Breech birth: risks and maneuvers to overcome a difficult birth
Breech birth is the one in which the baby is oriented towards the outside and the birth canal for the buttocks. The norm would obviously be a cephalic position, with the head facing the vaginal canal, to exit first during the expulsive phase. Are there any risks involved in breech birth?
The position of the baby before delivery
Childbirth largely depends on the position of the baby in the mother's belly. In general, in the seventh month of pregnancy, the baby is placed in the final position: at the time of the third ultrasound it is therefore possible to understand whether the baby is cephalic or breech. The breech position is said to be complete if the fetus is seated, with the buttocks resting in the mother's pelvis at the level of the neck of the uterus, and the legs crossed. The breech position is instead called incomplete if the legs are stretched, with the feet towards the bottom of the uterus.
See also
Why are there breech babies?
Towards the seventh month, the baby turns and places himself in the delivery position, with the head down, in order to better fill the space of the placenta, wider at the top, in the area where the baby puts on the buttocks and legs. But sometimes he doesn't turn around. It is in this case that we speak of a breech baby. In which cases does this situation occur? Here are the main reasons:
- the baby is breech because it is born before the expiration of time, with a premature birth
- the child has extended his legs instead of bending them, and as he grows up he may have difficulty moving and changing positions
- there is not enough amniotic fluid
- c "is too much amniotic fluid
- the uterus is too narrow at the top, too small or deformed
- it is a twin birth, and one or both fetuses could not move
How to cope with the pains of childbirth?
How can the pain of childbirth be addressed and reduced? The techniques are different, and our Nanny Simona illustrates them in this video. Watch it to discover all the techniques and methods of pain reduction: there is not only the epidural injection!
The natural breech birth: the maneuvers to avoid the cesarean
Unlike the skull, the baby's buttocks are softer: they therefore exert less pressure on the neck of the uterus, and therefore the dilation is not the same. The dynamics of natural birth change if the baby is breech, because the parts of the body are not they respond in the same way as a "cephalic" birth. However, in some cases, an attempt is made to avoid a caesarean section, thanks to some maneuvers by the gynecologist who tries to make the baby turn. The breech baby may be subjected to some manipulations to try to make him move and move into the cephalic position. Through some pressure on the mother's belly, the gynecologist tries to move the baby. The maneuvers last about two and a half hours, and are only possible in the case of complete breech position. is incomplete, however, a cesarean will have to be used. The cesarean breech birth is usually scheduled between the 39th and 40th week. The natural breech delivery, on the other hand, requires different conditions for this to happen: the mother's pelvis must be large enough, the baby must not be too big, and his head should be bent. The length and the particular difficulty of breech birth obviously recommend an epidural anesthesia.
Breech birth: the risks to keep in mind
There are several risks to keep in mind when dealing with a breech birth, both at the time of the gynecologist's maneuvers, and at the time of the actual birth. Speaking of maneuvers, the main risks are:
- the maneuvers can cause premature labor or the onset of placental detachment
- the chances of success of the maneuvers are 50 percent
Often, as an aid or replacement for maneuvers, some resort to acupuncture or osteopathy in an attempt to move the child.
As for actual delivery, if the baby does not turn around, there is a risk of lacerations, which could lead to the need for an episiotomy. Do not worry, however, the risks are always kept under control during the assistance between the maneuvers and the moment of delivery, and if things get complicated the midwife can always decide to entrust the mother to a caesarean operation.
