Multiples

Are there risks to baby B being breech?

My doctor said she will be able to deliver the babies as long as baby A is head down and bigger than baby B. She said even if Baby B is breech she will still let me deliver vaginally, which i'm all for because I want to steer clear from a Csect as much as possible. This is something I'm going to ask my OB Monday, but just wondering what you ladies say?

Have any of you delivered Baby B breech vaginally? What are the risks to this?

Re: Are there risks to baby B being breech?

  • My girls were both head down at our last ultrasound but once baby a came out our baby b decided to move sideways instead of come head down so she ended up being a breech extraction. I didn't feel anything aside from pressure, thank goodness for epidurals! She did have a broken clavicle but per our pedi that bone will heal as long as it's in the same room. We didnt have to do anything special aside from be aware of it and a little careful and honestly you can't even tell now! I am so glad that I didn't end up with a c-section and that my doctor felt comfortable with the breech extraction. Hope that helps! Good luck! Sorry about the format! (on my phone)
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  • I went with c/s so not sure about vaginal. But B flipped breech a bunch and even surprised docs when they cut me with her feet because she was head down a day or so before. they flip a lot and even late!
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  • Risks really depend on if they are mo/mo, mo/di or di/di. Sharing a placenta runs the risk of cord entanglement. Otherwise, if your doc feels comfortable doing a version....
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  • I read that even if they are di/di, after baby A is out baby B has enough room to run the risk of cord prolapse, and there is a concern with delivering the head safely in a breech extraction.  Pretty slim chances of truly having these problems from what I can tell but that's what I read in a multiples book a friend gave me (NOT Dr. Luke's book....).  Both of mine were breech so I wouldn't have had a choice.
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  • imageSpinningJess:
    I read that even if they are di/di, after baby A is out baby B has enough room to run the risk of cord prolapse, and there is a concern with delivering the head safely in a breech extraction.  Pretty slim chances of truly having these problems from what I can tell but that's what I read in a multiples book a friend gave me (NOT Dr. Luke's book....).  Both of mine were breech so I wouldn't have had a choice.

    This sounds like what my OB has said.  (My MFM won't deliver me).  We haven't talked about it at length, but my OB would like me to attempt vaginal even if B is breech.  He won't do breech extraction though.  I think he said that it was out of concern for the baby's head/ neck.  He also told me though, that he has only about a 50% success rate of flipping B after A is out.  50% doesn't seem great to me... makes me just want to have a c-section to avoid the double whammy.  My OB has multiples experience, but not tons like some ladies' OBs have.  

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  • Mine said he thinks a Breech baby B is safer than two vertex babies bc there's no risk of the heads getting locked up. With a breech B he said an extraction is pretty simple, or the breech delivery (without extraction) is easy bc A has paved the way.
  • I'm early in the game, but our OB said that as long as baby A is head down, we are pretty much guaranteed a vag birth. She will pull baby B out feet, butt, whatever first.
    Mom to 2 beautiful girls, 3 yrs and 22 months old. My 2nd was born at 32 weeks due to Rhogam failure/severe complications from Rh disease and is our miracle. She has bilateral auditory neuropathy and a cochlear implant, activated 4/5/2012 at 19 months. Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Both times both my girls were head down right before delivery.  It's not uncommon for baby B to flip after baby A is delivered due to more room.  My doctor highly recommended an epidural because of this.  My OB was able to turn baby B for a head down vaginal delivery.  I was also warned of delivering one vaginal and then possibly needed a c-section for baby B, which is why I delivered in the OR too.  I am glad I got the epidural and wasn't able to feel my doctor turn baby B head down and I was able to deliver them both vaginally.  I believe that baby A's position is the indicating factor.
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  • My doctor does vaginal deliveries as long as Baby A is head down as well. He would have tried to turn Baby B after Baby A was delivered (if necessary) but as it turns out they've both been breech since at least 32 weeks so I'm scheduled for a c section in 3 days.

    So in short, I don't think there's any issue with B being breech prior to delivery. B's position prior to won't necessarily hold up once A comes out anyway. Good luck! Hope you get the delivery you want.

  • If you have a dr who knows what they're doing, breech extraction of a Twin B is at least as safe as a C-section, and safer than a manual version. I have links on my blog (to solid medical sources) that helped me make my decision:

    https://rootbeertwins.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-if-baby-b-is-breech.html

    fraternal twin boys born january 2009
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