Turning a Breech Baby?? Should I go for it?

[Flowerydems]

I'm just needing a bit of advice, I'm 34+2 and have an appt next week to discuss the baby being breech (it's been over a month since he moved into this position)

I'm just wondering if it's worth going for the turning procedure given the low success rate for first babies especially and the fact that as long as he baby's healthy and well I'm not particularly fussed about how he gets out. I've obviously been reading up on c-sections and working out my chances of VBACs for further children but all in all I'm going in there with no preference to how I give birth. This is mainly due to the fact the baby has been diagnosed with Bilateral Talipes already so I'm kind of the opinion he's going to have enough to deal with without some guy stressing him out trying to turn him if he's obviously not naturally wanting to.

I don't know if that sounds really odd or not but I just want some opinions on whether it's worth attempting this procedure as my midwife said it will be offered (and she didn't even seem very hopeful on me having a VB anyway which I thought was pretty odd)

I'm a bit hormonal today so hopefully this makes sense

[StickyGhost]

I'm nearly 38 weeks and was considering the same things; the turning thing just sounded a bit scary to me, but weighing it against possibly avoiding having a caesarian I probably would have tried it. Luckily a few days ago LO has moved into head-down position, so there is definitely still time for it to happen. I don't know if this stuff really helped but I got an exercise ball and did some of the postures and stuff that was recommended for helping turn a breech baby.
I wonder why ur MW was a bit negative about having a VB? I hope he does turn, maybe u have a naughty one in there!

[NightLark]

I had successful ECV with DC3 at 38 weeks. It was uncomfortable (kind of teeth-grittingly uncomfortable) but not painful. Baby was monitored before and for hours afterwards as there is a very slight chance of going into labour just after the procedure.

Anyway, baby's heart rate was up for just a few minutes following the ECV, so any stress she felt, she got over quite fast. Then she went to sleep for a bit, then woke up... All the kicks on the trace corresponded with faster heart rate, the sleeping with slower rate so she was fine.

She came of her own accord at 41 weeks.

Oh, and she was a massive baby (over 4kg) but still turned ...

[Seeline]

DD was transverse and they managed to turn her at about 37 weeks (sorry 7 years ago now and abit vague). It certainly wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. Definitely preferable to CS IMO.

[Rachee]

i had an ecv 3 years ago to have ds.... so i could have my water birth..... as all others have said , not painful, just lots of pushing in on tummy so bit like a period pain with pressure.... the key to sucsess is keep relaxed ( close your eyes and unclech your butt cheaks) then the muscles will be more relaxed and baby can be moved. only lasts for 15 mins from start to finish... so prodding goes on for no more than 5 mins.... easy, when you think labour is longer....
but your choice... i hope this informs you from one side xXx

[scarletfingernail]

I decided to give having the baby turned a go. I was prepared for it to hurt me but was informed that it wouldn't hurt the baby. I wanted to avoid a c section if possible but obviously would have had one if advised. Attempting the ECV even though there was only a small chance of it working seemed worth it to me.

On the day of the ECV I had to go to the labour ward where they checked the baby was still breech and had me hooked up to a monitor. Once they were happy that the baby was happy they told me there were 2 other women to go before me so I was to wait in the room. 2 hours later they came in to do mine and when they checked again he had turned around all by himself while we had been waiting.

I couldn't believe the coincidence. He'd been breech for weeks. It was almost as if he knew what was about to happen and thought "stuff that I'll just shift my bum round now".

If you think you'd like to give the ECV a go and if there's not reason why you shouldn't it really comes down to whether you can face the thought of having it over having a C section. I guess it depends which one you'd rather avoid the most.

I almost did end up having a C section because although DS had turned round, he'd also managed to turn round so he was back to back. In the end they got him out using rotational forceps but I was very, very close to having a section. So there are no guarantees whatever you decide now anyway.

[Flowerydems]

Thanks for all the responses Its given me a bit more info on the ECV :)

Penguins - The talipes is the reason I'm more than happy to leave him be but I don't know if that's a factor in the breech. I think he's quite comfy in this position but I think maybe the fact the midwife was fairly adamant it won't be a VB and made it out that he's very unlikely to turn has me overthinking all of this. I didn't feel I could keep pestering her about what I should so cause she was so adamant so had a bit of a cry on the way home cause I felt out of control of it now. Thankfully DP is coming so will hopefully be able to ask the right questions.

[wheelshavefallenoffthebus]

Can you ask MW to explain what she means? Does she have a feeling he won't turn or is the talipes relevant to the success of the procedure? I was booked in for an ECV at 37 weeks and luckily baby turned in time. I was worried about it and read a lot on the Internet (proper websites mind!) and I thought it was useful to know that if the ECV was painful as opposed to uncomfortable then that was a sign it may not work. Good luck with whatever you decide, baby might turn himself (fingers crossed)