Help...38 weeks with a breech baby and really do not want a c/section!!

[MrsClawz]

My baby has been breech since 34 weeks now and I have tried most things to get it to turn, inversion positions mainly, but to no avail. I had an ECV last Friday and baby's bottom was partly engaged in my pelvis, the doctor couldn't manage to disengage it and so he had to abandon the attempt to turn it sad
Throughout my pregnancy I have been petrified of having a c/section and I have always thought of it as the absolute final resort! After a failed ECV, the doctor gave me two options, either to have a planned c/section around 39 weeks or to go to full term and try to have the baby vaginally (but obviously in the breech position) and if baby is at all distressed then to have a c/section.
I'm torn, as my heart is set on having the baby naturally but my head is saying the safest way for baby is to have a c/section. I just can't seem to get over the fear I feel towards electively putting myself on an operating table!
Wondered if anyone else has felt similarly towards a c/section? Or any helpful methods/advice for getting over my fear of a c/section?
Any suggestions gratefully received smile
Jen

The most important thing is that your baby is delivered safely, your midwife/consultant will be best placed to help you make the decision. However, IME an elective section is a very different proposition to an emergency one. I've had both and would certainly recommend the elective over the emergency! There are things that you can request in your birth plan to make the section more parent-friendly and help you feel as though you have some say (if not control) over the situation:

-Request that the midwife talks you through what is happening throughout
-Ask that the baby be lifted out facing you (with the screen lowered if you wish) so that you can discover the baby's sex and greet him/her
-Request skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible following the delivery of the baby

I had this experience with my second delivery and it was magical!

Oh and i'd recommend requesting a combined spinal/epidural, that way if the spinal doesn't give full relief or relief for long enough you can be topped up, which means you avoid the possibility of a GA, especially important IMO if the baby's in an awkward position to deliver. It's more effort for the anaesthatist (sp?) but worth it to ensure you'll see your baby being born.

I've had three sections - whilst it was certainly not my first choice with my first and i had no choice with the others, it was the best thing for the babies and they're gorgeous Try to focus on the delivery as your moment to meet your baby for the first time, the method of delivery is secondary to how special that moment will be

Super quick post - if you are considering vaginal breech birth have a look at this new leaflet about it from Kings' College London hospital. Very balanced and reassuring: www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/PL%20-%20471.1%20-%20Breech%20Births.pdf

I had a section with both mine, and two really positive experiences - both were elective. Have a friend who had an emergency and not quite as positive - so for you to know in advance and be able to prepare is a positive thing.

Why do you feel so fearful about a section? Are you familiar with the process or is it partly the unknown?

Is this your first baby Jen? That makes a difference to the safety of vaginal breech birth.
Have you heard of moxibustion? Google it. Very effective in turning breeches.

I had an emergency c-section. I hate needles and anything like that, regularly faint after blood tests. But, I had no choice, and it didn't go too badly. I kind of zoned out in c-section, really relaxed. Did not want to know exactly what was happening. That was the way I handled it and I didn't find it traumatizing or really that scary, just surreal. I think the drugs and tiredness helped! I had a spinal not an epidural - the epidural was the bit I was most scared of, whereas a spinal is just an injection, only lasts a couple of hours so I could start to move a bit in recovery. I had a really good anesthetist and midwives who were great. I personally did not want skin to skin immediately after birth as I was still being stitched up for quite a while and wanted to focus on staying calm and still. Instead my DH held the baby for nearly an hour and had lovely cuddles. Then I had skin to skin and breast fed in the recovery room.

When it is an emergency the recovery is longer - I got to pushing stage before baby had to be got out because he was in an awkward position and in distress, so I was very tired. But it is easier in that there is no choice. The doctors say it has to be done and so you do it. Ultimately you will do what you need to to get the baby delivered safely, even if you are scared.

If you decide on a c-section, think about what you want about skin to skin, how much you want to be told etc, tell your partner, but do not be afraid to change your mind. I hadn't really considered a c-section at all as like you, I thought it was a last resort. But at the hospital I was at 1 in 5 births ends in c-section, and that is considered a low rate! An elective section makes things easier to plan as well - you know when your baby will arrive. So no sitting around for days waiting - there are positives. You can plan help for when you come out of hospital.

