The unwelcome breech: a discussion on the management of breech birth in the UK

‘It’s not about feelings - it’s about the data. This is evidence-based obstetrics.’(Wendland 2007:218)

The management of breech birth is both complex and controversial. While breech birth is usually conceptualised as an emergency situation, there is an argument that under certain criteria and with skilled practitioners, vaginal breech birth does not — or should not — present as an emergency situation in the first instance. The role of the midwife as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is vital in facilitating women’s choice within the socio-political, policy-driven context in which breech birth is placed. This paper will discuss the management of breech birth in the United Kingdom (UK) through this perspective, aiming to provide an insight into the complexities of current clinical practice.