The six Cs of the breech experience

The North of England Breech Conference, held in late 2014, offered the unique opportunity for practitioners to unite for practical training in facilitating breech birth and a discussion about a much needed shift in care philosophies for breech birth. The conference also engaged with the wide reaching psychological impact, for the woman and her family, of carrying a breech baby. At a time already fraught with emotions and vulnerability, the diagnosis of a breech baby exposes women to additional stress, anxiety and life-altering options and decisions, especially as breech birth remains a contentious and challenging issue for obstetricians and midwives (Waites 2003,Guittier et al 2011,Homer et al 2015). Upon opening the conference, OBE Sheena Byrom, an independent midwifery advisor and best-selling author, powerfully advocated situating breech birth in relation to the core nursing principles of the 6 Cs: care, commitment, communication, compassion, competence and courage. This affords midwives and obstetricians the opportunity to appreciate the holistic diversities and complexities of breech from a woman-centred perspective, empowering women and their families to make truly informed choices about their care.