Breech baby-any stories or advice?

[Pushonregardless]

I'm a bit of a hormonal wreck today. Normally a bit of a hardball but I've had everything going with this pregnancy from 2 years of fertility problems, laparoscopy for endo and cysts, 'morning' sickness the whole way thorough, meds for heartburn and now mild SPD. I can handle all of these and don't feel too bad at 36+3.

GP and midwife both think baby might be breech. I'm booked for a scan and ECV tomorrow.

I'm feeling really low about this. I know that healthy baby is all that matters so a c-section isn't the end of the world. I also know that lots of you have had positive experiences of it but I'm keen to avoid it.

Has anyone had a successful ECV and subsequent birth? Midwife is very positive about it all.

[Hazelanne]

Sorry to hear you've had such a rough time so far.
Hopefully the scan will show baby is head down and all will be easy! I had a successful ECV at 37wks, would definitely suggest you have partner/friend come with you as can vary from mild discomfort to incredibly painful so having someone to hold your hand is very worthwhile, also potentially a lot of waiting about.
My DD's birth ended in EMCS but that was unrelated to her having been breech or the ecv, and now she is 2 I look back and honestly don't feel bothered one way or another about her birth as so much has happened since then even though it seemed like such a massive deal at the time.

[Stripylikeatiger]

My baby was also breech until this week (I'm almost the exact same gestation as you) have you tried the excersises from the website spinning babies? I lay on a board (the base board of the cot) which was propped against the sofa with my head at the floor and my legs on the sofa, I lay like that for 20/30 mins and I felt him move around! He wasn't pleased he kicked lots and lots but he's still head down now :)

Best of luck!

[pinkteapots]

Hi pushon... Mostly offering to handhold as I am exactly the same... Ive an ecv booked for tomorrow afternoon as baby has been frank breech for some time. I also really dont want a c section. Right now i'm just crossing my fingers, babies do turn themselves (7% are breech at 36weeks, only 3-4% at 38 to 40 weeks... or something like that). And if you have a good consultant at your ecv they will keep a close eye on both you and the baby, you can ask them to stop at any time.

Good luck. I know how you feel a bit, and being up in the air is part of the stress.

[Pushonregardless]

Thanks ladies. Good to know I I'm not alone. Hazel was your ECV successful?

I think baby has moved in the last two days as bump shape has changed but I can never tell what is where. I think I want the magic answer from the ECV but I know it's only 50/50 that it will work.

[Pushonregardless]

Pink, let us know how yours goes tomorrow!

[UpUpAndAway123]

Hello,

At 36 weeks my baby turned to the footling breech position (I'm now 38 weeks), was planning a home birth.
Tried all natural techniques.....spinning babies, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, moxibustion.....declined ECV as not right for me.
I would have been supported for breech vaginal birth but again not right for me for lots of reasons.
Booked in for section next week unless baby turns or I go into labour before then.
I was devastated 2 weeks ago but now OK about everything. I had a shit time with DD1 that resulted in PND and PTSD (also planned HB then but didn't happen) so just trying to get into a good mindset whatever happens.
Good luck with ECV-maybe have a chat about vaginal breech birth-google Mary Cronk and hands of the breech! X

[pinkteapots]

Will let you know pushon, you do the same.

upup my hospital would let me do a breech birth, I did consider it. Its the lack of knowledge and experience among hcps that put me against it. The last consultant who had plenty of experience with breech deliveries is now retired. Have visions of deliveribg the head too fast (my 'pushing stage' is usually 2 pushes!) and would never forgive myself if I compromised baby for a birth preference. Its a shame theknowledge has been lost, I think its coming back, but until then...

[Familyguyfan]

My dc2 was a footling breech and was delivered by emcs. I didn't want to try the turning technique (evs??) but if you do, check the individual hospital stats as they can vary from the national average.

The emcs was fabulous, no complaints and certainly no better or worse than my previous vaginal delivery. I wouldn't build it up into something awful in your mind.

[soapboxqueen]

I dd now 2 was breech. I was scheduled for another scan and ecv but she came early at 35 weeks.

I think the midwives had a millisecond panic when they realised she was coming out breech because I'm a fast labourer and had only just walked into the hospital 5 minutes before but otherwise it was fine.

[UpUpAndAway123]

I completely agree with you on that one Pink and that's why I'm going for the section. x

[Pushonregardless]

Just an update to say that the ECV yesterday was sucessful. It was painful and required two doses of the relaxant drug. Looked like it wasn't going to move as baby's extended feet were in the way if her head , but right at the end of the last attempt it worked.

Phew. Let's hope s/he stays like that!

[UpUpAndAway123]

Glad baby moved and it went well x

[pinkteapots]

pushon mine worked too! Baby had already moved from frank breech to oblique with one leg flexed, so wasnt bracing herself the way your little one could, so was relatively easy - maybe one or 1.5 minutes!

As a slight aside, I had been given the spooks by reading old threads along the lines of 'i wouldnt due to the risks'. I'd encourage anyone considering ecv to check their own hospital stats, rather than national averages. My hosp started doing ECVs 2 years ago, has since done approx 200, of which 1 went for emcs due to baby distress - so a 0.5% emcs rate for ecv, and that baby was fine in the end. The midwives were super, the consultant thorough... I was so impressed. May not be like this in all hospitals, and some probably dont even have the expertise to offer it, but worth checking out before its written off on the back of generalisations. Thats my tuppence anyway, in case it helps anyone!

Glad yours worked pushon, fingers crossed for natural labours now

[Pushonregardless]

I couldn't agree more. There are some real horror stories on here. I was at the JR in Oxford where I was lucky to have the top consultant in the country who has conducted a huge amount of research into ECV. I also had two other doctors and two midwives present in the room, helping. I felt completely safe and well advised. The JR quoted the same stats as you, Pink.

Would do it again in a heartbeat to get the birth I want!

Well done , so glad it went well for is both :)

[weeonion]

I have been watching this thred with interest as have a transverse baby at 37 weeks with anterior placenta so ECV is probably ruled out. How do you find out your hospital stats i cant find then online!

[Pushonregardless]

Hmmm not sure-I read a research paper written by the consultant. Midwife also told me the stats and they confirmed them before the procedure. You could ask your trust i guess? Mine has downloadable information sheets online on all hospital procedures. Good luck!

[pinkteapots]

weeonion I asked my midwife, but the consultant covered it with me while being monitored before the hands on bit. They explained everything, asked me if I was happy to go ahead, told me I could ask them to stop at any time.

I have an anterior placenta, so it doesnt rule you out. They do quite a detailed scan first, and the consultant talked me through all their checks (from memory these were placrnta health and position, fluid amount, cord position, baby position). If any of these were a problem they werent going to attempt it. Regarding placenta as well, in my case baby was oblique, so if you imagine looking at me straight on, you'de see baby from the side, bum to the bottom left head top right. So they effectively did what you might do to help a toddler do a forward roll - a hand tucking the head down and another pushing the bum up. Does that make sense?! It was quite uncomfortable, but bearable (relax, breathe deep!)

I cant say every ECV is like that, but in this case the staff kept me very informed and I felt very confident in their abilities and judgement. I had been quite prepared, had I felt unsure or railroaded or whatever, to say no. Like pushon, i'd do it again tomorrow. Do go in pepared to make up your own mind, and do check your own hospital stats or your particular consultants stats.