Re: [ozmidwifery] re: breech presentation help

[Lynne Staff]

I know - when I was a student midwife, I worked with an older ob who used to say "Sis, Hands off the breech until the mother has brought the baby down to its armpits - then, if assistance is required, do so."   I was fortunate to "grow up" with this way of knowing breech birth - it is fast becoming extinct. The fact of matter is that breech birth is most probably more dangerous now than it has ever been, because the "Professionals" have never had the experience of breech birth apart from caesarean or (ugh) Breech Extraction (a forcible birth, and not a pretty sight, often with fetal and maternal injury).   As for physiological breech....well!  ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom, Tania and Sam Smallwood To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 2:02 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] re: breech presentation help     "Wouldn't it be nice if she could just be supported to give birth with the baby breech? I read with sadness the responses all suggesting ECV, and thought this is a sure sign of the times. Big sigh....."   Lynn,   My thoughts exactly, but the reality is that she will not be supported in birthing a breech baby, and may not be supported by her Ob if she decides to have an ECV, which will have to be in the public system, with another Ob.  What a fragmented and crazy system it is, when a woman fears retribution from her maternity care provider for seeking the help of a specialist who may give her the chance to have the birth she has worked so hard to mentally and physically prepare for.  Even bigger Sigh...   Tania