does a breech baby always mean a c-section (why?)

[allyco]

am currently 29 weeks and baby is breech. As I have a largish fibroid the general consensus is that he will stay that way because he's comfy and the fibroid prevents him turning anyway.

My last delivery was c-section and i am determined to avoid another, but the midwife has said it will be a c-section if he doesn't turn.

Why is this? Can't you have a breech baby vaginally??

Experiences/advice etc please

TIA

I think their counselling you to have a csection is more on account of the fibroid, from reading your other thread. Two midwives who use this board gave their opinion that the fibroid could cause dangerous bleeding. Your midwife told you the same. A consultant has also advised you, IIRC.

Yes, it's possible to deliver a breech vaginally, but honestly, allyco, is this worth your life?

agree with expat

If it was just the breechness, then I would be inclined to fight, but reading Expats post, it sounds more like the fibroid being the main issue... In which case, as anti-section as I am, it does sound the safest thing

agree with flamey

Why are you determined to have a VBAC? I did but I wouldn't have been bothered if I had another section (and at the time I would have paid to have one, ouch).

I think you need to take on the advice of your consultant.

Re breech, I think it can cause damage to the mother and stress on the baby and more intervention.

You can have a vaginal breech birth, but it's considered high risk so most hospitals advise against it. It's much more difficult to give birth to a baby feet first for obvious reasons, because the biggest and roundest bit is the part best designed to go first. Also, if the baby gets stuck halfway through (more likely with a breech), this doesn't matter so much if it's the shoulders, but if the head gets stuck there is a higher risk of stillbirth.

If you are determined to have a vaginal birth anyway, as well as the medical problems you may have difficulty finding any midwives or doctors with experience of breech births. Because most are now done by C-section, very few MWs today are used to dealing with breech deliveries.

If it was me, I would definitely have a C-section, but we are all different... Good luck with whatever you choose.

My mws were more than happy to oversee natural delivery of breeches. They said in some ways it is easier.

That said I've never had a breech birth.

It may be easier, when you don't have a fibroid and potentially life-threatening bleeding to worry about.

My ds turned at 32 weeks so was advised to have c-section. After weighing up all the pro and cons i decided i would rather come out with a healthy baby and me than put myself and baby at risk. But i had further complications ....platelet disorder and waters broke at 36 weeks so ended up with emergency c section.
It sounds like to me that you have further complications as well. Is the need for a VBAC that important in the scheme of things? As corney as it sounds to me the most important thing is that baby and mum come out the other side of birth healthy

thanks ladies - I know the fibroid seems to be the bigger problem but it was just when the m/w said if the baby was breech would have section anyway, I didn't understand why, ie if there was no fibroid but baby was still breech it would still be a section.

Have read up a bit more on this now and ties in with what tuttifrutti said about the head being the biggest bit etc. Apparently can hit problems if all the rest of the baby gets born but the head then gets stuck. I hadn't thought of that .

Only "real" reason I am determined not to have another section if possible is that I have absolutely no care for my youngest DD (who will be 20 months when baby comes) and I'm scared about picking her up, changing her, etc. etc, not being able to drive older DD to school etc. etc. It's not an earth-mothery wanting a natural delivery type worry. It's the recovery bit.

seeing as that you have a potentially life-threatening reason for needing a section, i think you'd be wise to contact your HV and explain your situation.

also, where are you? fellow mnetters are helpful and supportive bunch!

i had breech dts and had to beg for a section. The consultant advised vaginal. I wouldn't want to do it tho, doesn't bear thinking about if the head gets stuck that way round.

expat, am in North-East (used to live in Elgin - don't know if that's near you! Sorry, was a bit irrelevant, that).

My HV was signed off work fairly recently with anxiety apparently and there is a temporary one who is dealing with "younger mothers and single mothers and women who have drugs issues"

I think I am hormonal. If I think about everything logically then I will of course cope. I've coped with other crap stuff recently so this will all come out in the wash. BUT you know how sometimes everything all just seems to grow into a bigger and bigger worry. That's where I'm at now IYSWIM. FFS I am worrying about what will happen if I have to carry baby and DD downstairs in the morning (er, doh, take them one at a time??)

Pathetically pathetic stupid big fat pregnant person that's me! {grin]

I had a natural breech delivery, so know it is possible, but it was almost 8 years ago, and I've heard that I wouldn't be allowed one now. Guess it must just be a case that the statistics aren't good the likelihood of things going horribly wrong is much greater. I can understand why you don't want a c-section, but have to agree with everyone else it does make sense!

Nothing pathetic about it, allyco. You have valid concerns. Your health and safety are a real issue here, though, w/having a fibroid and a breech baby.

I'm in Edinburgh, unfortunately.

If you don't have an HV to use, I think getting in touch w/your council about your situation would be appropriate.

Better to head off these problems early in the game whilst you have time left and they have time to help you sort out some support for after the delivery, b/c it sounds like you honestly do need a c-seciton or to at least be prepared for one.

If you do schedule your c-section, then you'll have a date to go by for sorting childcare and after birth support.

Generally I think many (most?) hospitals will attempt vaginal delivery of a breech baby if the mother wants to and has already had one successful vaginal delivery.

It is possible to have a first-time breech birth vaginally but it tends to be higher risk (risk level depends on the type of breech presentation, though - for example bum-down is much lower risk than than feet-down). Given you've not already had a vaginal delivery and have the fibroid further complicating things it seems unlikely anyone would take responsibility for the level of risk involved.

I agree that talking to HV or MW now about support after the birth is a good plan given that the prognosis is that he won't turn.

My local hospital's policy is C-Sections for all breech births.

allyco- just a thought but maybe you could get help from Homestart? They are a charity that sends volunteers to homes to offer help. SIL is apparently entitled to help from them, has 6yo ds, twin 17mo ds and 5m pg with another ds! They will help with all sorts of tasks. How many children do you have and how old?