Been told i have to have a elective c-section in 3 weeks..ADVICE PLEASE!!!

[Tiaxx31]

I had a scan today to show that baby is still breech, i then saw the midwife and said i have 2 choices. 1. go and see if they can turn him. 2 have a c-section. Please can you tell me anyone... DOES the spinal/epidural hurt going into the back as i am so affraid of needles and sooooo scared of having to have needles in my back. What will i expect to feel, will/does it hurt at all?
I am currently 35 wks today, will my baby turn in time do you think as he is head to the left side of my stomach,his back is to the right of my belly button and legs down below?
Any advice as i am so scared with not knowing what to expect

[IckleJess]

Ok, yes your baby does have time to turn.

In my 2nd pregnancy, DD1 was breech up until 37 weeks, she turned in the middle of the night and whilst it felt extremely uncomfortable it was a relief as I didn't want a c-section.

DD2 was transverse, again up until 37 weeks and then she turned. Not so unpleasant this time as she didn't have to flip 360 degrees lol.

If, however, you do indeed go for a section then try not to panic about the epidural needle. The anaesthetist will use a local anaesthetic first to numb the area before inserting the larger epidural needle. There is no point me lying to you and saying you won't feel a thing but it's really not that bad. The whole theatre team will be used to dealing with patients who are needle phobic so as long as you share your concerns then they will all be very supportive and will help you to stay calm.

Just a question though - is there a reason you don't want them to try and turn your baby? I know it's not for everyone and there's no guarantee baby will stay the right way up but given how worried you are about the epidural it may be worth considering?

[SCARYspicemonster]

I can honestly say I can't even really remember the needle bit. I don't think it even felt like a needle. But yes you should talk to them. My anaesthesist was really, really lovely and I think most of them probably are as it's very important that you're calm.

My DS was breech but he turned so yours still has time. And it's worth them trying to do it - especially if you really hate needles that much!

[butterscotch]

My managers girlfriend had the turning treatment and whilst she said it was uncomfortable baby stayed that way and she went on to have a natural (assisted ventouse) birth!

[Tangle]

DD was my 1st. She was born as a breech baby at home with IMs. Most NHS hospitals will recommend that you try an ECV and/or have a CS for a breech baby, but they can't force you to have either.

We used IMs as, after doing a lot of reading and talking, we felt that the research showed that vaginal breech birth wasn't necessarily more dangerous than a CS as long as we had MWs that had good breech experience - and we didn't feel we could guarantee that on the NHS.

If your DC's feet are below them that's not the best position from which to attempt a vaginal breech birth (the biggest risk for a normally developed healthy term baby is of cord prolapse - and that risk is highest for a footling breech, although that's not necessarily the same as a high risk IYSWIM), but that doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done (12 hours before she was born DD was scanned as full breech, but she decided to come out foot first).

How to bring our daughter into the world was a horribly hard decision. At the end of the day none of the options are entirely risk free, and the risk profiles aren't directly comparable so its very difficult to point to an option and say "this is the lowest risk". All you can do is choose the option that you feel happiest with.

Good luck

[Comma2]

Your baby has plenty of time to turn! Mine just swiveled from transverse to head down, and I am due in a couple of days.

My doctor said they don't do the turning thing anymore, as they start to think that babys have a reason if they don't turn into head down. Eg the cord could be too short or the pelvis too small. He also said the manipulation can potentially make the cord rip the placenta off the uterus wall, which would be v. bad.

I had an epidural when I was in labour and boy, I cannot remember a thing about a needle. I certainly didn't feel the tiniest little prick... I was concentrating on the contractions, but I really don't think it can be bad at all. They do a local anasthetic first too I think, so you don't feel a thing. Ask them!

[jabberwocky]

Ds1 was breech. I was in labor for about 36 hours and then had a crash section. I had previously been terrified of the needle but it was nothing compared to how awful my labor was. Next time I went with elective section and it was sooooo nice.

[mistletoekisses]

You wont even feel the needles, promise. They numb the area with spray, you just have to hold very still for a while - my midwife was holding my hands talking to me as they did it which definitely helped to distract me.

Really was a breeze, don't worry.

The baby absolutely has time to turn. DS didnt. He was resolute breech and thus as comma says, they said they didnt want to try and turn him as there was probably a very good reason that he was in the position he was.

I could have done natural delivery, midwife was experienced at it, but am very very glad I didnt. DS has an incredibly skinny body with a lollipop head. His bottom would have slipped through and his head would have gotten stuck.

So whatever decision you make, just know the risks. And do what is right for you.

[BexieID]

I'm 32 weeks with DC2 and midwife yesterday said she thought baby was breech. Need to sit better, move around on all fours to get bubs to shift as i'm more higher risk for a section being very overweight . I had a 3rd degree tear with Tom, so had to be stitched up in theatre and had a spinal block, which was ok. Don't remember any pain from that.

[MrsJamin]

DS was breech but diagnosed quite late (rubbish midwife got it wrong, GP got it right). I had an ECV (you're wrong comma2 they do still do it!) at 39+5wks so as a first timer the odds were that it wouldn't work, and it didn't - it was VERY painful TBH. 8 hours later I went into labour and DS was born 3 hours later. Don't worry about a c-section, it's really quite ok to have, so many people end up having this anyway so at least you have the benefit of just mentally preparing yourself for it. Do try and do as much to help the baby turn naturally- www.spinningbabies.com is v helpful. I was glad I tried the ECV, it does seem to be very different for different women. Oh, and the needle is less painful than labour!

[daisydora]

I had two breech pregnancies and two c-sections. The needle does not hurt, tbh I can't even remember the needle just my bum going cold!!

Would you want to try for a natural delivery? Ask your MW if its possible. I was offered the possibility of a home birth as our local MW's had all been on a course about breech delivery and were very keen to have a few!

[Tiaxx31]

Thank you all so much for all the tips and things you went through, my mind is much clearer now after reading everyones different births, it's just awful when 1 is so scared of needles in strange places too.
I keep thinking tho,i'm booked for a c-section but what happens if he turns to head down,will they still go ahead withb giving me the section or make me wait till i go into labour to give birth normally?

[MrsJamin]

They would rather you give birth naturally. Even on your booked c-section date they will scan you to make doubly sure your DC is still breech, if it has turned it will be as though he/she was never breech. You've got to remember that it costs the NHS a lot more money to do an elective c-section so they would rather avoid it in preference of a 'normal' birth. Good luck with the turning - the majority do turn.

[Comma2]

Jup, they'll give you a scan just before and let you go if all is well.