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

A friend had a big baby (9lb 14 oz?) first pregnancy. 2nd time they were paranoid she'd have another whopper, plus the 2nd baby was breech. She was booked in for that procedure external cephiliac version (ECV) or something anyway, ECV tries to turn the baby head down. This procedure runs a 1-2% risk of placenta abrupture and emergency C-section, is most successful if performed during labour, plus many breech babies are supposed to turn on their own during labour. But doctors wanted to do the ECV anyway around 36 weeks. If they couldn't turn the baby they were quite keen to do an elective C-section by 37 weeks.

2 days before the scheduled ECV the baby turned of her own accord. Baby was born around 40 weeks, only 8.5 lbs at birth, too, which was so fast & easy my friend barely made it to hospital in time. It still makes me mad that the docs were so insistent with their extra scans and wanting to do the ECV or an early C-section.

To turn a breech baby the tactic is supposed to be getting into any position with your butt up in the air, I guess.

Two 2nd timers in my antinatal group had breech babies turn at 36wks on their own so don't rule it out.

Bekki - I would also venture to say as you had an easy first birth you could have a much easier time with a vaginal birth of a breech than if it were your first ever labour.... and at 32 weeks as you know - plenty of time for baby to turn !

My second baby was a c.s. and i love the experience of both! Whatever happens its you and your babba good luck

Forgot to say at 32 weeks the baby has plenty of time to change position to head down. My second ds was breech until 35 weeks and I was determined I was not going to have a C/S after a previous normal delivery. He swung round on his own when I was grilling burgers one night - what a sensation!

You are 'allowed' a choice. You cannot be 'made' to do anything you do not want.I recently heard of a woman having her second baby who travelled to an independent midwife, skilled in breech birth, to deliver vaginally. I have to say that many obstetricians do not know how to deliver a breech without interfering. In that case, a C/S might be safer. It is advised though that an attempt should be made to turn the baby prior to labour which can be successful.

Bekki - you might find this leaflet useful. It might take a minute or so to download.

here

Bekki - brilliant thread - thanks. I'm 33+3 and little one is still breach. I know its trying to turn but everytime I give it space it goes to sleep . I don't want a c/s but have been told I wont be allowed a choice.

Will now investigate further - thanks

there was a big piece of research done a couple of years ago which most obs and a lot of midwives are now taking as "proof" that a c/section is the only safe way to go for breech babies. Sadly the research was somewhat flawed - in that medical things were done/procedures carried oout which should NEVER have happened in a vaginal breech (such as use of syntocinon, inductions, etc.). In the view of many people is has proved nothing, but it HAS given the "medical men" a bit of research to wave around to back up their preference for sections.

I really would advise getting in touch with ARM - the website is here ARM website - there is a mailing list that you could join (it welcomes all with an interest in midwifery - parents and professionals) where you can speak to some practicing midwives and get their views - and generally the references to the research to back them up.

Bekki, my 3rd was breech for a while late into pregnancy and I did a lot of research into delivery options. With breeches, their is a risk of the head not delivering quickly enough after the body and getting trapped which can obviously pose major problems! Obstetricians are more inclined to do c-sections as this removes that risk. In some large hospitals, it is routine policy not to allow 1st timers to deliver breech babies vaginally!! However, if it is your second and you had an uncomplicated delivery first time, you have a bit more to bargain with if you want to go for a vaginal delivery.

Books I read which were interesting and informative concerning breech births and what is involved included "Your Birth Rights" by Pat Thomas, "Spiritual Midwifery" by Ina May Gaskin (4th edition) and "New Active Birth" by Janet Balaskas. They were more pro-natural birth, and also included information on exercises if you want to attempt turning the baby into the correct position for delivery. You could also try the following websites: www.aims.org.uk - the association for improvements in maternity services, and the website for the association of radical midwives - can't remember their address, try a search on google.

In the end, none of my research was needed as dd3 had turned by 36 weeks, and all was very straightforward at the end. Good luck.