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Baby breech at 38 weeks, does this mean the end of my home birth?

31 replies

YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 16:06

Just been told baby is breech today, scan had confirmed. 2 weeks ago mw wasn't sure but thought head down.

I've got severe SPD and am on crutches, and this just feels like another kick in the teeth.

I can't stop crying.

C section has been booked for 40 +5. So that'll mean 3 weeks of agonising SPD followed by the pain of major surgery. It just seems the worst of everything.

Can I hear some happy stories please? Doctor tried to turn baby earlier and I nearly passed out. She failed and now I feel bruised and battered as well as miserable.

Help!

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HaveToWearHeels · 30/08/2013 16:18

My baby was breach until 39 weeks (presentation scan at 38 week) at which point she turned herself one night (which nearly made me sick it was so weird. DD was born at 39+6 with just gas and air.

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 16:21

HaveTo, that's good to hear. Did you do anything to help it happen?

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AnotherStitchInTime · 30/08/2013 16:27

Not necessarily, babies can turn by themselves in labour and before.

Have a look at Spinning Babies. You will need someone to help you do some of the techniques. Some of them may also not be suitable because of your SPD, only do what you can do comfortably.

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HaveToWearHeels · 30/08/2013 16:48

No nothing OP, was gutted that she was breach at presentation scan but they didn't seem too concerned and didn't suggest a C-sec, I think a lot of baby move as Another as mentioned.

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 16:54

Thanks stitch, have tried a couple, but the SPD kicked in. So I don't think I can manage that.

HaveTo, I'm really hoping she'll flip. Didn't think it would upset me so much. It's knocked me sideways.

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AnotherStitchInTime · 30/08/2013 17:09

How about cold packs or frozen peas near baby's head? Baby might move away from the cold.

Hot water bottle in same place can have same effect.

Handstands in deep water (warmer pools better to help relax your abdominal muscles). Get help, float about a bit on your tummy first, after 15 mins of floating and maybe some gentle swimming do 5 Handstands in a row for as long as you can hold your breath.

Shine a torch at your belly where baby's head is and slowly move down to where you want baby's head to be.

See a chiropractor who is a pregnancy specialist, they have a technique called Webster's technique for helping to turn breech babies. They can also help with SPD.

Lie over a bean bag belly down (make a hole for your belly) with your head lower than your hips.

Also some people swear by acupuncture, maybe worth a try if you are not needle phobic? Also moxibustion.

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VivaLeBeaver · 30/08/2013 17:12

Moxibustion is meant to have something like a 70% success rate I think.

You can't be forced to have a section. If you choose you can try for a vaginal breech either at home or hospital. You need to do some research before making such a decision though. Is it your first?

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hallamoo · 30/08/2013 17:18

Acupuncture/moxibustion - worked for me, I swear by it!

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 17:18

Thanks stitch, I'm waiting for a call back from an Acupuncturist recommended by the midwife who does moxibustion (a new one on me)

Viva it's my 4th. This is all new to me, the others were very obliging. Would be 3rd home birth. Hopefully still will be.

I'm feeling very lost.

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 17:19

Hallamoo, that's great news. Fingers crossed.

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leeloo1 · 30/08/2013 19:23

I know how you feel! I had the same news at 36 weeks, but luckily baby flipped (scan on Friday showed still breech, I felt on Saturday she'd changed and scan on Tuesday confirmed this). I tried:

  • moxibustion (didn't feel it helped much - but was doing it on myself with aid of books to position the sticks so may not have been perfect technique)
  • acupuncture (may have helped, certainly painful - as points are in little toes - and baby did move a bit)
  • massage (massage your little toes hard - with edge of a biro/chopstick - just outside/beneath the nail)
  • frozen peas on tummy (baby went crazy, so may have helped)
  • lying angled upside down off sofa (not sure if this did much, but allied with frozen peas baby moved a bit)
  • went for a walk after moxi, frozen peas, upside down-ness - think this is when baby turned, as that evening I felt she'd moved).


Good luck, I hope you get your baby to turn round too.
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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 19:38

Thanks leeloo. Reckon I'll give anything a go!

Walking is not an option though.

