Breech birth

[AKP79]

Have had a second ECV today which failed and so discussed my options with a senior consultant and supervising midwife. It's my first baby and as with most people really wanted a natural labour, so over the last few months have thrown myself head first into doing as much as possible to turn baby - moxibustion, pelvic tilts, hypnotherapy, yoga - you name it and I've probably done it.

I was very open to how my pregnancy should progress from here on in, as whilst I would love a natural labour, I want to do what's best for baby. I assumed they'd strongly recommend a C-Section, but was really surprised by the response. The senior consultant has suggested that I book in for a C-Section at 41 weeks and that if I go into spontaneous labour before then that I aim for a vaginal breech birth. I've gone with his recommendation and am happy because it means that I do get to give natural labour a shot. He's said that baby is frank breech and that it's in a great position to attempt a breech birth, he's also said that there are no contraindications so that's another reason why he'd be happy for me to go for a natural delivery.

I asked about experience of the midwives with breech deliveries and they admitted it wasn't strong, but that when I went into hospital a consultant would be contacted to attend the labour. I have also been told that I will be constantly monitored on a wireless monitor (to allow me to remain mobile) throughout the labour and that they will have a very short tolerance for any changes and the moment the heart rate rises or dips or contractions subside, I will go straight through for a section.

They've told me that as long as labour is spontaneous and progresses well that there are very minimal risks to both me and the baby.

However since this morning I am now questioning absolutely everything and wondering if I'm doing the right thing!

I'm not sure why I'm posting to be honest or what I'm expecting as response (reassurance probably), but I just felt the need to get it off my chest and write it down... not sure if that makes sense?

Sorry for the loooonnnngggg post!

wow you are very brave, but for what its worth, i think you are doing the right thing. where is the world are you? my dd2 was breech and was pretty much given no other option than to have c section which i really really didnt want, only to be told 2 weeks later by my midwife that kingsmill hospital 3o miles away is the countrys mst experienced breech birth hospital. are you anywhere near mansfield?

if you strongly want a natural birth then your consultant has advised the best thing really and see how labour progresses.

have a look on the internet, for spinning babie,s that gave me more info

i wish i had known i could try a natural labour.

oh and good luck ,hope whatever you decide to do goes well

Have you been told what the likelihood of you getting a natural VB in the end if you go into labour. If I was making this decision then a 90% chance might be worth going for, but a 50% chance might make me doubt it as generally EMCS are harder to recover from than ELCS.

Hi, I was all set to have a vaginal breech delivery as my DS was breech up to 39 weeks (he decided to turn a few days before he arrived!)

My consultant said if his wife was in that situation he would offer a breech delivery over a CS.

I had to have a CT scan to check the exact positioning of baby and to make sure my hips and birth canal were adequately sized in order he could fit out.

The consultant and senior midwives were all disappointed when he turned!!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

'how brave'! Nope, just someone who is going to trust her body to give birth the way nature intended. Have a look at the RCM guidelines for breech birth.

www.rcmnormalbirth.org.uk/stories/do-as-you-would-be-done-by/normal-breech-birth/

i ment brave is in, childbirth is hard enough when the baby is in the normal position, never mind a more difficult position. i think the op #is brave but do have every confidence that she can manage it

Go for it. You sound as if you are being cared for by a very sensible obstetric team. The plan sounds very sensible, spontaneous labour with good progress aim for vaginal delivery, any sniff of added complications bail out for cs. An 'emergency' cs wouldn't be a rushed job in those circumstances (if slow progress, high presenting part, suspicious CTG) as the team would suggest cs at the first sign that things aren't 'textbook'.
Good luck

Breech delivery - in stirrups on your back or breech birth - on all fours hands off?

Have you googled Jane Evans and Mary Cronk, Day at the Breech etc?

There's a few articles here

My bf had a undiagnosed breech birth and while she describes it as horrific, that was more down to the panic of the situation.

She had been pushing for a while before anyone noticed the bum coming first!

The actual delivery was not that much harder than her first and she recovered just as quick, even with the episiotomy

Good luck OP .

If it was me then I would give it a go. The confidence of the consultant and the fact he suggested it would be enough for me.

Middle child breech delivery at Nottingham City hospital. Consultant delivered baby and it was the best of my three, so controlled once I had listened to what I had to do.

canuck43 breech delivery at nottingham?? i am 20 miles away, i am so mad that i wasnt offered any other option than cs, i was at lincoln, but would have happily changed hospitals and tried for vaginal delivery if i had known it might be possible.

did you know the baby was breech?

Thanks for the feedback and support everyone... starting to get my head around it and used to the idea now. I'll be giving birth at Warwick and I have to say I have been astounded by the support and advice available to me.

Crotchflakes - I've been googling Mary Cronks like crazy, I think she's helped me to get my head around it all to be honest.

At the moment I am thinking that I will work towards an active birth, the moment I either want or it is strongly advised that I need an epidural then I think I will request a C-Section (as long as it's not too late). From what I've read it would be worse for baby if I delivered on an epidural than it would be to have a C-Section.

Obviously I will also have the section if the labour stops progressing or the baby is distressed.

From what I've read there are risks to having a breech baby across the board whether that's by natural labour, C-Section or assisted delivery, as the consultant was very confident in his recommendation, I now feel that I've made the right choice.

My midwife has encouraged me to write my birth plan over the next couple of days and has said that she will sit down and go through it all with me, so that's my next step.

hahaha I'm pretty certain I've had an appointment with that consultant!!!!!

Good luck, you never know we might meet sometime