Any point in a trial of labour for transverse baby?

[StarshitTerrorise]

Just wondering and trying to plan ahead.

Silly baby!

I wouldn't think so, surely the risk of cord prolapse and EMCS is fairly high?

No personal experience but I doubt it would be much fun. If the baby hasn't moved in to a better position in the weeks when there is room are they going to do so in the limited timescale of labour? I would say there's a good chance that you could exhaust yourself labouring with a high chance of getting nowhere and then having a c-section anyway. Worst case is that the baby doesn't handle it well either. My sil laboured unsuccessfully with my nephew - he was head down but had been tranverse for a long time previous to 40 weeks and never got right in to a successful position. She had a c-section after 36 hours - not fun.

I guess I was hoping that I'd have a 'planned emcs' but no premature delivery and a tiny chance that the contractions would turn the baby as hey did my OP baby - eventually! Plus th baby woukd get some of the labour hormones as well as he lung squeezing etc.

Never considered cord prolapse though.

Is there anywhere I can find out more?

I was a home-birth regardless person... breech / twins etc etc i would STILL have chosen my home-birth even though it would have been against advice (as it was i had a normal easy low risk home-birth fully supported by NHS)

Transverse was a different matter though... if it had been an issue I would have been having an elective cesarian, and wouldnt have considered a natural birth....

(just my opinion of course)

Nannyl, I would not insist on a transverse home birth. That would be insane. I Know the baby can't come out belly/back first.

Maybe I don't mean trial of labour. Perhaps. Just mean delay c/section until labour starts then give it a couple of hours to see if baby shifts!

Surely not. It's an undeliverable position, and I can't imagine that there would be space for turning once contractions have begun in earnest. It's not like turning an OP baby, where contractions help.

How far ahead are you thinking? Some babies don't put their heads down until really late on, but co-opoerate in the end!

I got 8 weeks for a 3rd baby so expect there is still time. Just don't wanna be scrabbling around for info at the last minute.

Why don't cx hlp shift a transverse thn?

Bump.

I think a tranverse lie baby is pretty firmly wedged tbh. I think you need to talk to your medical team but if cord prolapse is a risk then you would be foolish to ignore that tbh.

8 weeks is oodles of time!

I suggest that at your next appointment you ask how they would want to manage delivery if the baby is still totally horizontal at 39 weeks. You might find they are happy to wait until onset of labour, provided you go straight in as soon as you think it is beginning (so if CS is required it's not in an almighty rush) or prefer to set a date for ELCS if labour has not begun spontaneously before then. Remember that they are doing this is in the interests of getting the baby out safely, which cannot happen vaginally if the transverse lie persists.

Baby may still have time to move.

However my 2nd was transverse and I was booked in for Elcs.

Consultant said that if I were to go into labour before my elcs date to ring the maternity unit, tell them that I was booked in for elcs and to come immediately, then I'd be straight in for an emergency c-section.

I think that c sections are more risky or something once labour is under way, so if your baby is still transverse I can't see them letting you try to labour for a while in the hope that he/she will change position.

Hmm, I'm booked into a birth centre currently which is not in my hospital trust, so not got great access to that kind of medical info.

My hospital trust doesn't know I exist - yet, either as am not currently registered with a GP in it.

It'll all be sorted in the next couple of weeks though, although hospital trust that I 'should' be with has refused me due to being full, but I know that is stupid and will kick their backsides if/when I need to.

Yes I understand c/s are more risky if em than el, although that never seems to be factored into induction arguments.

How early would they want to do an el though?

My lower twin was resolutely transverse, and they wouldn't consider ECV and I was admitted on the spot at risk of cord prolapse at 34 weeks. I just had to sit and wait for a few weeks and then i had an elcs at 36 weeks. I asked my consultant what would happen if I insisted on a vb and he did a movement with his hand as he said "we would reach up and attempt to turn him." Just watching his hand made me feel faint!

He also said that it wouldn't be a bad thing if I went into labour and had a few contractions before the cervix opened enough to allow the cord to prolapse, as the contractions allowed surface suffactents (sp) to be released into the babies' bloodstream, which is good for their lungs. As it was I had a couple of huge contractions before I was prepped for theatre.

He was wedged horizontally so tightly that they had to use forceps to get him out even through the sunroof!

starshit i think you misunderstood my post...

I said that while i would homebirth most scenarios, if it was transverse i would be opting for an elective cesarian.... it wouldnt even enter my head to try a natural birth if transverse, and most definitely not at home!

starshit sorry i was confused.... have just seen you are OP

ignore above comment....

what i meant was I am all for natural births (and home ones at that)..... but i wouldnt even try if transverse....

good luck

perhaps your baby may turn itself?

(I didnt for a moment think you were (or might) consider a transverese home-birth..... that would not be a good idea, but then you know that!)

There are lots of suggestions online for encouraging a transverse baby to turn. I think I'd be putting all my energy into pursing those.

Thanks,

And sorry Nan, for the name change.