To feel crap about baby flipping to breech at 32 weeks

[Onaloop]

I went for a CTG and scan today at 32 weeks, baby has been head down for the last few months (I'm having scans every 2 weeks due to a previous loss). Firstly at the CTG my baby fell asleep, the nurses said this was an issue so they asked me to try to wake him up, I tried the usual poking a bit, a glass of water, something sweet to eat - they even tried ringing a bell near my belly but he didn't wake up. They showed the results to my gyno who said they were ok but when I went in for my appt with him and asked about it, he said it's better when they are awake because a heartbeat that stays the same could mean the baby isn't getting what he needs (cue major anxiety from me having lost a pregancy at 19 weeks last year). He then did an ultrasound and was surprised that the baby was breech, he actually sounded really disappointed/frustrated. He said the baby doesn't have a lot of room now but maybe he will turn in the next few weeks, otherwise they will try to turn him or I'll have to have a cesearean.

I came away feeling really down because I'd felt like the baby had been head down for so long that everything was going well, I've been doing lots of exercises recommended for moving the baby into a good position.

I've only ever given birth once before, to my baby that had died and I really would like to have a natural birth if possible this time as I want to experience birth in a more positive way. I think I've realised this is quite important to me (but obviously if I need to have a caesarean for my baby to be ok I will do whatever I need to).

Plus I didn't feel very reassured by the nurses reaction to the CTG. I've emailed to see if I can have another CTG in the next day or so because I am anxious, but I don't know if I'm just been overly anxious/stressed about this? I have a lot of other stressful stuff going on in the background so maybe I am overreacting?

It doesn't help that my husband isn't allowed to come with me for my appointments due to corona and I live abroad so the whole conversation with the nurses was in a foreign language that I probably only half understood (my gyno speaks pretty good english though).

Yanbu to feel how you feel.

But please stop blaming yourself. The baby may or may not turn and there is very little you can do about it! An elective CS can be a positive experience, try and think that through if you can.

Obviously there’s no guarantees OP but at my 31 week appointment baby was breech, and had been transverse before that. Midwife wasn’t worried at all. Since 34 weeks he’s been head down.

Babies usually can turn up to 35 weeks - so lo may still turn
I know you may be disappointed if it stays breech but a planned caesarean is very safe & you would probably have db a few weeks before term & you will be given a date

My baby was breech until 35 weeks then turned. Loads of time yet

Dd2 turned from transverse/ oblique to head down at 37 weeks so they can move a lot later than what you are, they still have quite a bit of room at 32 weeks to flip around a bit x

Don't panic yet.. DC1 was head down until 36 weeks but then on a scan was shown to be breech. They flipped again and were head down again at 37 weeks!

Though, (and I can understand the reason) please try not to put too much pressure on yourself to have a perfect birth.

Even after all that, after a four-day labour, I ended up having a crash section anyway...

My baby was in the perfect position until Labour then moved into every single other position during labour resulting in EMCS.

My baby turned from breech at 35 weeks, while I was waiting for the bus. The most extraordinary feeling!

I assume you already know about the Spinning Babies website: www.spinningbabies.com/ Really good suggestions for positions (some of them a bit insane) to use to encourage a breech baby to turn.

Also think about moxibustion. For something that sounds downright silly, it has a very high success rate.

www.parents.com/pregnancy/complications/what-is-moxibustion-and-can-ithelp-turn-breech-babies/

I’m not voting but just wanted to offer you some reassurance, DD was head down until day of delivery (planned section 41+5) she turned breech that morning and then 30 mins before section turned back. DD weighed 9’4 and I’m only 5 ft tall so try not to worry too much

DS on the other hand sat breech till 37 weeks, he was delivered by another planned section (38.5 weeks) weighed 8’10 and had turned head down by this point

So long as head isn’t actually engaged they can and often do turn, and then sometimes turn back the tricky little devils

Loads of babies do this! They can and do turn back around - my neighbour was advised to go on hands and knees then lower shoulders down and rock her hips sideways a few times a day to encourage - not sure if it helped but baby turned and was delivered head first

You can't control them unfortunately so in the interests of your baby you shouldn't worry or get down about something that is 100% out of your control xxx

Mines been breach and transverse in the past 32 weeks but has managed to turn head down in the last few days. Midwife isn’t worried at all!

