Breech baby - how do you know?

[Janus]

Am pregnant with my fourth and at 20 week scan last week they did tell me baby is breech. Obviously very early and will probably move. However, my midwife was one of my close friend's midwife and she totally missed that her baby was breech and she ended up having an emergency c-section after going into natural labour and it not progressing and then them realising. So now I wonder how I would know if the midwife misses this again, ie does it feel different? I would assume no more scans now so have no idea how else you tell?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

They'll tell if when they palpate, but some 'signs' are really bad heartburn and your navel can look concave (dips in rather than being round).

If they are worried, they'll perhaps do a late scan to double check, and can even turn them.

I'm almost 35 weeks with my 4th and it's breech. Due for a scan next week and having it turned the week after if necessary.

[frakkinup]

Your midwife should palpate and refer you for a presentation scan if necessary. That said babies can turn at any point, even from a normal position to a breech one.

Breech isn't necessarily bad and natural birth is perfectly possible so there may have been other complications with your friend's labour.

There's plenty you can do to encourage good presentation :) Lots of bouncing on birthing ball and spending time on all fours!

[tlise]

I was told my youngest was head down but was sent for a scan because they thought he was going to be big. Turned out he wasn't head down, or bum down so I don't know what they were feeling (he wasn't big either) But he was lying sideways. Luckily they found out in time and I was admitted at 37 weeks just in case my waters went early, but I must admit I am worrying this time in case it happens again. I have asked if I can have a scan towards the end, but it seems to be being brushed off, but I am going for my 20 week check at hospital next week so am going to push for it. This is baby number 6 and I am far from slim anyway so if they missed it last time I don't want to take any chances.

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Spending time bouncing on a birthball and on all fours - with really bad heartburn. Ooh, nature's cruel sometimes!

[frakkinup]

Do it from an early stage and hopefully baby will get it's head down before the heartburn kicks in! Otherwise Gaviscon is your friend...

You'd have thought nature could be a bit more considerate though if breech babies give you worse heatburn and the best way to turn is basically to get your own head down so gravity helps the heaviest bit of your baby!

[tlise]

Lolol!
I had to rock my hips solidly for most of 24 hours as though I was doing Elvis impersonations. It worked though....gave me blooming bad back ache as well lol.

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Gaviscon is only my friend if I'm allowed to have a litre a week (which I'm not, apparently) so now I've been prescriped Omeprazole instead. Seems to be working though...

[slimyak]

I'm 30 weeks with DD2 and she swings arround from breech to almost head down quite regularly. She did it mid growth scan last week that's how I'm wise to her antics.

I think you know ( if you've had a head down baby before) as head up the bump seems much harder at the top and my stomach and lungs feel a lot more comprimised, like a full term feeling but with 10 weeks to go!!! At 30 weeks if this one is head up I really struggle to eat a full meal and suffer terribly with heart burn.

So thereisalight, just out of interest, how many units of Gaviscon are you allowed a week?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Well, I don't know for sure. I encountered an officious 'Prescriptions Receptionist' with her Judgey Pants on - she made me feel like a Gaviscon Junkie!!

I'd had a prescription on 8 November, then phoned on 15 for a repeat - when it wasn't at the chemist (they send it there for you) I went to ask why and was told that they'd raised one the week before - I told her I'd had it, and she said 'What?! You've had 1000ml in a week!!!???' and then she said 'Maybe it isn't working, then?'

I had no idea that you needed a medical degree to be a receptionist (but luckily I managed to refrain from commenting on it.)

So I got GP to phone me and he prescribed Omepazole which seems to be great so far - apart from a few hours in the morning before it gets to work, but it really does seem to keep it at bay all day.

[lucysnowe]

It is hard to be sure, but I guessed my DD was breech from the sharp kicks to the bladder and the kind of slidy movement at the top (from her arms) - this was at 30+ weeks though. (PS she turned at 37 weeks! :))

[wigglesrock]

DD2 was breech until 35 weeks, the midwife felt it at 33 weeks, although she said she could tell from the way I walked in , kicks were over to one side and I was really uncomfortable from quite early on. She turned herself the day before the scan to check!! She wasn't breech at 20 week scan, 28 weeks with dc3 and midwife thinks this one is also breech but am having a late scan anyway for placenta position.

PS DD1 wasn't breech but I had the worst heartburn ever, she was really hairy however