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Childbirth

Help! My baby is in breech position

21 replies

wilsony · 26/07/2005 22:25

Am new to Mumsnet so please bear with me laydeez! I had my 36 week check up at hosp on Monday and the Doc told me my baby is in breech position and may have to be turned. Im a bit wary of this as Ive heard it can be painful (yes I know... compared to what Im about to go through its probably nothing!) And Ive heard that it can bring on labour. Im also a bit worried that my baba will simply turn back around again after the procedure is done AND Im worried about it not working at all and having to have a C-Section, not because I want to be a martyr and have a natural birth although mentally I was more prepared for that and now I feel a bit out of control and scared. Has anyone else been through this and if so, what happened?!?! I have to say that Ive had it relatively easy throughout my pregnancy so far (apart from swollen ankles) but now I feel a bit like Mother Nature is biting me in the bum... Would love to heard from anyone who can offer some reassurance....

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lalaa · 26/07/2005 22:28

i thought i was breech and had to have a late scan. i wasn't in the end, but wanted to say i do sympathise with the out of control feeling. there seemed to be a lot of help out there to prepare for a natural birth, but nothing for c-section.
i can't re-assure you about turning the baby as i didn't have it done, and the only person i know who did found that it didn't work, and she did find it painful (she was bruised afterwards). if i was you, i'd start finding out more about a c-section so you can be as prepared as poss....

good luck

Millie1 · 27/07/2005 13:53

I've had two breech babies ... both turned themselves from breech to head down late in pregnancy (but then flipped back again even later) ... so even at 36w although it's getting to be a squeeze in there, there is some room for them to turn.

If your little one doesn't turn or as lalaa says having it turned is unsuccessful, a section isn't that bad. Obviously it's a longer recovery but you have the advantage of advance warning and time for mental prepartion and to arrange lots of help for when you get home.

Good luck

Pamina3 · 27/07/2005 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beccalanismum · 27/07/2005 14:24

Hi my first baby was breech and stayed that way (she was very long and had no room to move). The c-section itself was fine (although I was terrified beforehand) but the recovery is slow and you may find yourself short of energy - so if you do need to have one galvanise all friends and family you can into doing all housework, cooking and shopping you can for the first few months.

Best of luck

Nat777 · 27/07/2005 15:23

I am 37 + 2 and two days ago my Midwife guessed my baby was breech, I was scanned this morning and this was confirmed.

The scan also showed that I dont have alot of fluid around the baby- the more fluid -the easier it is for them to turn her. I was given the option of being booked in for a ECV (the medical term for a turn) but turned it down and am now booked in for a C Section on the 9th August.

You will be given options:
1- A vaginal breech birth, however they dont recommend it.
2- A ECV to try and turn baby, I was told that the success rate is aprox 30%, they scan you before and after the turn and constantly monitor baby, to ensure she/he doesnt get distressed
3- A C Section.

I opted for the C Section as the ECV does come with some risks for the baby and the success rate is quite low. All of the options were given to me by a consultant and he actually recommened that I had a ECV, but then I have had a very difficult pregnancy and just didnt want to try it, particularly as my levels of fluid are so low, which means it probably wouldnt have worked.

A C Section will mean I am out of action for weeks, but now I am over the shock of it all, I can plan for the 9th August and do feel a bit more organised and prepared.

You should be given these options and should be scanned to check the baby and the fluids, to be honest I think most people do go for the ECV and try and get baby turned. Just make sure you do what you feel most happy with, I did!

Hope this kinda helps, good luck x

TuttiFrutti · 28/07/2005 09:55

Don't worry wilsony! C-sections are really not that bad, and have a lot of advantages in many ways (no vaginal tearing being the main one as far as I was concerned!). The recovery time is longer, but if you're prepared for this you can get through it.

I had to have an emergency C-section after a long labour, but if you have an elective, you can plan in advance for the help at home which you'll need AND won't have to go through the pain of natural childbirth. I know this situation isn't what you wanted, but every cloud has a silver lining.

Piccalilli · 28/07/2005 10:11

I'm 32 weeks and my baby has been in the breech position since 20 weeks (I've had 3 scans) - I know there's still time for her to turn but she seems pretty comfortable where she is. Has anyone had any experience of problems with turning down an ECV? My mum had a really bad experience with an ECV when expecting my sister and I'd rather avoid it if at all possible, even if the alternative is a c-section - but I'm worried about whether the doctors will respect that decision or make it diffuclt for me.

Windermere · 28/07/2005 10:13

Good luck with whatever happens. I had an elective c-section because ds was breech and could not be turned because my fluids were too low. The c-section for me was fine, I was off painkillers within 24 hours and I can honestly say that I felt fine, in fact I felt far more mobile than I had in done the late stages of pregnancy.

wilsony · 29/07/2005 09:35

Thank you all very much. I did some research on the net and found some tips which Ive been trying to persuade baby to turn him/herself - these include walking about on all fours and lying with my feet up - the idea being to minimise the space and make more space 'down there' as it were! I do still have major reservations about getting the baby turned, particularly because of the low success rate and the pain factor. I have an appointment with my midwife next Tuesday so I think I will have a long chat with her about it aswell and see what she thinks. Will keep you posted... At least I will have my Mum and my Parter around to help if the outcome is a C-Section and as you say, I can prepare for it if I know that is what is going to happen. Still pretty scared but thanks to all of you for the reassurance!

