breech presentation complications

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

Hi all, I hope this isn't inappropriate or too gory, but today some co-workers of mine told me a story about a decapitation that occurred during breech delivery when the cervix clamped down on the baby's head! I was horrfied & did not know this could ever happen! I have been to thousands of deliveries & seen some crazy things, but nothing like this! I was wondering if anyone else knows more about this or things like this, or other complications that can happen w/breech delivery, forceps, etc.:eek:

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

I saw a c/s delivery once, a breech 28 weeker abruption. The doc delivered the baby up to his shoulders, when all of a sudden, the uterus clamped down, and he couldn't get the head out. It took pulling the entire uterus out onto the abdomen and making a much wider incision to get the baby out. Everyone in the OR must have held their breath for 5 minutes. The kid ended up ok, but we were drawin' up the epi there for a while.....

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That is an old wives tale. I think there was a thread on it in the OB Nurses board.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Yeah, I doubt anyone's cervix is THAT strong.....

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I have heard other LPN's that assist in OB these same types of horror stories...mostly associated with babies that were not planning on surviving (

We are learning in class how the rate of c-setions are going up...but as a MOTHER, I would have a c-section any day of the week rather than put my child 1% at risk for something adverse happening at birth...not that c-sections are risk free (obviously they are not), and I know that some babies are coming whether you want them to or not lady partsly...but from the stories I have heard in class...you wonder if some physicians aren't trying to take chances that they really shouldn't be taking.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

It's all about knowing HOW to deliver breech kids lady partslly. It's a dying art.....and it doesn't generally involve Mom being flat on her back.

Edited to add: keep in mind I am talking about healthy term pregnancies. I am certain there's a higher risk for something this to happen in a very early preterm delivery. We had an IUFD recently that was 23wks and breech, head entrapment involved but thankfully the doc delivering took their time, and baby was delivered intact.

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Specializes in ob; nicu.

I witnessed a 25 week IUFD breech decapitation. It was a lady partsl delivery and the baby was already severely decomposed. It was still shocking and uncomfortable to recall even now, 5 years later.

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.
I witnessed a 25 week IUFD breech decapitation. It was a lady partsl delivery and the baby was already severely decomposed. It was still shocking and uncomfortable to recall even now, 5 years later.

I have heard of this happening with decomposed demises from co-workers, thankfully have not ever seen it with my own two eyes.

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Specializes in NICU.

We heard that happened with a 22 wk fetus recently. Membranes ruptured and no chance of survival, but a horrible thing to happen.

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