Will they 'let me' give birth normally to a big breech baby?

I know your breech babies have turned now (hooray!), but I want to add my positive comments about ECV in case anyone else with a breech baby looks at this thread.

My baby was breech and I was planning a home birth, so was really not up for a CS. I was offered an ECV at 37 weeks and it was fantastic! A wonderfully skilled consultant turned my little boy in less than a minute. It felt quite peculiar, and the side of my tummy was slightly sore afterwards where he'd had to press his fingers in, but the turn itself wasn't painful or uncomfortable. I was so relieved that something that had been worrying me so much could be solved in such a short simple action that I burst into tears immediately afterwards!

Unfortunately I didn't quite get the home birth I was after - got to fully dilated at home, then transferred to hospital as no pushing contractions. It then turned out that my boy was posterior and star gazing and I had to have a CS anyway. Of course there's always the possibility that the ECV put the baby in the 'wrong' head down position (although they say it's unlikely) - but given the choice again I'd still go for it - at least I had the chance of a V birth instead of the prospect of an elective CS.

Great news Wills! Am I right in thinking you are due the Saturday (23rd) after I am due on the Monday (18th)?

Katherine, sounds like you had the best deal to me! Although you probably still had stuff to sort out when you got home if your dh is anything like mine!

This has turned out to be a very heartening and positive thread for anyone who is in the position we were a week or two ago!

That is fantastic news Wills, I'm really pleased for you

Wills. Fabulous news. Wehey!. I'm so chuffed for you.

Head is Down!!!!! Blood pressure is okish but there's protein in the waters. m/w has sent the waters off for checking but wants me to go for mid week check on blood pressure and to go straight away if I get headaches or blurred vision. Fair enough. At the same time she's agree to put me back on for a homebirth which is just wonderful! Oh and told me to "relax, relax, relax, relax". This said whilst my three year old turned her room upside down in front of us. V. funny!

It is "normal" for your BP to rise at the end of pregnancy and it is very uncommon to have pre-eclampsia twice... hope this info helps you !
Think calm thoughts....

Think it depends on whos doing the checking. Mine had gone up quite a bit at my last check (usually 110 over 80 but was 130 over 70). However MW dismissed it as being the heat and wasn't worried at all. But then I don't have a history. Although my BP did rise quite a bit at the end (35 weeks) with my first - they were going to check me every day but I went into labour instead. Put it down to the pressure of moving house rather than the pg though. Waters broke at 6am and we were due to collect the van at 9am. Neen - at least you have moved even if you don't have everything ready. The only furniture we had was a (now soggy) blow up mattress. Didn't even have any spare knickers! Still meant I got to spend a lovely week in the local MW unit while poor DH moved house on his own... and the chocolate pudding was fabulous.

Neen99 - I was told a similar thing only 15. However when it rose by 18 just before my holiday nobody said anything so I'm a little confused and waiting to see what today's results bring.

Thanks Wills. Hope everything goes well - sometimes they surprise you. How has your blood pressure been this time?
Mine had increased on Monday - the second number had risen by 20. I have read somewhere that if it increases by 20 or more they will want to monitor you, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy, but the Doctor or Midwife didn't comment so I suppose it must be okay.
God, I'm such a worrier at the minute, in my last pregnancy I was so chilled and relaxed, but this time I feel totally different. I suppose things are different now I'm running round after a toddler!

Well I go for my "almost 36 wk" check today. Its a double whammy for me as my ankles are now so fat they're bigger than the widest part of my foot - ugh disgusting . On top of that although little one has certainly been wriggling a lot I too have not felt a distinct turn around movement. Saying that I completely incapable of going more than an hour without needing the loo and have that distinct feeling of "baby about to pop out" every time I do sit on the loo - to me that means head engaged - so I'm completely baffled and glad that I will be seeing someone today. I do soooo want to have a home birth but given that I had pre-eclampsia last time and that my toes and fingers are doing a good impression of sausages I really should change my hopes. Its silly really because ultimately all I really want is happy healthy baby. Worry worry worry - they really should hand out qualifications in worry - I'd do really well !

So Bekki - am I reading your posts correctly? Little one has turned - I do hope so.

Neen99 congratulations!

Just been for hospital appointment today - consultant couldn't make up his mind what position he thought baby was in so I had a scan. Turns out that he was probably 'head-down' all along! His head is so far down in my pelvis it's not palpable, it was low down when I had my scan for the placental site at 32 weeks, and they said it's very unlikely that he has moved in between then and now (36 weeks).

So I worried for nothing!

Just hope this doesn't mean he'll be early as we've just moved house and we still haven't picked up his cot or put anything in his room!

Gulp... maybe it's time to get organised!

Glad to hear it Tissy No soft option for bedpans where I work

Bekki, I had a caesarian and they made me walk to the loo! They said it was to prevent DVT!

Great news Bekki - I am at the hospital for my 36 week check on Monday so I've got my fingers crossed still. He has been wriggling about a lot although I'm not sure if he's gone the whole hog - haven't felt a 'weird sensation' that other people have described when they felt their babies turn.

(I didn't mean that to sound negative, I've just re read it and realised it doesn't sound how I meant it too... must preview first...)

I hope "he" stays turned, Bekki!

I had a C-section as my baby had been in breech position all the way through from 30 wks. I was really disappointed when first told about C section, as I wanted to experience natural labour (twisted I know ), as I thought it might be harder to bond with the baby after delivery by an operation.
But honestly the C section is nothing to be worried about - the whole thing is pain free, and happens so quickly. They put the baby to rest on me as soon as he was delivered, and while they were doing the stitches. There was no need to worry about bonding as it was just an incredible time. I was able to start breastfeeding immediately after the operation and again this meant I forgot about everything that had happened in theatre.
I was home in 4 days, driving short distances by 3 weeks, and now at 5 weeks feel completely back to "NORMAL" , well as normal as you can with a new baby.
Just wanted to share this with you so that you maybe will not be so put off by C section option. All the best.

I am 34+ weeks pregnant with my second what-feels-like-an-even-bigger-baby (my first was 8lb 8oz), and was told the other day by my midwife that this baby has gone breech. So I've got my fingers crossed along with you that the baby turns, as I am terrified of a c-section, mainly because of the epidural and not being able to lift my 17 month old for 6 weeks after!

My DS was breech at 34 weeks, then managed to turn himself around (most weirdest feeling ever) So there is still hope the baby will turn.

Bekki, I faced this situation last year. DD was born by c-section and weighed 10lb 1oz. I was given the option of an attempt at ECV, but it sounded to me as though the risks outweighed possible benefits. I was also told that babies sometimes turn again after a successful ECV. I was admitted to hospital a week and a half before my due date, because the staff were afraid that if I did go into labour, the baby would be at risk (there is a risk that the baby's head presses on the umbilical cord, cutting off its blood supply). The c-section was performed a week later. I know that I can't do more than tell you about my own experience, as it's up to you to decide how to approach your baby's birth, but in my case, the c-section was straightforward and a very moving and humane experience. When I look at my beautiful 6 month old baby, I must say that the whole saga seems far away and only a detail in the story of how we got her. Good luck with everything.

Well I'm waiting with you. Little one is kicking and moving loads but not really making any signs of putting head down bottom up . I've been putting my bottom in the air but all it does is hurt my back and give me indigestion. Also I'm not sure if this method truly works? Why do babies turn?