Birth plan out the window and possibly heading for a section

[scaryfairy28]

Had the midwife yesterday 36 weeks and she thought maybe baby was breech was very vague about it said she probably wasnt as the heart beat was in the right place. Any way so scan today confirmed that baby is breech and am booked in again for another scan at 37 weeks. I am gutted as had my heart set on small midwife unit would have been looking at a home birth if it wasnt for that place, now could be heading straight for theatre.
Suppose I have a few questions;
does anyone have any experience of ECV ?
anyone any tips on turning baby? went for the moxo/accupunture thing this afternoon and have two more session booked
Finally does any one have any positive c-section stories that might settle me had my heart set on waterbirth and quick recovery

PS I know I need to stay focused on the fact we were lucky to concieve everyone is healthy etc etc but doesnt stop me freaking out and feeling like i total failure just at the thought of not having a natural delivery.

Give yourself a chance, you are only 36 weeks and haven't yet tried ECV which might well work.

Of course you could always have a vaginal breech birth, the evidence recommending caesarean section is not strong if the pregnancy is otherwise normal.

I've three CS. With DD3 I went in on mon and was out weds afternoon. Took it easy for two weeks ( which wasn't difficult as was pinned to chair by vampire DD) and was then in the park with three kids pushing double buggy, carrying shopping up two floors to flat.

A CS isn't necessarily a big deal in terms of recovery.

There is a website called Spinning Babies which gives loads of advice and tips on turning breech bubba's - worth giving a try??

Thanks ladies. Had seen the spinning babies one and a few others have just spent some time with my bum in the air and then had a nice bath with an ice pack on the top of my bump!! Currently sitting playing music down low which bump is dancing away to.

Other daft question what if baby turns and i keep doing all this stuff will it turn back?

What NormanT said, ELCS is a very lovely experience. Have had two, no dramas at all.

Get on your hands and knees for 15 minutes four times a day.

Make sure you don't have the ECV unless you are in hospital, in a theatre.

Still time for baby to turn.

Original why in theatre?? I had heard they were safe. Wouldnt be done in theatre here but in hospital.

See if you can find someone locally who does moxabustion. It has a really good success rate and worth trying before ECV. Here's some info: www.londonacupuncture.co.uk/showCondition.asp?ArticleID=4

Babies do turn and so try and keep positive about it. You can also try the frozen peas at the top of your bump while shining torch at the bottom.

If you do end up deciding on an ELCS (and you can have a vaginal breech birth you know, depending on what you feel comfortable with and whether you feel comfortable with experience of staff...) there are lots of ways to make it a positive experience. Have a look here hackneydoula.co.uk/?p=80

Sorry, if it is being done after a section it needs to be done in the theatre.

I had my heart set on a water birth too, and had an EMCS has DS was undiagnosed footling (extended) breech. Far better to have a ELCS rather tham EMCS for breech!

Hello ScaryFairy28

Just wanted to share my experience... my DD2 (now 5 weeks) was breech from 28 weeks. I tried everything, moxobustion, all fours, ice pack etc etc but unfortunately nothing worked. I also had ECV which was painful (more like chinese burn pain) but glad I tried.

So I was heading for theatre... I was absolutely petrified of a C-Section, but I have to say it was almost enjoyable. I had a text book labour with DD1 so was even more upset not to do it again. I was also worried about the recovery with DD1 at home.

I went into labour before my ELCS so was rushed in quite quickly... waters broke at midnight, DD2 born at 2:22am. I think the adrenalin kicked in and all I was focused on when I was in hospital was meeting my baby. I found the spinal the worst park of the section, we were chatting all through the operation and I had skin to skin whilst being stitched up. I was back up and walking 12 hours later. The first 24 hours were extremely painful for me, but only getting in and out of bed. Then it just got better and better. I'm still playing it safe, but probably because I'm a paranoid person!! :)

I have to say once DD2 was there, all the worrying in my pregnancy seemed very unimportant - all that mattered was that DD2 was delivered into the world safely.

My advice would be to try everything you can, but if it doesn't work try to focus on meeting your new baby soon.

Oh, I had DD2 on Sunday morning, went home on Wednesday. I think I would have been home on Tuesday, but unfortunately DD2 was tongue tied and also slightly jaundiced.

Feel free to ask any questions and best of luck!

Best wishes

Thanks for the positive stories it is helping. One of my main concerns is the recovery and being able to get back to activity. Was hoping to get atleast a day windsurfing/wakeboarding in before the summer was over, but if it doesnt happen then so be it!

