OptiBreech project - Safety Alert: meconium and tachycardia in breech births (16 February 2023)

Summary

The OptiBreech project is a research study exploring the feasibility of evaluating a new care pathway for women with a breech pregnancy. About 1 in 25 babies are born bottom-down (breech) after 37 weeks of pregnancy. Women who wish to plan a vaginal breech birth have asked for more reliable support from an experienced professional. This aligns with national policy to enable maternal choice.

In this video, Dr Shawn Walker explains why the combination of meconium and tachycardia, particularly in the first stage of labour, indicates increased risk in breech births.