How rare is this?

Question

My daughter, who is 3 now, was born breech. She was butt first and folded in half weighing 8 lbs even and i devilerd her vaginally. I recently had my 2nd child and when answearing all the questions about my previous delivery all the doctors and nurses were shocked when they found out the way i deliverd. They said they should have NEVER let me deliver such a large baby like that and that is was very dangerous to do that. My daughter had a few problems after birth, fliud in her lungs, and an infection. She was in the NICU for 3 days after i went home. Shes perfectly healthy now, and no problems with her hips, which i was told might be a possibility. I was wanting to know how rare of a delivery this really is and what danger my daughter and i were truely in?

She was head down almost all the way through the labor and she turned last min. They got out the ultrasound machine and saw her butt first so i delivered her in the operating room just in case of emergency CS. I pushed for 2 hrs before i finally got her out. I'm extremly thankful i didnt have a CS cause my sons delivery was so simple, 4 hrs of labor and 3 pushes. But i was just wondering if it was more dangerous then i was lead to believe at the time.

Answer 1

Trying to deliver a baby that is in the breech presentation vaginally DOES have the potential to be life-threatening for the baby. If the baby's head (the largest part of the baby) is not delivered quickly enough following its body, it is possible for the baby to suffer from brain damage or even for death to result, because there is the risk that the umbilical cord may be compressed or become entangled while the head is trying to come through the birth canal, cutting off the oxygen supply.

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration when a baby is in the breech position that can determine how safe or how risky a vaginal delivery might be: the type of breech presentation (frank, complete, or footling), the size of the baby, the size and position of the baby's head, maternal pelvic size/width, no sign of fetal distress, etc.

Ultrasound would be necessary to determine if the conditions are favorable for a safe vaginal delivery, and then of course you would need a doctor that is experienced in vaginal breech delivery. And even though conditions may seem favorable to try a vaginal delivery (i.e. baby is a reasonable size, the mother's pelvic is wide enough, there are no signs of fetal distress, etc.) there is still a chance that an emergency cesarean section may be necessary.

When I was pregnant with my son and found out that he was breech, my doctor said that he highly suggested that I plan to have a c-section because he knew my son was going to be 8 pounds or larger, but the choice was mine to make. He said that when a mother is presenting in the breech position and the baby is 8 pounds or larger, he typically recommends that the mother consider having a c-section and he prefers to deliver via c-section, just because the risk of maternal injury and fetal death are dramatically decreased.

I know several woman that have had breech babies that have delivered vaginally, successfully. But I also know a few that had breech babies and tried a trial of labor that resulted in emergency c-sections. Vaginal breech delivery is not rare, but there are problems that could arise. Consider yourself fortunate for having a successful birth, a healthy daughter, and a doctor that was obviously experienced enough in vaginal breech deliveries to have made that possible!

Answer 2

Having a breech baby vaginally is only rare in that few doctors know how to deliver a baby anymore who is presenting in this position. Otherwise if you have a trained doctor delivering you, then it's probably not that big of a deal. There can be some complications, but on a grand scale probably not that much worse than what can go wrong with a c/s or a vertex vaginal birth.

Thank your lucky stars that you had a doctor who was trained and knew how to deliver your baby so you could avoid a c/s! Many women who have inital c/s have to fight like crazy against the medical establishment to have a VBAC if the subsequent baby is presently correctly. Oftentimes medical professionals (nurses especially, it seems) will tell you something to scare you into thinking their way is best when in fact it's just easier for them. I'm not saying all nurses are like this, though. I wouldn't worry too much seeing as how you had two successful deliveries (assuming your second wasn't a section). And an 8 lb baby isn't all that big - maybe a baby closer to 9 - 9 1/2 pounds is truly "big."

My first was breech and I delivered via c/s. Thankfully the second one was head down and I could have a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).

Answer 3

About 4 % of babies are born breech. I know a woman who had twin boys. Both were born breech vaginally. One was a complete breech (butt first, legs folded in 1/2 with feet near the butt) and one was a frank breech (butt first, folded in 1/2 with feet near the head). The twins are now in their 30's so this was some time ago. She didn't know she was expecting twins (way before the use of routine ultrasounds) until the day she had them. Both her boys were a little over 7 pounds. Needless to say, she decided not to have any more children after that! I think as far as danger go, all deliveries have potential for danger to both mom and baby. My cousin's baby was in a breech position a couple years ago. They tried to manually move the baby, but it didn't work (and was really painful to her) so she had a c-section.

Answer 4

my baby girl now a year old was breech delivery and was breech all the way through pregnancy. and is a totally healthy and happy child. they tried to force me into a c-section that i didn't want. they even booked it but on the day i was due to go in my waters broke and bye the time i got to the hospital they could see her feet. i was very gratefull i had a free thinking midwife and she asked me if i wanted natural or c-section. of coarse i went for natural. she told me more women should have the choice i totally agree because she told me the only reason they don't like to do natural is because apparently mums and baby's do better in the first 12 hours after birth. in the way that the baby will just sleep more that's it. but that's only because its more exhausting for the baby but does no harm. and i don't see how it can be better for the mum being stuck in a bed not being able to move properly. my daughter was the first natural breech to be born at the hospital for 6 years that's how rare it is but they was very gratefull as it went down as experience for them iam very happy you got to do it naturally too. i haven't herd of anyone else who has. i don't think there is much of a risk at all for breech births unless the baby is really weak or has a medical problem it should become more common.

Answer 5

I was born butt first...and as far as I know, I'm fine and was fine...I was about the same size as your daughter at 7lb. 11oz

Breech deliveries are dangerous and can indeed cause problems for moms and the babies...perhaps she was coming out so quickly that there was no time to deliver her by c-section. If not, the doctors should have known beforehand and were negligent at the very least...I wouldn't go and sue them though. I think you would have known if there was something seriously wrong by now...count your blessings that all is well, and never go to that doctor/hospital again

good luck to you :)

Answer 6

my mother delivered my butt first, but back then I don't think they knew the risks. Having a baby butt first can cause her to have a lot of respiratory problems growing up like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and things like that. Also as a child, she may need to use a breathing machine at night and may have breathing attacks. Swallowing all of that fluid and mucus could suffocate her and cause her to die in the canal. also with the babies hips, they could become dislocated and when it's learning to walk and crawl can have difficulty getting the strength in the bones it needs to keep it stable, without physical therapy. for you if the baby were to get stuck it could cause you to bleed more internally and without successfully getting her out or doing an emergency c-section you could have bleed to death.

that's just what I've heard from my doctors who are very cautious of the way my baby turns.

Answer 7

butt first usually means a c- section cause its hard to turn a baby that late in pregnancy glad everything went well. later in life she most likely will have hip problems i was born with a dislocated hip and i have pain alot and nothing can really be done. goos luck on this pregnancy

Answer 8

It sounds like they managed it and watched you and her pretty closely, but yeah, I think it was serious situation and they probably didn't want you stressing out and so glossed it over a little bit. Kinda crappy if you ask me. But it sounds like everything turned out for the best, so I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time fretting over what could have happened. Congrats on the kids.

Answer 9

if you have (had) a good doctor it is perfectly safe to have delivered breech and as far as the complications they are possible no matter how you deliver

Answer 10

No images of her or any disney celebs are infrequent. You get what you get on her fansite. Trust me they positioned the one images available in the market. I do not even realise the factor of short of "infrequent" Miley images.