Breech, natural or C section birth?

[NameOfTheNick]

So, baby is extended Breech. im just over 36 weeks.
Been advised by midwife that ECV is unlikely to work with it being DC1 and having super strong abs prior to preg, where have they gone!
So if ECV doesn't work, she said I may have the option depending on the consultant of having a vaginal birth or C section.

Which would you go for?
What risks/other things are there to take into consideration with going for a breech birth?
I'm waiting to see the consultant on thursday to discuss things.

Hi, I was in a similar situation to yourself and felt I had that a had to try to have a vaginal birth. If given I was in the same situation again I would personally have an elected c section as unfortunatly I ended up having an emergancy c section. Obviously this outcome won't happen to everyone and your consultant will advise you best. Good luck with what ever decision you make x

Hi NameoftheNick

I had a breech with DD2 and had a vaginal delivery. The fact that she was breech wasn't picked up until I was 10 days overdue (can you tell I had a low key pregnancy!) so I had to make some quick decisions. The hospital booked me in for a C section for 12 days overdue, but I went into labour before anything could happen.

Was very glad I did as a had quick easy labour with her coming out bottom first! I was lucky in that the doctor I had assisting the birth was very calm and confident and assured me in his country women almost always give birth to breech babies vaginally!

Quite a lot of bruising and stitches but healed quickly, and in fact felt much less discomfort post birth than I did with DD1 who was a 'normal' birth!

Thanks Elainet83.

As much as i really do not want a C section, I am tempted to go that way as I think it will be the safest for baby. .
And an "elective" would be less stress I think once i've got my head around having to have one.

BTW, DD1 was also breech until 36 weeks when she turned spontaniously.

I went for c section. Had 3 excruciating and unsuccessful ECVs first. Hospital did not recommend vaginal birth and given their lack of confidence and experience with breech babies I decided c-section safest. No regrets

Oh that's a tough decision to make, i do feel for you. See what the consultant says, it can be very difficult to take all of the information in sometimes, will you have someone with you?

My DD was breech but turned on her own, ended up being induced at 12 days over EDD, and on day 15(!) established labour - unfortunately due to the amount of 'turning' DD had done once I began to push she got into severe distress and I ended up with an EMCS under general anaesthetic (sp?) which was pretty traumatic and to this day i regret not getting those first moments of her life with her. I don't want to scare you with this but given my time over again I would have taken the option of CS when it was offered on day 14. I was so focused on wanting to have a vaginal birth i don't think i listened well enough to the consultant.

The decision has got to lie with you ultimately though, don't feel bullied into CS if you don't want it. Good luck x

p.s. despite the hairy start, DD is a very healthy and happy baby :)

Hi NameOfTheNick, going through the same thing as you at the moment. 1st baby and extended breech diagnosed at 36w. Now 38+4 and ELCS schedule for 39+1. Midwife said she wouldn't have ECV in my position either, but the obs looked at me like I was being stupid when I said I would prefer an ELCS over attempting and ECV. Obs also said they "certainly wouldn't make me attempt a vaginal breech birth at all." You will hear a lot of anecdotal evidence favouring/discounting all options in the days to come, whatever you do, don't feel pressure from any healthcare professions to make a decision you are uncomfortable with!

However, I totally understand what you say when you said you don't want an ELCS. I have been planning hoping for a water birth, doing lots of yoga, reading up on hypnobirthing, no drugs etc etc, so this was quite a mind shift. Not only was I personally anti drugs (simply a personal choice) but I was looking forward to the birth experience with DP and really struggled to come to terms with the alternative. I've had a couple of weeks to get used to the idea and now I really hope she doesn't turn! Oddly, the thought of shifting back to the previous mode of thought would be really hard. I've done a lot of reading and am focusing hard on the benefits of ELCS.

I declined the ECV because I didn't want to have the drugs to relax the uterus and the associated fetal risks. Whilst everyone I asked actually said it was very painful (and 4 out of 5 I spoke to said it didn't work anyway) it wasn't the pain that bothered me in the slightest. I tried acupuncture & moxibustion to see if she would turn 'on her own' but neither have worked for me, worth investigating asap if you are keen to try natural solutions for your baby turning, but you need to get onto these quickly. (Some people will think these are a load of rubbish but studies have been quite interesting) aim.bmj.com/content/20/1/26.full.pdf

I have come to accept that there is a reason my baby is in breech. The Obs said they could not tell me after the birth, it's just one of those things. But I can't help but think maybe I have a funny shaped uterus, the cord is too short - who knows, but I'm now content that she is head up for a reason!

It's a difficult decision but you have a few days to confirm your decision (my ELCS was only just booked). Things you might want to investigate:

• breastfeeding (I've had lots of encouragement that this needn't be adversely affected)
• recovery time (if you are prepared, physically and mentally this doesn't have to be as bad as you may be expecting)
• natural remedies (depending on your thoughts on homeopathy, but look at things like Arnica, and oils that will soothe your baths in recovery weeks.)
• what if your baby turns last minute find out if your hospital will allow you to proceed with ELCS on the day if your baby does a last minute turn (mine won't, this is my biggest current stress)

If you have time, order Caesarean Birth: A Positive Approach to Preparation and Recovery by Leigh East on Amazon asap - it is REALLY helpful.

Sorry for the long post but hopefully something in there is useful! Good luck, let us know what you decide!

I'm 39+1 with dc1. had an unsuccessful ecv at 37+4 so that I could at least say I tried it.

My thinking was that if I tried it and it didn't work I would have a csection but if I didn't try it, I would have a csection, so the ECV was worth a bash.

I also think there is a reason the baby is where it is, my main concern being the location of the cord and the risk of cord prolapse. The baby would not budge an inch with the ECV so in my mind I imagine it to be tangled into its current position.

My DH has extreme anxiety in hospitals, so I also needed to weigh what will be the safest and most 'controlled' birth to avoid EMCS as he would not be able to cope with that scenario at all.

That makes a vaginal birth a no-go as complications would lead to EMCS.

For me, its definitely ELCS (despite the too posh to push comments), even though my birth plan up to 34 weeks was to have a drugfree water birth at a midwife-led unit where I could do a bit of lentil weaving and sprinkle the room with patchouli!

I have prepared for it mentally and I've frozen enough meals to feed us for three weeks following the birth, so I will be highly irritated if baby turns before my ELCS on Weds!

There is a useful website www.csections.org that has some useful information on it for this subject. The book that is on there 'Caesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery' by Leigh East has loads of information in it and I have read some great things about it. It includes a full risk/benefits analysis of vaginal birth versus caesarean and evaluates the VBAC options too. Probably worth a read before your next appointment.

Good luck

Nameofthenick

"As much as i really do not want a C section, I am tempted to go that way as I think it will be the safest for baby. .
And an "elective" would be less stress "

I reckon go with what you feel instinctively is right. If this is it -and its the choice I would make without a second thought - go for it.

Good luck.

My midwife for my twins said she had delivered so many breeches she could do it with her eyes closed now, she was that unphased by breeches.

I thought what a shame it was that someone like her wasn't in every maternity unit, so women like you might have more of a genuine choice.