I was taken in to be induced at 41+weeks. DS3 had been breech for weeks but everyone was happy to go ahead with a VD. During my shower before going down to the labour ward, he turned. It was the weirdest feeling, but just goes to show they can turn right up to the last minute. He was 9lb 3oz too, so not a wee pipsqueak.

My last pregnancy, DD was breech until 39 weeks. Feeling her turn one night was extraordinary - very uncomfortable and it woke me up. I didn't realized she has turned and went for a scan the next day to confirm breech (as if she still breech I would have had to cancel my home birth and fight for a trial of labour) and she was head down.

My second pregnancy was also breech/transverse and my OB was insisting upon a c section. I researched Spinning babies, dove to the bottom of pools, lay over Evan bags with hips higher than shoulders and had booked in for an ECV. The morning of my ECV at 38 weeks, DS had turned head down and the OB sent me home. I labored naturally two weeks later.

There's still time!

DC2 turned transverse at 39 weeks - we were having scans every 2 weeks and she'd been head down the week before! We ended up having a c section.

Also, please don't view a CS as a negative. I recovered physically and mentally from my C section so much more quickly than DC1s "natural birth ". I also bonded much quicker with DC2, as I was physically and emotionally in a better place.

Wishing you all the best OP

[quote Doubleraspberry]My baby turned from breech at 35 weeks, while I was waiting for the bus. The most extraordinary feeling!

I assume you already know about the Spinning Babies website: www.spinningbabies.com/ Really good suggestions for positions (some of them a bit insane) to use to encourage a breech baby to turn.

Also think about moxibustion. For something that sounds downright silly, it has a very high success rate.

www.parents.com/pregnancy/complications/what-is-moxibustion-and-can-ithelp-turn-breech-babies/[/quote]
This! Definitely do the spinning baby exercises.

On the flip side my pregnancy baby was head down and then turn around time came and he was head up and refused to turn BUT despite choosing to have a caesarean rather than a breach natural birth it was extremely positive so please don’t add the pressure of having a natural birth into the scenario. I also had a loss at 20 weeks and the horrific birth that went with it so I have some understanding of your anxiety. So please don’t feel that only a natural birth is a good birth. Good luck

Thanks everyone, I will try to keep my spirits up and try the different exercises - I have heard of spinning babies and did a course a few weeks ago on exercises to help you through birth - it wasn't actually spinning babies, but run by a spinning babies teacher so I might get in contact with her.

@TakeMe2Insanity thank you and sorry for your loss. I actually have very mixed feelings from my last birth - obviously I was devastated and giving birth in that way was heartbreaking, but I do have positive emotions from the birth too, and I was really hoping that I could experience that again, but with a healthy baby. The thought that might be my only experience of a natural birth (possibly) makes me feel sad. but as I said I do want to do what's best for this baby whatever position he is in, it's just complicated when there are heightened emotions tied to my previous experience.

Yep don’t panic yet… my baby flipped from breech at 38 weeks day before my pre op for a csection! He kept flipping!

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who shared their stories and offered advice. I really appreciate it and am feeling a lot better now.

I got an appointment for another CTG tomorrow so hopefully that will give me some peace of mind over the weekend

Please don't panic, there is plenty of time for baby to turn - mine did at 36 weeks (rather uncomfortable for me i have to say!)

My second was transverse and breech for my whole pregnancy - breech by 36/37 weeks. She then turned head down - I remember sitting in Dunelm cafe when she turned - it’s was such a 🤮feeling 😂.