Vaginal birth vs. caesarean for breech babies

Obstetrician Paul Crane, MD, explains what a breech baby is, what the likelihood of having a breech baby is, and how breech babies are typically delivered
Childbirth Methods For Breech Babies
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Vaginal birth vs. caesarean for breech babies

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A breech birth is when the baby's bottom, feet, or knees present in the pelvis and the head is in the upper part of the abdomen. It doesn't happen very often, but it does account for 4 percent of all deliveries. It is dangerous because the last part to be delivered is the baby's head which is also the biggest part of the baby, and it doesn't have the time to mold the maternal pelvis. If we recognize someone is in the breech presentation, we do try to turn the baby and we can do this with various techniques including; acupuncture and chiropractic. The best method is we try and do an external version, which is usually done in a hospital between 36-37 weeks of gestation. If this is not successful, it is the standard of care to do breech vaginally, but we usually resort to cesarean birth.

Obstetrician Paul Crane, MD, explains what a breech baby is, what the likelihood of having a breech baby is, and how breech babies are typically delivered

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Paul Crane, MD

Obstetrician

Paul Crane, MD, is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and has practiced for more than 30 years. He specializes in natural childbirth and VBAC births in his practice in Beverly Hills. Paul is the father of six children ranging in age from 18 to 40. In his free time, he enjoys photography. Even after 30 years, one of his favorite things to do is deliver babies. 

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Transcription: 
A breech birth is when the baby's bottom, feet, or knees present in the pelvis and the head is in the upper part of the abdomen. It doesn't happen very often, but it does account for 4 percent of all deliveries. It is dangerous because the last part to be delivered is the baby's head which is also the biggest part of the baby, and it doesn't have the time to mold the maternal pelvis. If we recognize someone is in the breech presentation, we do try to turn the baby and we can do this with various techniques including; acupuncture and chiropractic. The best method is we try and do an external version, which is usually done in a hospital between 36-37 weeks of gestation. If this is not successful, it is the standard of care to do breech vaginally, but we usually resort to cesarean birth.