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Salbertina · 30/08/2013 19:46

Lots of swimming? Imagine it would be only practical/soothing option with bad spd. Any antenatal yoga positions viable ? But you cant have acupuncture when pregnant, acupressure yes but no needles! And moxibustion rubbish in my experience. Feel for you, know people who have had spd and sounds v debilitating. Think theres a v good support group if you google, they may be able to help? Good luck.

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 30/08/2013 19:57

Thanks Sal, I know this will sound daft, but I don't think I could get into the pool. Without my support belt and crutches I can't walk. There probably is a way, but it seems like a logistical nightmare.

I'm thinking of putting my birth pool up and sitting in that all day long. Dh can lift me in and out, and since I probably won't get to use it now, I might as well have a soak.

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AnotherStitchInTime · 31/08/2013 11:17

Birth pool sounds like a good idea, you can have the water warm to help relax your abdominal muscles and float around belly down to create space for the baby by allowing your ligaments to relax. The pain from the SPD is probably creating tension in all your muscles in the pelvis and abdomen, if you can relax more in the birth pool and get some relief it will hopefully help.

Not sure which birth pool you have and what size or if you could do this with your SPD, but if there is space try extended puppy. You can always put your hands under your forehead if the stretch is too much, the most important thing is to get your hips higher than your head. You will have to hold your breath and go under water and do repeatedly for at least 5 times one after the other (although you can do this for 15 minutes a time, or whatever is comfortable on dry land too). You might be more able to achieve this in water due to the support and the extra relax from the warm water would work well with this pose if you can manage it.

Let us know how you get on.

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leeloo1 · 31/08/2013 20:44

Oh, I just remembered - I also went on hands and knees in the bath, as being submerged in that position in the water can help. (I read about a lady who did that for an hour or so and it made the baby turn). Jeez I really did try everything! Maybe try and combine that with frozen peas? lol.

Poor you with spd, I have it mildly - acupuncture has helped a bit - so I really sympathise.

Fingers x'd you find something that works for you.

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leeloo1 · 31/08/2013 20:46

Actually I didn't try everything - I also read you should find a hydrotherapy pool and do a handstand?!? Hmm I figured the risk to me of drowning was greater than ending up needing a c-section! Grin

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 31/08/2013 21:20

Stitch I did my best! At least I can manage being on all fours in the pool (can't do it on dry land at all, too painful). Unfortunately no change so far.

Leeloo, last night I had a light shining as low down as possible Grin and a bag of frozen sweetcorn perched on my bump. She barely wriggled!

She's going to be as stubborn as her big sister.

I'm still hoping something will work. Will report back.

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leeloo1 · 31/08/2013 21:26

Ah, a big sister you say... well I did also have DS calling 'come down here bump' at the bottom of my bump - so when bump had turned he was convinced it was all his doing. Grin

He's told me that if the baby cries then he'll say 'be quiet bump' and he knows she'll be quiet because she listened to him and turned round. I'm really, really hoping he's right! :)

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YouKnowOfTheCrunch · 31/08/2013 21:31

I need to borrow your ds!!!

Could you send him over for an afternoon?! Grin

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AnotherStitchInTime · 31/08/2013 22:31

Get in that pool on all fours as much as you can everyday without becoming shrivelled like a prune.

Oh I just remembered that I used to tuck the headphones of my mp3 player into my maternity knickers and play dd1 music to encourage her to get head down. She liked it and used to kick along to the music.

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StrangeGlue · 31/08/2013 22:33

Is there a birth light yoga teacher near you? They can help you with exercises which can help baby naturally turn.

I'm no 'woo' this does help.

Good luck!

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fruitpastille · 01/09/2013 13:52

I tried ecv and moxibustion unsuccessfully. I was also on crutches for a different reason- broken leg - and had a fear of bejng even less mobile after a section. In the event the section recovery was pretty smooth. I was on my feet the next day. It's not the end of the world if that is your only option.

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CrispyFB · 01/09/2013 18:32

DS flipped at 38 weeks from head down to breech! I thought perhaps he had (entire bump changed shape!) but wasn't sure. Then when I was having my ELCS (other reasons) the consultant was confused and asked why nobody had told him baby was breech..

Good luck with the flipping!

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Dogsmom · 01/09/2013 18:54

I was the opposite to you and desperate for dd to stay breech as I was terrified of childbirth and wanted a cs.
I was doing everything to encourage her to stay how she was but I felt her turn during the night at 39 weeks.

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