Squiggley had a moxabustion session this afternoon have another 2 booked before scan on thursday and he's given me a stick to take away which my OH managed to use earlier without burning my toes!!

I suppose I just have quiet high expectations of how I want this to go pfb and only plan on doing this once want everything to be perfect

Brilliant on the moxabustion front - keep going with all the tricks. I hate a couple whose baby was breech at 35 weeks. They tried everything for 2 weeks and finally, the night before the ECV, he turned the right way round!

What does your hospital say about vaginal breech delivery and how do you feel about it?

My dd was also breech and had been for the whole pregnancy (had extra scans for other reasons). For all these scans she had one foot down. I just knew she wasn't going to budge although I did try different techniques to get her to turn. To be honest, I was footling breech too and my mum delivered me vaginally and told me it wasn't a pleasant experience and advised me to have a section if she stayed breech (although obviously that's just her view but I don't think hospitals will allow you to try for a natural delivery with footling breech babies).

Anyway, I had a planned section at 39 weeks and was really worried about the possible health risks to the baby and that she might not take to breastfeeding as well as a baby that was delivered naturally. However, I can honestly say the whole experience was fantastic and my 'birth experience' is miles better than most of my friends who had natural deliveries. DD was immediately alert and latched on straight away. I was up and about the next morning and was home within 48 hours. My recovery was really good although I did take it easy and took advantage of all help on offer - the benefit of a planned section as opposed to an EMCS is that you can plan your help/meals etc in advance. I think an ELCS is totally different to an EMCS, both mentally and physically.

Just don't worry at all - as everyone else has said, as soon as you meet your baby everything else goes out of the window. Good luck!

Don't know anything about breech delivery presumed it was an automatic CS due to chances of complications. Will look into it though sadly would still mean consultant led ward which I've never heard anyone say anything good about.

I similarly hoped for a water birth in a midwife led unit....and ended up with an EMCS! But, quite honestly, the CS itself was the easiest part of the birth (although obv I was having difficulties with the labour.)

I would give serious consideration to an ELCS next time (hopefully!). I didn't have any complications afterwards and recovered from it fairly quickly.

Good luck. I hope it all goes well for you.

I went into labour the day before my ECV was booked in for. Progressed really quickly, got to 8-9 cm but was decided to do a CS as she'd moved to footling position.

Very positive experience. Relaxed atmosphere in theatre, DD out quickly and breathing was fine straight away.

DH got to spend v precious half hour with DD while I was sewn up. Milk came in fine and no probs breastfeeding.

Recovery was straightforward and my scar is barely visible now.

Wonderful experience. Currently 38 weeks with dd2 and hoping for a successful vbac but keeping mind open to another CS if necessary.

Good luck :)

As 4pudding says an ELCS can be a great experience, though I know it can be a big adjustment from a waterbirth - particularly if you aren't planning on having another.

Breech doesn't automatically mean CS though - it is often routinely the first suggestion and deciding that a vaginal delivery is best for you can be a tricky decision.

I've linked to some good resources in a post on breech birth here: hackneydoula.co.uk/?p=101

I like the Royal College of Midwives campaign for normal births very balanced view on this:
?A breech presentation is normal, it is just not typical. This is really important to remember: breech is not an abnormality. And a normal labour and a spontaneous birth are not excluded just because the presenting part is breech (although not all breeches can or should be born vaginally).?

PM me if you want to talk more.

Had successful ECV at 37 weeks (although at 41 baby has just gone oblique again, so is just v.mobile) which was uncomfortable, not painful (but this isn't my first child) - like you, CS would be one of my worst options, so was researching vaginal breech births, which my hospital support. Good luck.

Bear in mind that a planned cs is just another day at work for the theatre staff who will have done hundred of op's between them. You can ask them what they are doing when they prep you, what the equipment is etc, my midwife held my hand while they prepped me as they don't tend to let the dads in until they have got you ready. BF was fine, we started it after a couple of hours when I was in the high dependency ward.

My planned cs was fine (compared to my emcs which was hard to recover from). If you have a CS make sure you rest, feed and recover. Get the midwifes to do the nappies (even if they don't want to, I was a tad bossy in the hospital ). Stay in bed / on the sofa at home, keep visitors to a minimum. Don't do housework or cook, get pizza delivered if you have to. I was off paracetamol a week after my planned cs, although I lazed around for a month. Back at the gym at 12 weeks .