Breech baby.

[naomiw87]

I am 35+1, and baby is still breech. I'm already booked in for a c-section due to a previous section. At my last growth scan baby was measuring 2 weeks ahead in size and the estimated weight was 5lbs 11oz. The Dr seemed to think baby wouldn't turn now due to size, my other 2 went head down for 28 weeks. So I feel this one isn't going to move, I know it's silly but I have been really worried. First of all I have been told that baby will need a scan on the hips, to make sure all is OK. Secondly I keep wondering why this little one hasn't gone head down? Has anyone got any experience on having a breech baby?

[DoJo]

Mine was breech, then moved around, then spun again post my 36 week scan, so that was a pain, but shows that it's just luck of the draw sometimes. Not sure what there is to worry about in terms of the baby not getting into position - most do, and some don't but if you're having a c-section anyway then that takes care of most of the uncertainty about having a breech baby. The hip scan is just a routine thing because of the position they are in - mine is booked in for next month, but my first, who was in perfect position, also had to have one because he had clicky hip when he was born, so it's not something limited to breech babies necessarily (and no. 1 was fine and no. 2 shows no sign of any problems and actually has surprisingly string legs)! Honestly, I don't think there's much to worry about, but do speak to your midwife if you're concerned as they should be able to set your mind at ease. Good luck and congratulations!

[jamtartandcustard]

I had 2 "normal" babies then dc3 was breech. No reason for it. I did all the old tricks - spending time on all 4's, eating lots of ice cream and putting a bag of frozen peas on the top of the bump. Luckily he turned between 36-37 weeks so I was able to have a natural birth. Sometimes it just happens but they can turn late x

[skankingpiglet]

DD was frank breech (in hind sight from at least 28wks). I tried EVERYTHING. My job has me on all fours most of the day (carpenter, not adult entertainment industry! ), I did the stuff on the spinning babies website, moxabustion despite my needle phobia, yoga, and tried an ECV. Nothing worked and I had a elcs. The docs said there likely wasn't a reason for it other than she just didn't have the space to move due to a small bump.
They should give an ultrasound scan of the hips of all breech babies because although any baby can have 'clicky hips', it's much more common in breech and if left undiscovered can cause very early hip replacements in adulthood. Ours was when DD was when she was around a month. DD did have one clicky hip so we had another ultrasound at 6mo, and an x-ray at 12mo. The doctors are confident from the scans it has corrected itself, but as she wasn't quite walking at her 12mo scan she walked a few days later, d'oh! she has to go back at 24mo so they can watch her walk. If yours stays breech and has clicky hips you can aid self-correction by using cloth nappies or double napping them, and wearing them in a sling (this came from the consultant).

[AKP79]

DS was breach all through my pregnancy and remained breach for the birth. I tried for a natural breach birth, but ended up with an emergency section. It turned out his cord was too short for him to move or change position. DS is absolutely fine and has zero hip problems. He was a really long baby, in a really cramped space unable to move much because of his cord, they checked his hips and there were no problems. 4 years on and all is fine. Please don't worry, I spent far too much time worrying about my baby being breach, so I know what you're going through worry wise, but it was all a waste of energy. xx

[TinyMonkey]

My daughter was extended breech pretty much all the way through. I was a bit miffed at being denied the experience of giving birth, and could've done without having my bladder used as a trampoline but I didn't ever worry about it particularly. She was fine, hip scan at a few weeks old was also fine.

I'm very short, so possibly she didn't have enough space to flip, and I didn't attempt acupuncture/moxibustion/spinning babies or an ECV, because I kind of felt she must be happiest up that way.

50% of my nct group had breech babies via c sections and all of them were fine too.

[naomiw87]

Thank you for the comments it has made me feel a lot better. I feel so uncomfortable though, not like my other two, can always feel the head on my right side and it really hurts sometimes. Haven't got long to go now though. X

[VeryPunny]

DD was breech, probably from very early on but only picked up at 37 weeks. Refused point blank to turn despite me trying everything. Consultant v. supportive of trying for breech vaginal birth, DD got stuck halfway out and we had a (very positive) EMCS. She's fine - it was quite comical when she arrived though as it took a couple of weeks for her to be able to lie flat (she was frank breech). We'd put her on her back and her wee legs would stay in the air! She was just happiest that way and even now likes to sleep with her head jammed up against something.

[mrsnec]

Mine was breech and I had a cs. She did turn a lot and I got similar pain to you and found swimming gave me some relief.

She actually turned en route to theatre.

She was diagnosed with clicky hips at one of her first checks. They told me not to worry too much and just to occasionally open her hips when I was changing her. She was sent for an ultrasound on her hips and then another one six months later and they had corrected themselves.

I was also told dd would be massive. She was born at 39+5 and was 3kg exactly.

[purplewhale]

Mine was breech from 24 weeks, he never turned. I had an elcs and he was fine. His hips had to be scanned which was no hassle, only took 10 mins and they are fine too.

[willconcern]

I too had a breech baby by c section. He had the xrays after a month or so to check his hips, all fine. I understand that the treatment for the hips is to double nappy as others have said. DS too spent the first week or so of his life with his legs in the air, as they slowly came down!

DS is now at secondary school, plays loads of sport and is extremely healthy!

The only thing that was difficult was waking him to feed. I have read that c section babies can be very sleepy and DS was. He lost quite a bit of weight in the first 10 days, and we had to employ all kinds of weird measures to keep him awake - fans on his feet, tickling his feet, undressing him entirely to feed so that he wasn't too warm (!) and we woke him at regular intervals throughout the day to feed until he started to put on weight. Within a month he was way up on the centiles, and is now very tall but skinny.

Try not to worry!

[skankingpiglet]

VeryPunny that is my DD too. Her hospital photos have her feet by her cheeks, they took weeks to drop down a bit. Swaddling was impossible. And she's currently asleep upstairs now with her head jammed in the corner between the headboard and the wall! Impressed they allowed you to try naturally too, I pursued it but in the end the hospital admitted they just didn't have the experience of breech vaginal deliveries to feel confident doing it knowingly. It's a dying skill apparently as we're all put in for cs as soon as they realise.