Footling breech

[crazybutkind]

Was told back at my 5 month scan that baby is breech, been told today baby is footling breech so an ECV and c section was discussed. Just want to hear other people's stories really....

[Merename]

Found out my second was breech around 32 weeks I think, lots of worry and hand wringing about whether to do ECV - didn’t want section but equally didn’t want baby to go through that experience. I did moxibustion for several weeks on the recommendation of my midwife, also did exercises from spinning babies website. At scan at 37 weeks she had turned, although I hadn’t been aware of it happening. No idea if the interventions helped or if it would’ve always gone that way anyway. How many weeks are you? First baby?

[Babdoc]

My second DD was breech but finally turned herself at 35 weeks. You might be lucky and have yours turn as well, OP, so I wouldn’t get too worried about delivery options just yet.
It’s sensible to have contingency plans in case it continues breech though. A C.S. Is safer than vaginal delivery for breech babies, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. The current generation of obstetricians will also have very little experience of vaginal breech delivery, as sections have been recommended since at least the 1980’s, when I used to cover the labour suite as an anaesthetist.
Your baby’s bottom is smaller than its head, and the risk is that the bottom delivers but the head gets stuck. Compression of the cord by the bony head means the baby gets no oxygen from you, but its nose and mouth are still obstructed inside you, so it can’t breathe either. Hypoxic brain damage is the result. Which is why a section is recommended!

[crazybutkind]

I am35 weeks and this is second baby x

[overtly]

DD2 was breech, actually flipping between breech and head down up to 40 weeks. Hospital wouldn't entertain a breech birth. Like being between a rock and a hard place in terms of choosing between ECV (I ultimately declined as I had an anterior placenta) and section. Anyway baby still has time to turn on their own so try everything possible, bum in air etc

[Hawse]

I just had an ECV today at 37 weeks (frank breech). Unfortunately it was unsucessful - and while unpleasant, it wasn't too painful. I'm glad I tried, even if it didn't work (as baby's bum is too lodged into my pelvis to lift out).

If you are before 36 weeks, I would do lots of spinning babies, yoga, and stretching of the pelvic floor. You may have a lot more luck!

[FourDecades]

Ds2 was frank breech. Was booked in for ECV at 37wks.

Night before l had a load of chocolate and he really started wriggling.

Got down on all fours ... much to my then DH amusement.... and ds2 flipped head down

[crazybutkind]

So sugar and bum in the air it is I just have 100 questions now I need to step away from google

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

DS was a footling breech. I thought that the ECV sounded like something out of a horror film, and didn't like the risks, so I declined it and went for the Csection. No regrets at all.

[cazinge]

Footling breech is really dangerous if you go in to labour (different to Frank breech). The feet will not fill the cervix, meaning the cord can prolapse and start to deliver and you are unlikely to dilate as the feet aren't heavy enough. DS turned footling at 38+4 and they admitted me straight away before section at 39w. I was told ECV was unlikely to be successful with a footling & I had an anterior placenta. My current is Frank breech and they have pushed ECV more and even said I could try for VBAC (I won't be)

Plenty of time to turn yet though, I'm surprised they even mentioned it at 20w tbh.

[INeedNewShoes]

DD was footling breech. I did opt to try the ECV but it was clear she wasn't going to budge so after a couple of attempts I asked to stop. I ended up having a c-section at exactly 39 weeks. I wasn't admitted before then but I was told to call an ambulance if I thought labour was starting and to immediately get onto all fours while waiting for the ambulance. Thankfully I didn't go into labour and had a really positive experience with the c section.

[Princessdebthe1st]

Hi OP,
My waters broke at 33 weeks and I went into labour a couple of days later. DD was a footling breech so I had an emergency CS. She was fine, I was fine. I had originally planned a home birth but knew the minute my waters went so early it wasn’t going to happen. I have absolutely no regrets about my CS. Best of luck x

[LamppostInWinter]

My first was footling breech but they didn't realise until I was already in labour. Ended up with an emergency section. I've since had a planned section for number 2. Both fine with easy recoveries.

[crazybutkind]

It may be different in different areas but if I decline the ecv can I just request a c section instead?

[Turangawaewae]

My DD was a footling breech. I tried ECV which I found quite painful and unpleasant. If I'd known what it involved I would have declined. My Dr said afterwards that he hadn't expected it to work anyway!

I had a very calm elective C at 38 weeks. It was a very positive experience and I'd do it again tomorrow. Pregnancy not so much!

[overtly]

Yes you can go straight for a c section. If it's what you want they should be able to book you in at your next appointment

[mrsc1987]

I had a footling breech for a long time just got to 36 weeks and hes turned head down finally, i didnt want them to try and turn him think I'd have asked for a c section if he hadnt have moved

[slalomsuki]

DS was a footling birth that was vaginally. All very quick and scary and he was born in 3 pushes with the warning that the cord was out and I needed to get him out. They used forceps and pulled his legs hard at each push. Not the most pleasant birth but he was fine. The consultant who delivered him had only seen 3 in his life and there was a wall of student doctors and midwives in the room all watching the unusual birth.

They never discussed ECV with me before then even though they knew he was footling. It felt like he was kicking the inside of my thighs when he moved and I spent hours lying on the floor with my bum up in the sofa trying to get him to turn to no avail.

[lucie8881]

My last pregnancy was a footling breech although didn't find out until I was in labour. He'd been head down throughout the pregnancy (had a 3D scan at around 32 weeks and was still head down) so it was quite a shock to hear he'd turned.

Labour was progressing quickly so I was given the option of carrying on with vaginal delivery or going for an emergency CS. I asked the doctor which was safer and they said the section would be the safest option, so that's what I did.

Had I known earlier in the pregnancy I wouldn't have tried ECV I would have opted for an elective section.

[crazybutkind]

Thankyou everyone. I was given lots of info yesterday and I am just trying to take it all in. The doctor I saw was really pushing for ECV which is booked for next Friday but I am worried because I don't know all the side effects and wish I had asked more questions. I don't want Dr Google to rely on.

If there is a risk my baby could die or be problems with the cord and blood circulation and oxygen then I need to know all of this. I think I am going to ask for c section x

[Hawse]

Hi OP - why dont you check out this on ECV and risks. I found it to be re-assuring when I went in for my procedure. There are also Youtube videos that show how it is done, so you know what to expect.

www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files/12975Pbreech.pdf

[ChateauMargaux]

I have seen successful ECV's as a Doula. I would also suggest looking the spinning babies website and follow the advice on there. Some women see osteopaths which could be worth considering and I have also heard of women using the homeopathic remedy Pulsatilla in 200c to help.

[crazybutkind]

Just a query did anybody who had breech babies have any problems with hips/legs/feet?

[INeedNewShoes]

DD had to have an x-ray at something like 8 weeks I think to check hips but she was fine. She was resolutely breech in the womb as well - breech on every single scan and never went head down at all. I think she couldn't get there for some reason.

She did have a torticollis (sternocleidomastoid tumour - basically a muscular lump in her neck which restricted her movement) which I think may have developed because her head was in such a funny position pressed against my ribs for the last few weeks).

[crazybutkind]

Baby has been breech since feb. I'm doing everything I can at home to try and turn her. The more I have had time to digest it I am really scared if I go ahead with this ECV I have too much time on my hands and can't keep away from google

[namechangeonehundred]

My breech baby was absolutely fine, had the routine (for breech babies) hip scan at 6 weeks and given the all clear. Funnily enough I did go on to have a head down baby with slight DDH.