Should My Doctor Have Repositioned My Breech Baby Before Birth?

 Posted on February 05, 2022 in Birth Injury

The best position for an infant during delivery is in vertex, or headfirst, position. An infant’s skull is naturally flexible, and the passage of a headfirst infant through the birth canal usually allows the rest of the body to follow smoothly. When infants are not positioned headfirst shortly before delivery, they are considered “breech.” 

Breech infants may be foot, back, or bottom first - anything position that places the infant’s head towards the mother’s chest instead of the birth canal is considered breech. Although most infants will naturally reposition themselves around week 36 of their mother’s pregnancy, when an infant does not, doctors must take action to ensure the baby is safe during delivery. If a doctor does not correctly recognize and address a breech baby, serious birth injuries can occur. 

How Can a Doctor Help a Breech Baby? 

Doctors have several options when addressing a breech baby. These include: 

• Inversion - Using the help of gravity, certain physical poses such as child’s pose may help the baby reposition herself before delivery. 
• Homeopathic methods like acupuncture or massage  
• External cephalic version, or ECV - ECV is when a doctor manually repositions the infant so a vaginal delivery can happen safely. ECV is not always a safe option, especially if a mother is pregnant with multiple children or has certain medical issues. 
• C-Section delivery - When other strategies fail or the infant or mother’s health is at risk, the best option may be a C-section delivery. 

Doctors must make recommendations that take the mother’s health history and any current complications into consideration. While doctors may recommend less invasive at-home methods for turning a breech baby several weeks before an anticipated delivery, doctors must be very attentive and intervene if necessary as a mother nears her expected delivery date. 

What Birth Injuries Can Result From a Breech Birth? 

One of the most important reasons a child must be born headfirst is because breech birth significantly increases the risk of several birth injuries. These include, but are not limited to: 

• Asphyxia
• Brain damage 
• Development delays
• Epilepsy
• Organ damage
• Cerebral and/or Erb’s palsy 
• Brachial plexus damage
• Death 

The consequences of these injuries can require life-long medical treatment and 24/7 personal care. Parents of an infant injured during birth may feel confused, overwhelmed, grief-stricken, or angry. All of this is normal. If your child suffered during birth, consider meeting with a lawyer who may be able to help. 

Meet with a Cook County Breech Birth Injuries Attorney

It can be difficult for parents to know how a doctor should ideally manage birth complications. After all, parents are not medical professionals and must rely on their doctor for accurate information and treatment. But, if you suspect that your doctor should have done more to address your infant’s breech position and believe that his failure to do so contributed to birth injuries, schedule a free consultation with a Chicago, IL breech birth injuries lawyer with Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd.. We will review your case, discuss your options, and treat your situation with the seriousness and compassion it deserves. Call us today at 312-462-4200. 

Sources: 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21848-breech-baby 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-622