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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Breech Delivery

39 replies

TheHopefulMum · 17/08/2022 18:37

Current 35+4 with DC3 who has been breech for the past 5 weeks. No other issues so far.

My midwife has advised me that as of 36 weeks I will obviously need to start considering my birth plan, however I don't feel I can fully plan with the uncertainty of if baby will turn.

My preference is a homebirth or alternative a birthing unit, the thought of a hospital birth fills me with dread, as does a C-section.
I have a meeting with a consultant tomorrow who I believe will check babies position and offer a ECV, however I know these aren't always successful.

Does anyone have any experience with ECV or babies that were breech that turned late?

I have tried swimming, yoga, kneeling / sitting in certain positions etc but baby is clearly very comfortable.

OP posts:

Dyra · 17/08/2022 22:09

DC2 was found to be breech at 36 weeks. Every appointment they thought he was cephalic, but I think he was breech for more than a few weeks. He turned around at 36+5. I didn't feel it, but a scan the next day showed he was head down. I was prepared to have an ECV as I was also not keen to have a C-section. It was scheduled for 37+2 as second+ babies tend to turn later, as DC2 proved so adeptly.

As it happens I went on to have a caesarean section with him anyway. While an experience I wouldn't want to repeat, it was nowhere near as bad as anticipated. And recovery was relatively easy too.

Everything crossed baby turns soon.

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 17/08/2022 22:44

@Dyra thank you, that is reassuring! I'm hopeful she will turn but can't help but plan for the worst at this point. My other two DC's were early and this is also adding to my anxiety as I'd rather know what to plan sooner rather than later.

OP posts:

Babdoc · 17/08/2022 22:51

DD2 turned spontaneously between 35 and 36 weeks, much to my relief.
Babies that are turned easily by ECV can unfortunately sometimes turn themselves breech again, but it can be worth trying, if you are keen to avoid a section. You certainly shouldn’t be having a home birth or be in a stand alone midwife unit if baby remains breech when you go into labour.

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 18/08/2022 06:26

@babydoc I'm aware that I wouldn't be able to have a homebirth or midwife led birth if baby is still breech, hence my eagerness for her to turn 😭

In all honesty and as selfish as it sounds my life is too busy for a C section ideally as I know the recovery is often longer than a normal vaginal birth, however we shall see what the consultant suggests today.

OP posts:

Barrawarra · 18/08/2022 06:32

My second was breech at 34 weeks, I felt like you and really did not want a section. I also didn’t want ECV as I felt that could be very distressing for baby. If you haven’t seen it check out the spinning babies website, I did a lot of hanging upside down off sofas and going about on hands and knees! I also did moxibustion- people think it’s woo but my midwife told me there is an evidence base - it was very relaxing and worth a go, can’t hurt. To do with the polarity of the body apparently. Anyhoo my baby turned by 37 wks and was a great birth. But equally now I feel I needn’t have got so worried about it, I do understand the c section aversion but sometimes things just don’t go to plan and we need to work with what is. Good luck.

CanIGoHomeNowPlease · 18/08/2022 06:33

My second was breech. I went in for an ECV but she had turned by herself. She then put herself back into the breech position at my final check up with the consultant.

My consultant then said I needed a c section… booked me in for the next day and that was that.

I will say I recovered much quicker from my c section than I did my vaginal birth with my first and the whole thing was less traumatic.

sarahc336 · 18/08/2022 06:49

Not breech but transverse, she turned at about 36 weeks and my god did I feel it. They do turn but you do have to work hard to encourage them round, different positions for you to do to get them to move, I'm sure you've already seen spinning babies website? Try not to panic just yet but I'd avoid slouchy back on the sofa and sit on your ball as much as you can as my midwife said slouching back tips your pelvis backwards so makes it easier for babies to just stay breech or transverse, good luck op xx

sarahc336 · 18/08/2022 06:50

Oh and I've just seen this is your third, my midwife said also as there's "more room in tjere" with multiple pregnancies they do float around more and for longer as it's all a bit stretched out in there isn't it 😂 xx

AHobbyaweek · 18/08/2022 07:16

You can still have a homebirth with a breech baby. You can certainly have a vaginal birth. There is actually a trial on at the moment across hospitals which is providing more training in breech vaginal births.
My homebirth midwife discussed breech births with me and they said they support several a year so not out of the question.

Loulou1712 · 18/08/2022 07:56

OP you can have whatever you want! It's your body, your Baby and your birth.
Breech birth is a variation of normal, it's just some Dr/midwives are more experienced in this area than others (obviously only if safe for baby and they're not in some odd variation of breech that would be dangerous)
No experience of breech personally, although both DD1 and 2 were back to back which isn't ideal but wasn't a problem x

Moonflower12 · 18/08/2022 08:01

My 4th was breech. She didn't turn and I had a ECV. That was very uncomfortable to say the least and she still didn't turn.

I had an elective c section that I was absolutely dead against. In the end it was the most controlled and gentle of all my births, strangely.

The recovery was about 10 days. Obviously not to 100% but very manageable with life.

