I recently read someone say that being labeled high risk as a pregnant woman has more to do with the provider’s comfort level than anything else! Hopefully the tides turn and more providers become less scared of breech births!
Please interview Dr Stu of Birthing Instincts podcast! He trains midwives and drs in breech birth because he was trained in it before 2000(?) when a study made people veer away from it.
If I had a persistently frank breech baby, I would elect for vaginal birth rather than C-section.
However: when a doctor says they're not confident in their ability to do something, I believe them! If I have a choice in the matter, I do not choose to hire an OB or midwife to do something if they say they're not comfortable doing it. I don't try to argue them into it. I just go elsewhere if it's important to me.
That goes for VBB, VBAC, twins, etc. Because chances are they just won't do it. They'll fall back on what they are comfortable with (i.e. C-section or transfer to a hospital). And I won't be in a great position to think through or advocate for other options at that point.
I prefer to choose providers who are comfortable with my birth plan. And preferably well practiced in it, but if it's something nobody sees very often, then at least comfortable with it.
The issue is that this isn't a matter of one provider's preference or skill level compared to another. The issue is that the vast majority of OB's aren't confident with breech vaginal births because there is a major incentive for them not to perform them.
I'm used to disregarding the vast majority of doctors if they don't have the particular skill I need to hire. I realize that isn't an option in some locations, especially rural ones.
But I agree with you overall. The system has a deskilling problem.
Great read; thanks for sharing. We just got a new OB in our small town who is trained in and comfortable with breech delivery and I'm psyched!!
I recently read someone say that being labeled high risk as a pregnant woman has more to do with the provider’s comfort level than anything else! Hopefully the tides turn and more providers become less scared of breech births!
Please interview Dr Stu of Birthing Instincts podcast! He trains midwives and drs in breech birth because he was trained in it before 2000(?) when a study made people veer away from it.
💯 VBB are the Canary in the coal mine. If a provider can't assist that, they don't know what birth is and should be avoided all together 💁♀️
If I had a persistently frank breech baby, I would elect for vaginal birth rather than C-section.
However: when a doctor says they're not confident in their ability to do something, I believe them! If I have a choice in the matter, I do not choose to hire an OB or midwife to do something if they say they're not comfortable doing it. I don't try to argue them into it. I just go elsewhere if it's important to me.
That goes for VBB, VBAC, twins, etc. Because chances are they just won't do it. They'll fall back on what they are comfortable with (i.e. C-section or transfer to a hospital). And I won't be in a great position to think through or advocate for other options at that point.
I prefer to choose providers who are comfortable with my birth plan. And preferably well practiced in it, but if it's something nobody sees very often, then at least comfortable with it.
The issue is that this isn't a matter of one provider's preference or skill level compared to another. The issue is that the vast majority of OB's aren't confident with breech vaginal births because there is a major incentive for them not to perform them.
I'm used to disregarding the vast majority of doctors if they don't have the particular skill I need to hire. I realize that isn't an option in some locations, especially rural ones.
But I agree with you overall. The system has a deskilling problem.