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CaptainCavemansMummy · 31/07/2005 21:19

DS was breech from 27 weeks and couldn't be turned as he had his cord wrapped round his neck! I agree with Nat777, once you get over the shock of knowing you won't have a natural delivery, it's kind of nice to be able to plan ahead for the day.
I too was off painkillers quickly (48 hours), and pretty agile within a couple of days (although don't admit that to anyone!!! Take the rest whilst you can get it!!).
I also have a friend who's DD was breech and she refused ECV because she didn't like the sound of it. Good for her! It's totally your choice, do whatever feels right for you and the baby!
Good luck for Tuesday xxx

happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 21:24

I was 120% OK with ds being delivered by cs as he was a footling breach.

I had an emergency cs with ds and that was great but with ds it was even better as I had not gone through labour first. I was walking much better than women who had a vaginal delivery 24 hours after birth an dwas coping with a toddle wnd a new baby with zero assistance at 5 days post partum

KiwiKate · 01/08/2005 13:00

Wilsony - that makes you due in September, right? Why not join our September antenatal thread (v. friendly)

There are plenty of tips if you do a google search for optimal featal positioning (avoid reclining positions etc). There are several positions/exercises that you can use (not all of them will be comfortable to you, so only do those that suit you). Might not work, but certainly can't do any harm.

sparklymieow · 01/08/2005 13:04

My Ds was a full frank breech from 28 weeks, they didn't attempt to turn him. I was booked in for a CS at 38 weeks, but I went into labour at 35+6 weeks and was taken for an emergany CS. I was scared but it was fine and the recovery was ok too.

lydz · 01/08/2005 13:14

My last 3 babies were all breech till late in pregnancy - DD till after her due date! - but I would have gone for a vaginal birth anyway, have you read about the difference between managed breech extraction Dr-style and breech birth? Only one has been shown to be less safe than cs....if you google Mary Cronk + breech birth you'll find the other side of the story that the doctors don't tell you (conspiracy theorist, moi?!)

wilsony · 02/08/2005 15:09

Went to see my midwife again today so Ive told her Im not inclined to go through with the ECV and she understood and was very supportive. Shes suggesting I still attend the hospital next week to discuss the procedure anyway and she said they may still carry out a scan and could well find out that the ECV isnt an option anyways due to insufficient fluid or knotting the placenta etc etc. I do think Ive pretty much made up my mind NOT to go through with it anyways but Im going to take her advice and go along anyway. I'll be having my baba at QM hospital in Glasgow and they dont give you the option of a breech delivery, its either the ECV or an elective C-Section which, Im told will be carried out in around 2 weeks time. Im still hoping thats time for baba to turn itself so have been trying the walking on all fours and so on (its the frozen peas next!) but I have to say Im feeling alot calmer about the possibility of a c-section now, I guess now that Ive made my mind up its not so bad. Still a bit wary about the recovery time but sounds like alot of Mums havent had too bad a time of it! Thanks again for all your help - will be carrying out more research on c-sections over the next couple of weeks so if anyone knows of any good websites etc Id appreciate it!

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Nat777 · 02/08/2005 19:46

Keep us updated Wilsony, you will see from my post on this thread that I decided didnt against the ECV and have opted for a C Section, next Tues-the 9th.

As soon as I get home afterwards, which I guess will be Fri/Sat I will post here to say how I got on.

I do feel alot happier about it all, now it has sunk in!

wilsony · 04/08/2005 11:18

Good Stuff Nat777. Best of luck for next week. Bet you are looking forward to meeting your baby! I cant wait now!!! XXX

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wilsony · 09/08/2005 13:03

Had hospital appointment yesterday and my baby has turned around !!! The head is now firmly lodged in position, so much so that the Doc couldnt get us a scan of the face but we did get one of some blobs which she says were its feet... Sooo glad I decided against the ECV and kept up my exercises - not sure if they were what did the trick or not but Im very relieved! Have to say am also slightly disappointed as my partner and I were all psyched up to meet our baby within the week, now its all down to mother nature. Oh well...!

Kiwikate - my due date is actually 23rd August so you never know, baby might decide to be late and arrive in September in which case I will happily join your September antenatal thread.

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champs · 09/08/2005 15:32

great!! so glad baby has turned!!

wilsony · 24/08/2005 10:03

Hello Ladies

Thought I would just update everyone on what has been happening... I had a baby girl last Tuesday after 34 hours in labour followed by an emergency cesaerean! Not a terribly pleasant experience when you think that I could have elected for a cesaerean when she was in breech but there you go! And for all you first time Mums it was worth every minute.

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diva4mgl · 24/08/2005 11:18

congratulations
good luck to you both

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