How to Deliver a Surprise Breech Baby

Most times, babies get into the vertex position (or head down position) at around 36 weeks. This generally poses no problems at the time of delivery; however, there are a certain times when babies turn from vertex to breech, meaning butt down, during the course of labor. The following steps are helpful to learn in case you have to assist a surprise breech baby. Most breech babies deliver without too many complications, but knowing what to do in this situation will help you keep both mother and baby as safe as possible during the process.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. If you are with a mother and she begins to deliver a breech baby, you should notify the emergency personnel immediately. Most times breech babies are born without complications, but they may need a little extra oxygen or stimulation to get them started.

2. Immediately warm the room up. If there is a fan going, turn it off. Turn the air conditioning units off. If you have a heater, it is a good idea to turn it on. In a breech birth, the baby's body will be exposed to the air for a while, so you will need to keep him warm.

3. Put the mother in an upright position. This position, whether she's standing, squatting or sitting, will assist the delivery of the baby by using the advantage of gravity.

4. Encourage the mother not to push. It is important in a breech birth to allow the baby to come naturally. When she feels the urge to push, encourage her to blow or pant instead. If she must push, wait until the baby's body is delivered. If she pushes before this, her cervix may not be completely dilated and this could cause problems with delivery of the head.

5. Once the baby is out to the umbilicus, which is the belly button, you will need to check and see if there is a lot of tension on the cord. Stick a finger between the cord and the stomach. If it feels like it is pulling tightly, gently try and loosen it by providing traction.

6. Wrap the baby's body in two or three blankets to help prevent stimulation of breathing. You don't want the baby taking a breath until her head is born, and the cool air can stimulate this effort before it is time.

7. After the shoulders deliver, make sure that the baby is in the occiput anterior position. This means that you want the back of the baby's head facing towards the mother's stomach. So, if the baby's body is out and you are behind the mother, you should be looking at the stomach. If you are in front of the mother, you will be looking at the baby's back. If the baby is not is this correct position, gently place your hands on his hips and encourage him to rotate.

8. Allow the baby to hang there with support, until you see the nape of the neck. Then, gently support the body and slowly help ease the head out. Do not pull or yank on the body to deliver the head. This could cause damage.

9. After she is born, hand her to to Mom and check her breathing efforts. If she has a heartbeat, but is not breathing, you can use blow-by oxygen. If she does not have a heartbeat and is not breathing, begin CPR. If she is breathing and turning pink, encourage the bonding process.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always a good idea to learn CPR. You never know when you are going to need it.