C section for breech - questions!

[Grumpos]

My little one is still breech at 33 weeks and although I know there is plenty of time for him to turn I want to be mentally prepared for the potential of a c section - plan A is a natural Home birth so quite different to a section, hence wanting to be accepting and excited about all possibilities.

I have a random question specifically about breech sections if anyone has any experience or info to share? Well 2 questions but sort of lead on from each other!

If baby is breech, do they pull baby out bum first? Or do they sort of manoeuvre baby to get head out first?
And....
Is it possible to have a “natural” section when baby is breech, there is a consultant at my hospital who specialises in natural section delivery but from what I know and seen on YouTube they deliver the head first and let baby and uterus work together to deliver without much assistance. How does this work with breech????

Anyone had either or both of these situations?

I have appointment next week so I will be able to ask then but I’m not very good at waiting for info! I like to know

[TheRealHousewifeofCheshire]

I asked for natural c section with breech not sure it happened. Had immediate skin to skin and fed right away.

Tried putting something frozen where head was and hot water bottle lower down. She jist headputted the frozen. Think theres a reason thwy want to be like that. My girl was breech whole way through.

Good luck

[Grumpos]

Thanks for the tips! I agree, there is probably a reason he likes to be in that position so I won’t be having an ECV.

So did you see baby being delivered? Did they lower the screen and if so was it head out first?

[OmnishamblesOverHere]

My breech baby was transverse when her waters broke. With a cord presentation, it was a race to get her out before any contractions started. She was up very high (oh my, the reflux) and they flipped and turned her to get her out. She had light fingerprint marks on her back for the first couple of days! She's still stubborn

Our hospital didn't offer sections like you describe, and honestly, having seem some of the photos DH took, I am so glad I didn't. The spinal was great, I didn't feel a thing, even when I could see them move my legs.

Best bit was the immediate skin to skin. The getting out bit was not a big deal to me, but meeting her was.

[Grumpos]

Aww bless her! That’s handy to know re the transverse bc seems mine loves to lay across and yes very high sometimes. The heartburn is awful!
He lays so high sometimes that the bottom of my belly / bikini area is almost flat.

I’ve watched some lovely examples of natural sections but think ur right, it might actually not be something I need to see. As long as baby is brought straight to me it’ll be lovely!

[dungandbother]

Be prepared that section babies may need a bit of suction when they come out. I had to wait what felt an eternity for my DS but in reality was 2-3 mins.

He was a planned breech section but I went into labour so became emergency. You seem strong in refusing the turn so stick to this part of your personality and it will see you through

[KitchenFloor]

The last book I read which mentioned natural c-sections did say they were only for "normal" sections, not if there were additional risk factors such as breech. It might be very dependent on the presentation though, and it's certainly worth asking what the hospital can/will offer in this regard.
If my baby had been breech I'd have tried moxibustion, which sounds very peculiar but has a reasonable success rate (better than doing nothing anyway!).

[egdehsdrawkcab]

My DD was breech from 20 week scam, probably due to a low placenta. No way did I want an ECV so posted for a 'natural' section. They just pulled her out bottom first I think but they're so tiny she kind of came out very quickly! The only sensation I remember was the pulling and sudden emptiness under my ribcage!

It was all lovely, far easier than DS traumatic vaginal delivery. Recovery was harder though, that floored me more than I anticipated.

[GreenTulips]

Yes bottom first
I did watch but in the lights mirrored above
I would've liked the option of a lowered screen
They whisked her away and wrapped her up so not chance to see all of her when first born
Then they took her to be washed and cleaned into a bay grow whilst I was stitched - I could hear her crying and obviously couldn't move/get to her!!!
Was about half an hour but seemed longer and DH was with her

[Grumpos]

Thanks everyone! Experiences seem so varied so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see - isn’t the whole of pregnancy just a wait and see situation?!!!

Am definitely going to try some natural ways to turn, including acupuncture and moxibuston as well as swimming and walking and lots of being upright.

As long as he arrives safely and I’m still in one piece (or reasonably so!) I’ll be happy

[KitchenFloor]

My first baby wasn't c-sec but was full theatre forceps, and he was whisked away to be checked over etc as soon as he was born. If I could do it again, I'd have sent DH with him, as we didn't know where he'd gone, and we could hear him screaming etc once they'd cleaned him up. (It was in my birth plan with #2 that one of us would stay with baby at all times)

[LostMyBaubles]

Ahh im 32 weeks and baby is transverse
I dont want to try ecv as I have anterior placenta (that was low but isnt any more but will be big as I have big babies and its always huge!)
Hes a 'big baby' my youngest was 10lb at 38 weeks. This one is following in his footsteps

I would have just booked in for section buuut I suffer from big pph so the safest way for me to deliver is naturally which might not happen

[theruffles]

My LO was breech from about 30 weeks and I was offered an ECV but turned it down because I wasn't comfortable with the idea. I wanted to try some natural ways of turning her but didn't get a chance! I went into labour naturally at 37 weeks and had to have an emergency section because she hadn't turned. I think she was pulled out bum first but then she was small (under 5lb) so maybe it was easier? I didn't find the section a horrid experience, though the recovery period so far has been very painful!

[dementedmum33]

When I was pregnant with twins one of them was breech, I ended up having an emcs at 34 weeks, they pulled him out bum first as the cord was round his neck.

[ConfusedDotty]

My baby was breech all the way through. I was not offered a c section at all, although this was many years ago. He was born vaginally and born bum first, the obstetrician some got his legs out, his head a was born last. I did have to have a epidural in case an emergency c section was required. Good luck OP.

[BigCarrot]

It may still turn yet! I had a scan in the afternoon at 35+2 and he was breech, refused the ecv as i felt if he wanted to move he would so was booked in provisionally for a section. The same evening I felt him doing a lot of shuffling, my waters went the same night! When I got to hospital they scanned me and he had turned around that same day

[TheRealHousewifeofCheshire]

The medical leaflet i read said nstural sections were only for normal presentations not suitable for breech. You can still personalise this birth though like play music/skin to skin/ feeding/ i got my fiance to announce the gender. I dont think id have wanted the screens lowered. And my fiance was in with me even when i had spinal. I couldn't have the turn but didn't want it as fluids were low

[egdehsdrawkcab]

Sorry if I confused things. Ours wasn't a 'natural' c section in that they kept screen up, but DD was given to me within minutes, DH announced gender, etc. I asked them to calmly talk me through what they were doing. But I don't think it was an all singing 'natural' section.