Been told baby is breech at 36 weeks

[Allibear]

My baby is ALWAYS in the wrong place
Does anyone have any experience of their baby being breech late in pregnancy? It's scaring me a little bit as I just wanted a normal birth, so much has been wrong during my pregnancy!! Does anyone know how effective ECV's are or whether it's worth just going for cesarean?

[Oysterbabe]

Personally I wouldn't have an ECV. There are risks associated with it if you research it, such as the cord becoming tangled or the baby being injured from too much pressure.

[FuzzyOwl]

ECV success rate depends on the consultant performing it, so ask for their individual stats rather than nationally or the hospital ones. That said, I personally wouldn't risk one.

You don't say where your placenta is but if it is anterior or if you are a negative blood group, the likelihood is your hospital won't offer an ECV anyway as the risks increase.

Babies do turn up until the last minute but it is probably best to prepare for it not to and start looking at whether you want a natural breech birth (depending on the breech position and hospital experience) or a section.

[Allibear]

Thank you, I'm thinking I don't love the idea of the ECV. I'd like to have some control over my labour and I've read sometimes you have to have a emergency section anyway, I'd much rather have a date to go into hospital prepared. Does anyone have experience of a section vs a vaginal birth?

[Allibear]

Also, thank you owl for the tip on asking individual success rates I didn't even think of that!

[SpeckledyBanana]

DD turned herself around, I'm pleased to say. I think around 37 weeks (possibly a little earlier - it was just as I was finishing work, anyway).

My plan was to refuse an ECV and ask for a planned CS.

[16augustholiday]

I was told DS had turned breach at 36weeks but DS turned himself round by 38wks. I didn't even notice him turning and he was a big baby.
There is hope.

[ItIsHowItIsx]

I had a twin turned breech at short before 37 weeks - anything could happen yet! I think him turning is probably what started labour.

[malin100]

There have been a few threads on this recently so you might find more in a search. Mine was stubborn and never turned despite trying all the 'tricks'. My ECV was successful at 38 weeks. Now 41 weeks and head is engaged. It's personal preference but I'm glad I tried. They said if the baby turned back again after that I could have a second one. I decided it was good to try one time (and thankfully it was successful) but if it hadn't worked or the baby turned back again then my compromise was that I would've gone for the C section over the second ECV, as I'd be worried it would just turn yet again. Thankfully that didn't happen. If I had a breech baby again in a future pregnancy, I would have the ECV again (but again just once, I think). The chance of it working is usually about 50/50 and the chance of needing an emergency section is very very low, and they monitor you before after, but I had my bag packed just in case so I felt prepared! Hope that helps!

[FuzzyOwl]

I had a section because of a breech baby. It was an EMCS but was still a calm, serene experience and I recovered really quickly and well. I did find it painful to sit or stand for a couple of weeks afterwards but it was manageable.

[trafalgargal]

I had a breech and a normal ish delivery.
It was agreed I could have a trial labour if I agreed to an epidural so if things didn't go as hoped they'd just need to quickly top it up for a C section.

Waters broke about 1 am, contractions around 4 ish and his bum appeared first about 12. Breech births can go really well, mine (he was my first) was an unstable lie right to the bitter end but I still delivered with no tearing at all. It certainly isn't all gloom and doom.

[Allibear]

Thank you for the information, I think I'll refuse an ECV the risks scare me and I'd rather be in control of the birth. I never wanted a section but I'd rather that than the risks of an ECV! Maybe she'll turn by 27 weeks though

[KatamariDamacy]

All 3 of mine were breech, and all 3 turned at 38-39 weeks. It happens.

Another option is an acupuncture technique called moxibustion (no needles) which is painless and non-dangerous. There's some evidence it can be effective and I think a couple of nhs trusts offer it.

[eskimoflo]

I had a section 3 weeks ago because my DS was breech. I have a family history of breech babies on my maternal side (I was a breech baby, delivered by C-section, my mum was a breech baby delivered vaginally and so was my grandma! I think it's something to do with the shape of our pevisis (pelvi?) ) Anyway, because of this, I was kind of expecting a breech baby and, if I'm completely honest... hoping for one so I could have a section! Like I said, my mum had one and 2 of my best friends have also had to have C-sections and all have said that they were glad they did. My mum delivered my brother vaginally; it ended up being a really difficult birth and they had to use forceps and she said that she'd been given the option beforehand of a C-section and wishes she'd taken it.

After the hospital found out that my DS was breech, the consultant tried to persuade me to have an EVC but I'd heard some horror stories, including one where the baby had haemorrhaged during it, so I was adamant that I didn't want it. In spite of this, he really tried to persuade me to change my mind. Having just read the replies on this thread, I'm now really surprised that he did, because I'm O negative and as one poster said, there are added risks to having the procedure.

Anyway, I declined it and, apart from being really scared of the spinal just before I went into theatre, and not being able to drive for 6 weeks, I'm glad I went for the section. I'm healing well and am only feeling minimal discomfort. I also really liked the fact that the uncertainty of the birth was taken away; we had a definite date to meet our baby and the staff at the hospital were fab and talked us through EVERYTHING, before, during and after the procedure. I'm really surprised that so many people seem so desperate for a vaginal birth and at the amount of threads asking for people's advice on how to turn a baby. The way I see it is that baby will always find the place where he/she is most comfortable and settle there. I have a feeling that, if they'd tried to move him, it wouldn't have gone well and if they'd succeeded, he would have turned himself back around anyway

[ArcticMumkey]

I was secretly thrilled to have a breech baby and gladly took the elcs (I was very anxious after a previous loss) and wouldn't consent to ecv as I wasn't comfortable with the risks. My elcs was a wonderful experience and I wont hesitate to have another in future.
DD has had to have some treatment due to a hip issue associated with being breech but that's rare. You'll be offered a scan when baby is about 6-8 weeks old.

[dementedma]

Dd1was an undetected breech, only picked up after several hours of agonising labour. Ended up ad emergency CS. Not fun!

[Allibear]

Thank you for your story eskimo! Nice to hear a positive story, so good to hear all of your advice honestly. It seems such a big decision to make but I think I'll go for the cesarean if they ask me, maybe she'll turn by herself though. She hasn't been in the right place for any of her scans or anything, I think she likes making the midwives work hard

[Spanielcrackers]

My son was breech at 36 weeks. He turned by himself overnight while I was sleeping. I woke up feeling battered and bruised, and he was quiet for the rest of the day.
I had no idea he had turned until the next day when I went in to hospital to have him turned.