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Original poster

Breech baby

31 replies

Chab92 · 14/04/2022 22:08

Hi there!!!
Has anyone had experience/have any advice or tips please… had a growth scan today (35 weeks) at which i was told that baby is breech and they want to do an ECV (?) in 2 weeks and if that’s unsuccessful I’ll have to get a section..!
I am heartbroken as I’ve got my heart set on a natural labour if possible!!! Is there anything anyone can advise I can do to turn baby at home? Or at least help me try so I can feel a little more at ease.

OP posts:

FunnyCradock · 14/04/2022 22:36

On hands & knees, with bum higher than chest. For 15-20 mins, several times a day. It means that baby may have enough room to come out of the pelvis slightly & turn. Don't know what the success rate of this is at 35 weeks, some babies are very wedged in the pelvis at this point. But this advice was 13 years ago so someone more wise (and up to date in birthing terms) might have something more helpful to say.
Good luck, and try to remember that once you have your baby in your arms you’ll probably not give a single sod which way they came out. Enjoy the snuggles. (Teenagers are reluctant to oblige!)

Concestor · 14/04/2022 22:39

Use the spinning babies website to help baby turn. Mine turned at 37 weeks.

But also, find out where your nearest breech specialist hospital is and transfer to their care. Depending on the type of breech, you can have a vaginal birth if you want, but many hospitals no longer have staff who are trained in it. A conversation with one who is will help you decide what you want to do.
But in the meantime, spinning babies!

peppapigoverandoveragain · 14/04/2022 22:51

My baby was breech and the hospital tried an ECV but it was unsuccessful. However, they gave me the choice of natural birth or c-section but I chose c-section as they said it was less risk to the baby.

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Sponge19 · 14/04/2022 22:52

Ow no, I hope the ECV is successful.
I would hate to have to have a c section

Thegirlwiththeeagereyes · 14/04/2022 22:55

Do what you can to get the baby to turn but remember - when all is said and done, the most important thing is holding that baby in your arms. We all have ideas about what we would like in an ideal world but when it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter how they get out as long as they do so safely!

findingsomeone · 14/04/2022 22:56

I had an elective section and it was fucking brilliant. No way I'm ever pushing a baby out of my vagina.

Sponge19 · 14/04/2022 23:05

@findingsomeone

I had an elective section and it was fucking brilliant. No way I'm ever pushing a baby out of my vagina.

PoppityBoo · 14/04/2022 23:16

I had a breech vaginal birth a few years ago after a failed ecv. Try the spinning babies website and also join the Breech Birth U.K. Facebook page which will have lots of advice. I had to fight hard for the birth I wanted and I was lucky that it was my second, and I’d had an uncomplicated head down birth for my first, and that my breech was in a good position for a vaginal birth. Don’t give up hope yet - there are more options that you realise with a bit of investigation.

GettingStuffed · 14/04/2022 23:19

My grandson was breech , DD had an ecv , which was unpleasant, but he turned and delivered normally

findingsomeone · 14/04/2022 23:21

Don't understand the biscuit. Women become obsessed with a 'natural birth'. It's not always in the best interest of the mother or the baby to have a vaginal birth and women are deterred unreasonably from Caesarean sections. There are a disgustingly high number of women with severe birth injuries from being pushed into 'natural births' that were inappropriate clinically. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

LondonKitKat · 14/04/2022 23:26

Breech baby at 35 weeks who turned without me noticing or doing anything by 38. Ended up with c section after a failed induction. Two weeks later I’d forgotten all about it. As a PP said, doesn’t matter how they get here as long as it’s safely.

