Just one last check to make sure I really have to have an ELCS.
At 37+4, (first) baby still breech and I have very low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) - measured about 4.1cm on Tuesday and 4.8cm last week.
Doctor basically told me I was having a CS next week (at 38+6) because they will not induce a breech to allow vaginal. I can try a vaginal if she decides to come early of her own accord, of course. But obviously that isn't entirely likely and we can't wait longer for her to come as the lack of fluid is not good and might be causing problems.
Baby is extended breech with feet and hands in front of face, slightly transverse as well and I'm not sure which way she's facing.
Really wanted to try to have a vaginal, so I'm very disappointed. Also a bit worried that the senior/experienced surgeons will all be on holiday and I'm going to get the junior one - CS booked for New Year's Eve! Just want to make sure I don't look back and realise I could have done something differently that would be better for the baby. Thanks for any advice.
Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.
Childbirth
is there really no option other than CS?
MacMomo · 23/12/2010 13:43
thank you all for your posts. ragged the turning is called ECV, and they wouldn't try it on me because of the lack of amniotic fluid, which was a real blow as it was my only hope. And yes, you're right, the Odent way (which is what I was hoping for) is to wait and see what happens after birth starts naturally then go to EMCS very early if the progress isn't good. However, because of lack of fluid, they will only wait one more week before the CS - so if she comes before then, we get to try it.
I think you've all put my mind at rest that I have explored the options and the ELCS is the right thing for us. Unless she comes of her own accord in the next 7 days...pineapple on order for 30 January!
By the way, something I thought was interesting was that the more junior doctor admitted that the clinical advice to always have a CS for a breech has meant that many MWs and doctors are now so inexperienced with birthing breeches 'normally' that they are afraid to try, hence they always try to persuade a CS. A bit of a catch 22 for the medical staff really: because they rarely do them, they never want to do them. It was nice for him to be so honest. A different (male) obsetrician commented that "all the female obstricians always have ELCS even for non-breeches because they see all the bad vaginal births" 
(he was trying to reassure me that the ELCS is the best way to have any baby, I think).
Thank you all for your help this afternoon, very much appreciated by us and I think I can now accept it and be positive about it.
I had an elcs with my (first) DD, and it was actually a really calm and positive experience. I don't feel like I've missed out at all.
Just wanted to reassure you that an elcs can be great 
Oh, and one more observation just in case anyone is interested: when I discussed birthing options 8 weeks ago (when everything was or appeared normal), the consultant banged on about how bad a CS was, how difficult for me, how many things can go wrong - aparently 3 total hysterectomies due to surgical mistakes at my hospital in the last 5 years 
).
Then when they want to persuade you to have a CS, and suddenly it's a "minor, easy procedure, nothing to worry about"! I did tell them that and they looked a bit sheepish.
I spent a few weeks doing the whole head down, legs up thing to no avail (using sofa, steps, bed head)! A MNer directed me to spinningbaby.com which had good advice, and there are acupunture procedures, too, but the practioner I spoke to said not to try with low fluid. Sometimes when she's really thrashing around I do think she's trying to turn and I just hope she's not stressing herself out because she can't.
I think I'm ok with the CS idea now, it just took a while to adjust my mind to. I'm feeling rather grateful that it was seen early enough for me to have time to get used to it, rather than have to deal with it during labour and make a decision. Seems I'll be having a December baby, not a January one! I am genuinely grateful for people's comments and advice, don't know what I would have done without MNers .
Hi MacMomo,
i had a breech vaginal birth with my 2nd baby, he was foot and bum first.
The birth itself was ok, apart from the fact that he was undiagnosed breech and they didnt know until they his bollock!
Although the birth itself was fine, and a really positive experience for me, aferwards was a different story and he ended up in the NICU for 2 weeks, but not sure if this was related to the undiagnosed breech birth or not.
At the end of the day, the doctors would not have said to have a CS for no reason.
Glad to hear that you are ok with the idea now. Think of the positives- you can prepare better!!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.