|
That's exactly how we were/are instructed to
midwife at a breech birth at Seattle Midwifery school, unfortunately there isn't
much opportunity for hands on except in the developing world except for the
occassional undiagnosed breech, assisted at one such birth arrived with poo(mec)
coming out of mum's vagina, confirmed it was a breech: testicles just inside her
vagina, other midwife sat mum on de buy birth stool, I set up the oxygen, baby
eased out crying as soon as his mouth cleared the peri, handed to mum all 9lb
2oz of him, 2hr labour, baby #2; baby #1 had been a 3hr labour. Too perfect. We
were soooo pleased we missed the presentation. Some things are meant to
be.
marilyn
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 4:52
PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] re: breech
presentation help
I
was taught the same by the older medical practitioners who just sat patiently
and waited and waited. HANDS OF THE BREECH WAS THE CATCH CRY. Even
the arms may descend without interference then LET THE BODY HANG KEEP IT WARM
AND WAIT FOR THE HAIRLINE AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL TO APPEAR, again the baby
may descend on it's own if not gentle manoeuvre only.
Robyn
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 -----
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
|
