting for about 3% worldwide. The baby assumes the engaged position around the 36th to 38th week of pregnancy. This is when doctors and mothers pay close attention to the baby’s position to find out if the baby will have “cephalic presentation”—which is simply the head-down position—or if the baby will be breech. There is a technique to slowly change the baby’s position, called “external cephalic version,” which basically involves using the hands to move the baby inside the woman. This technique can be used from the 36th week of pregnancy onwards, if a doctor notices that the baby is showing no signs of turning. External cephalic version, or ECV, was used much more in the past, when cesareans were not as common. For this reason, it is not easy to find a doctor who performs this type of procedure, especially in Brazil, where there is a consensus that this maneuver is risky as it can cause placental abruption.
Why Does This Happen?
There are no studies that precisely prove why some babies do not turn head-down at the time of labor. Some studies indicate that it may be hereditary, but we still need more information to be able to state anything for sure. What is known is that this is rare and can cause complications, depending on the woman’s pregnancy, and may require a cesarean delivery.
Is Cesarean Section Mandatory for a Breech Baby?
Not necessarily, but in most cases it is recommended. A doctor may judge whether there is risk to the woman or the baby and then recommend a cesarean. There are also vaginal births that can happen even in this position, known as breech births, which require special care from doctors. Since this type of delivery is more complicated and carries higher risk, it is very rare to see breech births being performed, although they do exist. The concerns a woman has before birth are many, especially when she finds out she has a breech baby or that the baby is positioned in any way other than the most natural for birth. Even though this scares many women, it is important to stay calm and know that with the proper medical care, nothing bad will happen because of the baby’s position. Of course, thinking about the baby is extremely important throughout pregnancy, but a woman also needs to take care of herself during those 9 months, not only because she is carrying another life, but also because she cannot let stress and anxiety take over her health. And that is why having good psychological support, in addition to support from friends and family during pregnancy, also makes all the difference for the expectant mother. See Also: Does Vaginal Birth Make the Vagina Loose? Photo: Breech presentation
