External version is a technique used to manually turn breech babies. A new review shows that, contrary to a commonly-held belief, versions carry little risk.
More mothers with breech babies are indeed finding fewer and fewer options to have a vaginal birth. One of the disappearing options seems to be that fewer providers are performing external cephalic versions, a technique used to turn a breech baby manually.
The Ob practitioner gives the expectant mother a muscle-relaxant, then using ultrasound, manually moves the baby's head from a breech to a vertex position from the outside of the mother's abdomen. Typically this procedure is done by two doctors. Mothers report that it can be uncomfortable.
The reality is that less obstetricians are in fact offering mothers with breech babies this option since it has been considered to be risky. A new review of the research shows that the risk of complications for an emergency cesarean was only 0.5% out of 805 births. It is clear that the choice to have a version is indeed a safe one.
For more ideas to turn a breech baby, check out this article.
Are you interested in ways to reduce your chances of having a cesarean? Read more here.
Warmly,
Brenda