Also - having a 'natural' birth isn't necessarily any easier - a woman on the postnatal ward opposite me was in hospital much longer than me because she needed a big blood transfusion after a vaginal birth. I also know someone who had to be rushed to surgery as they couldn't repair a tear and she was losing too much blood. I don't want to scare you - just any method of birth has its possible complications, and as you know they are more likely if the baby is in an awkward position.

Lastly - sorry I have rambled on... have you spoken to midwives etc at local hospital about whether they would do a vaginal birth for a breech baby? We were told at antenatal that there was only one midwife on the staff at the hospital who would even attempt a vaginal birth for breech because about 10 years or so they stopped training midwives in how to do it, so very few staff have the skills to do one safely. We were told if this midwife was on duty, she would do it, if not, it was a c-section because it was safer. This is a big specialist maternity hospital.

Just a quick message as on phone but six months ago I was where you are. My ELCS birth plan is on my profile if you want to know more pm me. You'll be fine I had a great experience after all the tears and worry.

There is a very big difference between 'breech birth' by a competent midwife and 'breech delivery' by an obstetrician.

Have a look at www.aims.org.uk for some unbiased information (Association for Improvement into Maternity care.)

Have a think about whether you can afford an independent midwife who is experienced in helping mothers deliver breech babies. (Many are willing to negotiate fees)

The rebozo techique has some success at turning breech babies too!

As you have all been so kind in offering your support, advice and sharing your experiences, I thought I would write this note to let you know what we have decided to do. It's nice to realise that I'm not the only one who has felt this way towards an ELCS. And good to hear some positive stories about them.

My main fear Tobermory is with the unknown I think, and the fact that I have never been a patient, had an operation or staying in hospital before. As a nurse who works in Critical Care I get to see some very upsetting cases and that isn't helpful when it comes it you being the patient!
BadDayAtTheOrifice - yes this is my first baby, so have no previous personal experiences to go on!
Thank you ScaryFairy28, I have had a look at your birth plan and it looks very similar to my thoughts and feeling about the whole thing, I think I will spend some time tomorrow making a brief note of my wishes and also DH's.

I had my appointment with the doctor today, and decided to go for the ELCS (it has taken me all weekend, sleepless nights included, to come to that decision....it is the safest option for baby, even if it may involve a little bit of a longer recovery for me!)

The doctor himself wasn't particularly helpful, as soon as I had agreed to an ELCS he was very abrupt and forceful with dates/booking in etc, and then left!! I didn't have much choice in the dates I could have, it was either this wednesday (16/11/11...yes the day after tomorrow!!!!) or the 8/12/11 which would make me way past my due date, so that was not a possibility! So....I'm booked in to have it on wednesday...arghh!!!!!! After all that agonising and worrying, I now have one day to mentally prepare myself for D-Day!! Or should this be renamed C-Day? Lol.

I spoke at length to the anaesthetist (who fortunately as I work at the hospital I know anyway, she won't be in theatre on wednesday with me though) about the spinal block/epidural, the general course of the whole procedure and the part my DH can play in the ELCS, he will still be allowed to cut the cord (well shorten what they cut) and tell me the sex of the baby as we don't know this. She let me see the operating theatre and explained where everyone would sit/stand, and what would happen to baby...so its not so alien to me when I go in on Wednesday.

I still feel scared and daunted by the prospect of being a mummy in 2 days time, but I'm sure this will turn into excitement and joy once I finally get to meet our little pickle (bumps nickname!)

DH is a little overwhelmed at the speed with which events seem to be happening, but excited at the same time as he can't wait to meet pickle!

I will put a post on here (probably after the weekend) with all the details after the ELCS and news on baby! :)

Hope it all goes well think positive. My recovery was quicker than some of my friends who had complicated natural deliveries. Get standing up straight as soon as you can, don't let things tighten up. You'll be fine you can have pretty much everything you want with a c section. Get big pants that will pull up over your scar, I found primarks stretchy Lycra ones great.

Best wishes from me too - I was in the same position 4 years ago - DS was an extended breech (frank breech) and even trying to turn him might have caused serious complications/damage to the placenta or his hips. ELCS was a no-brainer. In retrospect I would have asked forcefully:

1. for them to pass DS to me the INSTANT he was born so I didn't have to wait half an hour for a cuddle
2. for DH to take a sound recording so I had a record of his first cry
3. for someone to have taken a photo of DH in his theatre scrubs
4. for the courage to tell the midwives that my milk would come in eventually and to stop shoving formula at me.

