Breech Position

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Hi,

I'm a volunteer birth companion at my school of nursing and have a quick question about breech positions. I'm wondering, is it possible for the baby to rotate into a breech position a couple of days before a full-term birth? I ask because one of the women I accompanied told me that her prenatal care provider said everything was fine on Friday. Then on Sunday, when she began experiencing contractions and went to the hospital, they told her she needed a c-section because the baby was in a breech position. Is this possible? I couldn't locate any information. Many thanks in advance.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Yes it is possible, and occasionally the baby will turn. In the Uk they will do a USS just prior to C/S to check if the baby has turned as they would prefer the woman to go into labour natrually and give birth lady partslly. I have seen one person have a breech delivery because she was too frightened to have surgery. Most will be happy to have C/S.

I have also seen dr's attempt to turn the baby if enough notice is given and it is barbaric to see.

There are some tricks that can be tried to turn the baby.

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

My third baby turned from breech to vertex at 36 wks and I had him at 37 wks. :) I didn't even feel it.

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Specializes in postpartum, nursery, high risk L&D.

one of the MD's I work with told us about a case during her residency where the baby turned from vertex to breech during labor. she said, no one would have believed them that the baby really had been vertex at the beginning of labor if it hadn't been for the scalp clip. It was still attached when the baby was delivered by c-section.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Thank you all for your replies!!

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Specializes in StepDown ICU, L&D.
Hi,

I'm a volunteer birth companion at my school of nursing and have a quick question about breech positions. I'm wondering, is it possible for the baby to rotate into a breech position a couple of days before a full-term birth? I ask because one of the women I accompanied told me that her prenatal care provider said everything was fine on Friday. Then on Sunday, when she began experiencing contractions and went to the hospital, they told her she needed a c-section because the baby was in a breech position. Is this possible? I couldn't locate any information. Many thanks in advance.

We recently had a set of twins that were vertx/vertx when the patient became complete. Baby A came out and Baby B flipped to breech.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Babies can flip anytime, including in labor. Had one a few years back that, unbelievably, moved from vertex to transverse lie in active labor (pt was about 5 or 6 cm dilated). SO yea,like the other say, it can and does happen, all the time.

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Sometimes...it isn't a real "move" either. A patient came in and was about 2 cm. She was in the office about 12 hours before and was told she was vertex and 0 staion by the physician who happened to the one on call for us during the night. Another nurse and I both examined her and were unable to tell presentation, but were assured that she was "definitely vertex and the head was "well-engaged". She walked for awhile, vomited and was rechecked and found to be 6-7 cm w/ a little set of hiney cheeks presenting. When baby was delivered by C/S, his head was so flattened out and his hips were so flexed that his toes touched his ears when he was unswaddled. I think he was in the breech position for a bit more than 12 hours.

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