JenniferBarkley · 14/04/2022 23:36

Spinning babies exercises, but honestly OP I've had two sections and they were brilliant. No problems bonding, breastfed both without issue. They were calm and pain free and the recovery was fine. Please don't be devastated if you need one.

mumwon · 14/04/2022 23:38

I hope baby turns for you
Many many years ago they found out I was in breech at 40+weeks it was decided (!!!) that I would be induced & have trial labour
I wish I had a caesarean

schmalex · 15/04/2022 07:09

My baby was breech - I declined ECV and had a elective caesarean. My experience of caesareans has been great and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

schmalex · 15/04/2022 07:10

Completely agree @findingsomeone!

Shlomping1234 · 15/04/2022 07:13

My LO turned on her own 4 days before I gave birth. My other 2 were breech until 36 weeks. I was born arse first so they all follow me 🤣

Keekabooyou · 15/04/2022 07:17

Had two breech babies tried ecv with second as dreaded another section but it was unsuccessful and very unpleasant. Second planned section was amazing and wish I hadn’t bothered trying the ecv.

Musicaltheatremum · 15/04/2022 07:23

I had 2 breech babies both caesarian section. Both wonderful emotional births. Honestly it doesn't matter in the long run. They are safe and well. My natural delivery friends had far worse recovery times than I did. My kids are 26/28 and I still remember it as a happy time.

HighlandCowbag · 15/04/2022 07:24

Research the ecv before you consent to it. I declined for both of my breech babies and had 2 lovely c sections.

A natural birth sounds like you should always opt for it, the reality is that if maternity services recommend a c section there is usually a pretty good reason for it. My sil recently gave birth and I won't go into details but it was not the birth she planned, and she isn't fully recovered 4 months later. She was offered a c section but declined as she wanted the lovely natural birth she had planned.

But please research the ecv, what it involves and also the risk factors to baby.

CormoranStrike · 15/04/2022 07:25

My breech baby turned while I had a bath at 39 weeks, and I had a super easy vaginal delivery at 40+8

EcoCustard · 15/04/2022 07:36

Dc4 was footling breech at 36 weeks, booked for an ECV the following week. He turned by himself when I was driving home after a swim. Scan confirmed this prior to the ECV. Try spinning babies exercises and swimming is good too.

NerrSnerr · 15/04/2022 08:57

My eldest was breach. After research I declined the ECV but to be honest she was properly wedged in and I don't think she'd have moved. I had an elective c section and it was fine.

Just think of the end goal, that you and your baby are healthy and a c section is really not the end of the world.

IronyFreeAnnie · 15/04/2022 09:03

I also declined the ECV- DS was measuring big, and it didn’t seem worth the risk of trying to turn him. He was pretty much stuck in that position and I spent the last couple of weeks in hospital
being monitored for reduced movements. I
The C- section was fantastic, recovery was easy enough and after the weeks of worry all I really cared about was getting him out safely.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/04/2022 09:21

DS1 was an undiagnosed breech discovered in labour and I had an emergency CS (ie unplanned -there wasn’t a crisis). I chose a CS because I believed it was safer for him.

DS2 was a VBAC so I had a “natural” delivery with him.

I feel no differently about the two birth experiences. They both resulted in healthy beautiful babies. They are both teenagers and giving birth to them, whilst magical, is now a very small part of my parenting experience. Once your baby arrives, how the got there will be less important than you think.

One thing I have had to learn as a parent is to go with the flow and adapt. I am a planner by instinct but small children don’t always follow plans

Kinsters · 15/04/2022 09:35

I remember someone saying to put a wrapped bag of frozen peas on the top of your belly to encourage the baby to try and move their head away from the cold and go head down. If they can move they will.

But to echo what other people have said - if you don't get your dream birth you will still be fine. My DD unexpectedly had to go to NICU after he was born. I held him for a few minutes and then that was it for a few days. He got out of NICU after a week and it's been plain sailing since then - no problems with breastfeeding or bonding. I had read so much about the "golden hour" and need for immediate skin to skin and straight to the breast etc and I was so worried the whole time he was in NICU that our bond and breastfeeding would be affected but it wasn't. However the baby is born they're your baby and you're their mother and they'll love you.

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