Good luck!

Can't wait to hear how it all goes, good luck!!!

Oh, one last (very trivial) thought, take a CD you like, we got stuck listening to "i'm in the mood for dancing" by the nolan sisters!! Not entirely appropriate but it did lighten the mood!

Just found this thread again, Wednesday....wow!

I understand how daunting the unknown can be, when pregnant with DD2 i had a false alarm where i was convinced i was in labour. I was absolutely and completely petrified, having not had any kind of labour with DD1 and for the 6/8 hours at home and in hospital couldnt remember a bloomin thing id learned at NCT classes!

I'm sure you're all sorted for tomorrow in terms of what to expect, but if not feel free to PM me am happy to share my experiences if it will allay any fears.

My planned cs was fine and I recovered well as I rested a lot (my EMCS was hard-going as I was knackered before the baby even came out).

Both times I've found the theatre staff to be lovely and happy to explain what they were doing .

All the best for tomorrow.

Thinking of you MrsClawz, hope all went well yesterday and you're having wonderful cuddles with your newborn

Hello everyone!
Wow, it has been a long time since I have been on here, I can even remember writing that I would put an update on here after my section and let you all know how it went...then the tiredness and exhaustion set in and somehow it just didn't happen.
But here I am....safe and well the other side of my c-section :)
I was totally petrified all the way up until the spinal had set in and then all I could concerntrate on was how sick I felt and hot, OMG I was so hot! Acording to the lovely theatre staff that is all competely normal and certainly took my mind off what was happening.
Our gorgeous son Freddie was born at 10.40am on the 16th November weighing 6lb 4oz and he's perfect :)
Looking back at it all now I can say whole heartedly it was the best decision I made for both Freddie and me, I can remember all of it, and once I saw him everything else melted away, my fears and stress seemed so insignificant compared to having my son handed to me healthy, happy and so beautiful (and yes, I'm biased! Lol.)
Both my DH and me now have an experience we can treasure forever, I definitely agree that the theatre staff were lovely, I was allowed to have ice cubes and apart from the sickness it wasn't half as bad as I had worked it up to be in my mind! I did lose about 1500ml of blood but with lots of fluid and rest I was up and on my feet the following day, and home by the second afternoon :)
8 weeks on and Freddie is thriving, he now weighs 9lb 2oz, is fully BF and I couldnt be happier :)
Thank you all for your kind comments and advice, and sorry it has taken me a while to write this
Jen x

Congratulations!
I'm sure your thread will help and advise others.

Thanks for this -elcs due to breech next week so really interested in your story and congratulations

My opinion of ELCS has completely changed following my experience. The spinal is such a weird sensation when it is taking effect and it made me feel so sick, this can be due to the fact that the drugs used drop your blood pressure. I was given something to ease the nausea though which worked.
My DH was allowed to stay with me throughout the whole thing, there was only a maximum of 5 minutes where he wasn't there when they took me through to the theatre and put the screen up, which was a lot closer to my face than I thought it would be.
We were able to make a few requests as well, we were allowed to bring a music CD to play during the section, and my DH was able to look when they pulled baby out to tell me the sex, as we didn't know. Although the surgeons obviously cut the cord initially for infection risk sake, DH was able to go over to the cot and trim the cord, take pictures, put nappy on etc. Then he came back over to sit next to me and the midwife brought our son over, and DH was able to cuddle him and then pass him to me in recovery.
If you have any other questions Gigondas, feel free to ask :) I'm sure your experience will be equally as magical as mine was.
Jen x

aaaaw. So pleased to know it went well MrsClawz.

Wow, you have done so well - particular cheers to you for having a csection and then managing to get BF established enough to bring about a 3lb + weight gain in 8 weeks, ++ given you had a large blood loss.

Everyone goes on about giving birth 'naturally' but honestly, it's a whole world of pain and not a disaster if you miss out on it, and I say that having had 2 natural births (one admittedly far more painful than other - and the one which was painful was where the baby was awkwardly positioned, so you may have had a lucky escape).