Latest research shows that the mode of delivery utilized with a breech baby has NO additional long t

Throughout pregnancy your baby is constantly growing, learning, moving, and towards the end of pregnancy, an exemplary baby is perfectly placed in a Left Anterior Occiput (LAO) position in which the baby’s head presses on mommy’s cervix and initiates labor. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and babies tend to change their mind on their positional preference. This is where the worry begins, moms are faced with essentially two options: the vanishing vaginal breech birth or a limiting cesarean section.

But rather than weighing out all of the outcomes and possibilities of having a breech baby wouldn’t it be nice to know that regardless of what you do, your baby is often at equal risk. Latest research from New South Wales, and Australia, analyzed Population birth and hospital records to identify women with regular, breech pregnancies eligible for Vaginal Breech Birth during 2001 to 2012. This study considered long-term outcomes by mode of delivery for term breech presentation. They compared childhood mortality, cerebral palsy, hospitalizations, developmental, and educational outcomes associated with intended vaginal breech birth compared to planned cesarean section.

Of 15,340 women considered eligible for Vaginal Breech Birth, 7.8% intended Vaginal Breech Birth, 74.2% planned cesarean section, and intention was uncertain for 18.1%. The Intended mode of delivery was determined from labor onset and management. Death, hospital, and education records were used for follow-up until 2014. After two years post labor this study found that planned Vaginal Breech Birth confers no additional risks for child health, development, or educational achievement compared to planned cesarean section. Although the stresses of breech are overwhelming and there are various routes to take, cesarean unfortunately being the more common. It is important to trust your body, think of the larger picture, and enjoy the ride as it will be one that remain with you forever.

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Read the full article at:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28029180/#fft

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2016 Dec 28. doi: 10.1111/aogs.13086.