How will it affect my labour?
Most babies who are presenting brow first will need to be born by Caesarean. This is because the diameter (or width) of the baby's head in this position is much larger than the baby's crown (i.e. about 13.5 cm compared to 9.5cm). On rare occasions, if the baby is small, and the mother has a 'roomy' pelvis with strong contractions, it is possible for the baby to be born vaginally.
Baby after the birth
If your baby was in a brow presentation, they will usually have an unusual-shaped head at birth. The baby's head generally 'moulds', or changes shape, flattening the crown of their head, and pushing out their forehead and the back of their head. This will usually return to normal within a day or so after the birth.
Image 5-30 shows the way the baby's head moulds when it is in a brow presentation.
If the woman has been labouring for a while, the baby could have neck and spine discomforts, from their head being pushed back into this position. This can make the baby unsettled, or irritable, for a few days after the birth.
A few babies will continue to be irritable and unsettled in the weeks (or sometimes months) following the birth. Some parents have found that a few treatments by a cranial osteopath, or a chiropractor, that specialises in treating babies, can help with their spinal alignment, and contribute to the baby settling down. Other parents will use
baby massage or consult with their homeopath for a suitable remedy.