IvebeenUpAllNightNoSleep · 18/08/2022 08:07

My third ~ I ummed and ahhhhed about what to do (only way I can explain)

did masses of research and managed to speak to a breech specialist midwife. The MW team at my hospital were also happy for me to have a breech birth.

i opted for the ECV to give it one chance and it did work for me. Was not a horrible awful experience. I think this was about 38wks.

i did try all the homeopathic stuff. Burning things and All sorts along with the positional things! But nothing worked. Except the ECV.

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 18/08/2022 08:39

Thank you all! I haven't seen or heard of spinning babies, I'll take a look at that today.

My preference would 100% be a natural homebirth, breech or not, however my understanding is that this couldn't be supported by my midwife team, so I guess I'd maybe have to find a private midwife to support this.

I'm happy to try the ECV if this is offered, not ideal but definitely worth a try 😊

OP posts:

StillMissV · 18/08/2022 08:56

I had ECV, I won't lie it was not pleasant and didn't work. They scheduled me for a C-section - I was gutted as I wanted a home birth but it is what it is. Anyway, i went into spontaneous, very fast, labour and delivered with support from the midwife and the consultant on labour ward with only gas and air - I'd have liked a epidural but we had 75 minutes from waking up in labour to holding the baby! It sounds awful, but it was the opposite - it was so calm. It was not the birth I thought I wanted but it was a lovely experience.

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 18/08/2022 09:00

@stillmissv wow, very quick delivery. My other two DC's were fairly quick too and were born at a birthing centre which was lovely.

I feel the same as you at this point a C section is absolutely not what I want but as long as baby is delivered safe and well, that's the main thing.

OP posts:

Pac35 · 18/08/2022 09:01

Hello! My boy was breech from the 20 week scan 🙄
I did everything, swimming, exercises, moxibustion, acupuncture. Still stayed stuck.
I then had two unsuccessful ECVs. They are very uncomfortable BUT I'm glad I had them. If they had worked it would've been a small price to pay. Definitely try it- ask for gas and air!
I had a planned caesarean in the end, first time mum and feet and cord presenting so not a good candidate for vaginal breech. However, would definitely try if I'd had babies before! The caesarean was very hard work but felt back to normal after a couple of months.

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 18/08/2022 11:44

Hi @pac35 great to hear others experiences. My main concern with a C section is the recovery time. Like most I have a very busy lifestyle, two older DC's although not quite old enough to be fully independent. We also have various pets and other commitments which are very time consuming and physical. DH works full time and is self employed so taking lots of time off is not an option.

I'm hoping for some clearer advice from the consultant today, I feel like I can't even pack a bag ready as what happens may determine what I need to pack.

OP posts:

TamSamLam · 18/08/2022 14:36

You're unlikely to find a private midwife who will do a breech homebirth.

On the other hand, just because the nhs homebirth team can't support one, doesn't mean they won't come if you plan one against medical advice. What they're trying to tell you is that they don't have the training or experience to safely support you. Which is very very relevant, more so than that it goes against policy. And they don't suddenly become more experianced when in a hospital either. If your hospital doesn't have midwives with breech experience I also wouldn't want a breech delivery there. If they do have breech midwives they should be able to support you at home (if you're reasonably close to a hospital, it is still riskier).

Some places you can request frequent scans to assess position (including at onset of labour) and then decide whether to have a breech birth or not-really-emergency emcs. It's normally followed for unstable lie, but could be worth asking as it gives baby more time to turn on its own if you want to avoid a section, and you'll have more info on the type of breech if you go for a breech delivery. Probably more inconvenient than a planned section though!

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 18/08/2022 17:01

Booked in next week for an ECV and we will go from there.

OP posts:

Dyra · 18/08/2022 17:31

Best of luck for next week. If baby hasn't turned by then ofc.

Samthenanny · 23/08/2022 13:35

I’m 34 weeks and baby is breech, he has been since about 20 weeks, he does move around but always comes back to breech and quite often frank breech! Apparently I have a couple of weeks to see if he moves then it’ll be a ECV
or c section talks which I’m not keen on but if that’s what’s needed that’s what’s needed.
will you post back please after your ECV and let us know if it worked and what it was like x

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 23/08/2022 15:23

@samthenanny I definitely will let you know how it goes on Friday. I'm still praying she turns on her own but she's been breech for so long I'm doubtful.
If the ECV doesn't work I'm hoping to go for a natural breech delivery, although the thought of having to go to hospital still fills me with dread.

Fingers crossed for the both of us.

OP posts:

Samthenanny · 26/08/2022 17:28

@TheHopefulMum hope today has gone well and your baby moved, been thinking about you

Original poster

TheHopefulMum · 26/08/2022 18:30

Hi @samthenanny just got home! The ECV went well thank you! Baby has been turned and the consultant was confident that her head was pretty engaged at the end of the procedure so fingers crossed she stays there!

I was in for 3 hours total with observations and scans but the procedure itself only took about 5 minutes. In all honesty it was quite uncomfortable but didn't require any pain relief thankfully.

I really hope your little one turns, although if not I would definitely recommend a ECV if they offer you one.

OP posts:

Samthenanny · 26/08/2022 20:24

@TheHopefulMum oh wow glad all went well and fingers crossed she stays down for you.
can’t believe it only took 5 mins that’s really good. On a scale of 1-10 how uncomfortable was it?

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