Information for women and birthing people

OptiBreech Care Trial

This is a non-randomised trial. We will observe outcomes for a large group of women with a breech-presenting baby who are planning OptiBreech Care or have a vaginal breech birth at the end of pregnancy.

Preprint (before peer review) of our pilot trial: Walker, Spillane, Stringer et al and the OptiBreech Collaborative, 2023. OptiBreech collaborative care versus standard care for women with a breech-presenting foetus at term: A pilot parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the feasibility of a randomised trial nested within a cohort. DOI:  10.13140/RG.2.2.11883.92969

Francina talks about her positive experience of participating in the OptiBreech 1 study

Further Information about Breech Birth

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Guideline: Management of Breech Presentation (2017) – This guideline contains the evidence-based information everyone should receive when deciding upon how to give birth to their breech baby.

In Episode 31 of The Obs Pod, “Bottom Down,” Consultant Obstetrician Florence Wilcox discusses how breech birth has changed over recent years, what the evidence says and how practice can improve.

Sources of Support

OptiBreech PPI and Participants Facebook Group: This is a group of OptiBreech PPI members who have experienced a breech pregnancy within the NHS, or have supported other women who have, and women, other birthing people and/or their families who have participated in the OptiBreech Project. The group arose out of the interests of the PPI group in providing a source of support to those planning a vaginal breech birth, and in listening to the experiences of those within the OptiBreech Project to help guide the research.

If you are reflecting on a previous or current birth experience after participating in the OptiBreech Project, either as a pregnant person or a PPI Group (Patient and Public Involvement) member, and you feel you need more support, we want to help. You may feel that you just need to talk through your experience, or you may want to provide constructive feedback to improve care for others. Here are some sources of support:

Birth Reflections Service: Most Trusts offer a Birth Reflections service. The purpose is to help you talk through your birth with the help of a qualified and experienced midwife. If you cannot identify how to contact your local Birth Reflections Service, the OptiBreech research team will help you.

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service): Each local hospital has PALS officers who offer confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. They can help you resolve concerns or give you information about the NHS compaints procedure, including how to get independent help. They also help to improve the NHS by listening to your concerns and suggetsions. If you cannot identify how to contact your local PALS service, the OptiBreech research team will help you.

Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP): This is an NHS working group of women, birthing people and their families, commissioner and maternity services staff collaborating to review and develop local maternity care. It is led by an independent lay chair who ensures service users are represented. This group can listen to your feedback and help you to influence local services. If you cannot identify how to contact your local MVP, the OptiBreech research team will help you.

11 thoughts on “Information for women and birthing people”

  1. Hi there,
    Would you be able to tell me if women are able to transfer to a hospital that is involved in the Optibreech trial? I’m an antenatal educator based in London and I would love to signpost this to any clients who are interested. However most of the families I work with are booked into UCLH or a Royal Free so I would want to know that they have the option to transfer their care.
    Many thanks.

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    1. Hi Jana. Yes — Contact info is available on the Participating Sites page. The best place to do this at the moment is Kingston. We are also going to be accepting sites again soon, so it may be worthwhile to bring it up through the MVP group to see if there is local interest in joining the study.

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  2. Hello,

    I am 38 Weeks with a Frank breech baby. My local hospital will submit data to your project but that’s it. Where can I go to receive proper care? I am being advised by the hospital to elect a c section but I would like a vaginal birth. I have been told that this is going against guidance as there is not enough skilled staff due to a lack of experience in breech birth. I welcome your thoughts. Many thanks

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      1. Hello, I also am having exactly the same issue with my hospital and would really appreciate any advice or further information. Thanks so much!

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  3. Hi Shaun, my baby is currently breech at 38 weeks- my local trust is involved in the trial and have specialists however, they said they are not supporting people choosing to birth at home through the opti breech trial. Is there a way for me to access specialist breech support at home another way? Thanks

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  4. Dear Shawn,

    I am 40+2 with a footling breech. I am in the north east. Baby is estimated as being larger, the hospital is not giving me any option other than c-section & at this stage emergency. At 36 weeks I was told baby could still turn ECV wasn’t mentioned. I have been consistent throughout but since 38 weeks, when C-section only option was given, that I want a vaginal birth & offered ECV at 39 weeks which they subsequently cancelled. The consultants are insisting on csection(saying they can not force this but at the same time not willing to plan a vaginal birth). The midwives have been a lot more open to the discussion but it always falls back to the consultants who just won’t entertain the idea. Obviously I could go into labour at any moment and I feel stressed & anxious after hearing only negative outcomes from consultants for trying a breech birth. They won’t even discuss the risks or details of a csection. I feel railroaded. I was wondering if I could speak to you and gain some advice giving you all of the relevant details of circumstances.

    Thanks you,

    Lisa

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  5. Hi 

    I’m an antenatal teacher in Medway with two clients both in their 38th week. One would prefer a vaginal birth but is not supported by our local hospitals in this choice. She would travel to London to facilitate this. Is there anyone she can speak to please as her caesarean is due next week and she would like to decline if there is a chance she can have a vaginal birth. 

    Thank you
    Sarah 

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    1. Hi Sarah.

      The best way to participate in OptiBreech research is to contact the local team of a hospital where it would be feasible to access: https://optibreech.uk/participating-sites/

      Sometimes, sites are not able to accept a late transfer due to the significant staffing pressures they are under at the moment. They are doing their best.

      We agree that it is important that every woman be able to access all recommended care options in current guidelines, including vaginal breech birth. We have planned a cluster trial to support non-OptiBreech sites to implement this model of care and re-introduce a VBB service in an evidence-based way. You may want to be in touch with your local Maternity Voices Partnership group to raise awareness about this opportunity and alert service leaders that there is a demand for these options locally.

      OptiBreech cluster trial: Call for expressions of interest

      Best wishes,
      Shawn

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