in Health

Toronto (ECN) - Yesterday the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (SOGC) of Canada issued new guidelines advising physicians not to continue to automatically perform a cesarean section when a breech birth is apparent. Breech births occur at the rate of 11,000 to 14,500 per year in Canada.

A study in 2000 found that breech babies born by cesarean section were 3 to 4 times less likely to die or have serious problems compared to vaginal births, and that influenced physicians worldwide.

New studies show that many women can safely deliver vaginally when the baby enters the birth canal with the feet or buttocks first instead of the normal descent of head first.

"Paramount is the safe birth of the child" says Dr. Andre Lalonde, executive vice-president of the group. He says the group is organizing courses across Canada by hospitals and universities to refresh doctors' training because many were never trained to attempt a vaginal birth and have instead been trained to perform and recommend cesarean sections. The group also wants future specialiststo to be trained in vaginal deliveries for breech births.

These vaginal deliveries should still be performed in a hospital, however, in the event a cesarean section becomes necessary if the umbilical cord is likely to reduce the baby's blood supply by dropping into the vagina or may become compressed or entangled during delivery, the mother has a narrow or small pelvis, the baby weighs more than 8.8 pounds or less than 5.5 pounds, the baby has a hyperextended head, or other factors.

 add all: