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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off every time I feel the sodding head at the top of my bump!!!

31 replies

CrapBag · 29/01/2011 12:27

I am gone 38 weeks pregnant. This baby is breech. ECV a couple of weeks ago failed. Last week I am pretty sure she turned and engaged, then popped out that night and turned back again. Now I am going to be having an ELCS (unless she decides to turn again).

Last time I had a 3rd degree tear and forceps birth with DS. I was offered the chance of an ELCS this time but I turnued it down as I healed well and there was no reason for me not to go for a natural birth. I had accepted I probably wouldn't get my ideal birth, hospital birthing pool with gas and air but I was willing to settle for a normal labour and see how things went wrt to pain relief etc.

Then they discovered she was breech at 36 weeks after she has been head down all the bloody way along!!!!!

She keeps 'poking' her head up by my ribs to the point where it feels like she is trying to burst through my skin! Feet are in my cervix, great fun! Sometimes I can feel she moves her head over to the other side but she generally occupies one side of my belly and it is pretty uncomfortable.

It is like she is determined not to turn and stay breech.

I know it is completely irrational, but everytime I feel her head under my ribs I get pissed off and think "why the hell haven't you turned yet?"

AIBU?

OP posts:
TattyDevine · 29/01/2011 12:31

YANBU. You must have only a few days to go now? Next Friday or something? Hang in there...

Original poster
CrapBag · 29/01/2011 12:35

Still waiting for the bloody hospital to tell me when they are booking me in. Grrrrrr.

OP posts:
GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 29/01/2011 12:44

YANBU. I'm only 29weeks, baby is transverse and all I keep thinking is why will you not just turn?!?

Hope your hospital give you a date soon and sending turning vibes your way!

pawsnclaws · 29/01/2011 12:45

Well it shows she can turn if she wants to! My ds2 turned over just a few days before my due date - and he was a big boy, over 9 and a half lbs. I spent hours on the floor on all fours with my bum in the air and I'm not convinced that made any difference, I think he just decided he'd turn when HE was ready.

justcarrots29 · 29/01/2011 12:51

I had a c-section as my son was breech. I was actually quite pleased though because I didn't want another natural birth as my first was bad etc BUT if you want a natural birth YANBU!

Keep up rocking on all fours and hopefully your baby will turn round. My son tried a few times to turn but slipped back. Maybe yours will go right round. Goodluck!

flimflammery · 29/01/2011 12:57

YANU to be pissed off - must be frustrating.

Have you tried this website for tips on repositioning? It was recommended by my antenatal yoga teacher and doula.

ziva · 29/01/2011 13:08

hiya.i too had a footling breech (feet in cervix instead of bum) and yes i have every sympathy for the head crushing your lungs and feet dancing so your waters feel like they are bulging.im surprised your hospital hasnt booked you in yet.i know people will say its only a week or so but it is very very uncomfortable.

best of luck with your ELCS.

constantlytired · 29/01/2011 15:49

I was in the same situation during my second pregnancy (my first ended in ELCS owing to breech position)...i was so determined to try for natural birth that i ended up trying allsorts, including bouncing up an down on exercise ball for hours and shining a torch at the bottom of my bump during night...i was told that supposedly the baby moves towards the light Blush....well one of those worked, so maybe time to get your torch handy Grin

OmniaParatus · 29/01/2011 15:56

I've heard frozen bag of peas on the head works as baby doesn't like it!

You have all my sympathy, DS2 is 32 weeks and only turned round from transverse a couple of weeks ago, and it was uncomfortable as he didn't have any room.

I hope she turns round for you- a note of hope, I spoke to the mum of one of my friends and she said friend turned round and went into labour just as she reached hospital to have her ELCS.

lillibet1 · 29/01/2011 18:31

the only way i know is get down on all fours bum in the air for hours on end i'm afraid

strandednomore · 29/01/2011 18:35

YAB a little U. It's your baby, she hasn't even been born yet, let up on her a bit! She's breech, you'll probably have a c-section, it's not the end of the world!

FWIW I had dd1 by c-section because she was breech (and tried everything to get her ot turn including v. painful failed ECV) and dd2 also by ELCS because I waited and waited and waited and waited and she just didn't want to come on her own! So I do recognise your frustrations but was happy with both decisions. Both dd's were healthy and that's what really matters, not how they are born.

Oh and yes I also remember the pain at the top of my ribs...

Rollmops · 29/01/2011 18:45

Kerrist on bike woman, chill. The objective of this exercise is to have a healthy baby. Your preconcieved notions as to how the 'perfect birth' should be are of secondary importance.
Hope all goes well.
Elective is a rather fabulous way to have a baby.

