The
Term Breech Trial has had a major impact on many caregiver's attitudes towards how breech babies should be born. The following information is aimed at addressing some of the issues for caregivers and for women who have breech babies, when planning how their baby will be born.
Issues for the woman
Issues for the caregiver
For the many caregivers, the Term Breech Trial has meant a significant swing towards caesarean birth as the only reasonable option to deliver breech babies. Some caregivers feel very comfortable with this, others have felt disappointed or saddened that the acceptance of vaginal breech birth has been nearly eliminated.
Caregivers may feel fearful (or anxious) about allowing women to have a vaginal breech birth, especially if their experience with delivering breeches is limited. This may also stem from not wanting to be seen as negligent practitioners by peers, and / or having the threat of possible litigation if things do not turn out well. A few caregivers feel lost as to how they should best present options of care to women, or ambivalent or concerned that the woman's decision-making has been virtually taken away from her.
In the light of all this, currently the vast majority of women with a breech baby tend to be encouraged to have a caesarean. For women preferring a vaginal breech birth it may be difficult (or near impossible, depending on where she lives) to find a supportive caregiver to facilitate this. If they do find a supportive caregiver, then knowing that a vaginal breech birth has a 95% chance of being uncomplicated for their baby and less chance for health complications for themselves, motivates them to pursue a vaginal birth and avoid a caesarean if possible.
Bear in mind that occasionally women present in labour with an undiagnosed breech baby.