JamieLeeCurtis · 29/01/2011 18:50

Yes, I do undertstand your frustration, but if you can reconcile yourself to a ELCS, it's not such a bad thing

I had an EMCS, with my first, and decided to go for a VBAC, second time round. Emotionally I found it rewarding to have gone through a vaginal birth, but actually, my recovery from it was harder than from the EMCS. In some ways, I think an ELCS is really good - you are prepared, and so is everyone else

TattyDevine · 29/01/2011 18:50

I had a fab elective with my daughter. Wasn't breach but placenta praevia.

So relaxed, as wasn't in labour. Nice easy pace putting the spinal block in etc. Shot up a bit high so slightly heavy chest and needed ephidrine but was fine throught.

Then they pulled this purple-grey looking creature from me and she roared. They said "ooh she's huge!" and seemed almost dissapointed when she was only 9 pounds 2.

Fat little pudding.

She was in such perfect condition. (My son was mangled by the time he came out!)

We got told off for cuddling her too much because she wouldnt' feed and I think she thought she was still in the womb Grin

Can't believe she's now a strapping 15 month old Sad Grin

Blink and you'll be saying the same I'm sure, hang in there...

JamieLeeCurtis · 29/01/2011 18:51

Oh, and labour is really over-rated, IMO Wink

BetsyBoop · 29/01/2011 18:57

still time to turn yet :)

DD was breech & I had a successful ECV at 37wks, only for her to turn breech again 2 days later...

On the morning of my pre-op assessment for ELCS (I was 39 wks exactly - cs planned for following day), I was sure she had turned, scan confirmed & CS cancelled Grin

Went into labour at 39 +3 still head down (ended up with an emegency cs but that's a while other story Wink)

olderandwider · 29/01/2011 19:08

Have you thought about hypnotherapy to turn the baby? Seems it can work for many women here

duchesse · 29/01/2011 19:13

Having done both (3 natural then 1 sunroof- and been a rabid pro-natural birther Blush) I can assure you that labour is definitely over-rated. She may yet turn but an elective is very civilised.

SleepWhenImDead · 29/01/2011 19:16

To be honest you're being a little unreasonable. I think you need to come to terms with the baby being breech- it's not his/her fault, and there's nothing medically wrong. I know of people who have laboured for ages then still had to have a CS- at least you know and can plan for it. At some point you will need to accept the fact that you need to have a CS, it might as well be before the birth.

Original poster
CrapBag · 29/01/2011 20:33

I have accepted that I will be having an ELCS. It did take me a few days as I was gutted but I have found that I am planning it and trying to imagine what it is going to be like. Its not going to be the worse thing in the world.

Plus the recovery from my 3rd degree tear wasn't that great, even though I did heal well and I have heard from people that have had bad tears and ELCS say that the recovery from a tear is worse so that is one positive thing.

OP posts:
tralalala · 29/01/2011 20:43

I had this and went to an acupuncturist who gave me a moxa stick to wave about my toe. I kid you not whilst doing it each time the baby moved loads and turned after two days.4

Well worth ago.

(PS i am a bit of a cynic so read all the research on it beforehand and it shows there is a signaficant increase in turning breach babies)

Also walk around on all fours.

But if it doesn't work honestly it won't matter in the long or even short run.

(pps you're allowed to be as unreasonable as you like at 38 weeks pregnant)

PussinJimmyChoos · 29/01/2011 20:48

How can you tell if its the head or the bum poking out under the ribs though? Had EMCS with DS and vvvv keen for a VBAC this time around and so hoping and hoping it won't go breech

Am 33 weeks this week. Had midwife appt 3 weeks ago and baby was head down, with bum under my ribs, to the left hand side

I do feel bony bits but not sure what is what!

Original poster
CrapBag · 29/01/2011 20:56

The head feels very very big and round. Definitely more so than a bum. If I didn't know she was breech I may not realise but as I know she is, I can tell its still her head at the top, not her bum, plus little movements like feet and knees are felt at the base and sides of my bump.

OP posts:
Mists · 29/01/2011 21:02

Heads and feet and anything in the ribs is awful! I remember DS with his feet in mine and feeling so panicky. It was almost claustrophobic because I couldn't do anything about it.

I also remember the bony bits. I lost all my water before the first contraction and DS was very bony indeed.

It must be awful OP, but it won't be for long!

PussinJimmyChoos · 29/01/2011 21:37

Am still puzzled as to how I tell difference between feet under ribs or above cervix...and this is my second pg!!!

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