Breech baby

[missduff]

I've just found out today that my baby is breech, extended breech to be precise.
I'm 38 weeks today and this is all a bit of a shock as I was convinced baby's head was engaged and I had my heart set on giving birth on the lovely birth centre, lovely and relaxed with only gas and air and the pool for pain relief, followed by a couple of nights in my own private room with pretty much 1-1 care. This is what I got with my last baby so didn't think for a minute that I wouldn't be able to get the same again. I'm totally gutted but j suppose theres not much I can do other than just get on with it.

They're going to do an ECV on thurs, just wondering if it's worked for anybody? I've only heard of people trying it and it not working.

Also would I have to be absolutely insane to consider a breech delivery? Ive not seen a consultant yet so not been able to fully discuss the options

I had an ecv and it was successful!!! :) it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had read either. The part that worried me was the muscle relaxant but as it happened they did it without and it wasn't painful or particularly uncomfortable just felt strange.

Breech delivery is possible but you will have to push for an expert (was told by my midwife that they r all trained to do it) iirc it can be done providing your baby is not a large baby and the baby is bum down with feet out in front. Please make sure you father all information and consider carefully though :)

Gather not father ??? Oops

Breech delivery needs a midwife who knows what she is doing - they do exist but since most breeches go straight to cs they are increasingly rare. That said, my midwife did a home birth breech delivery (mother refused point blank to go to hospital) a few days before I had my dd. All was fine with her, although clearly there are some added risks. You're not mad to consider it - you just need to make sure you talk through it all with someone sensible.

I think if I found out this preg is breech I would attempt to deliver naturally, if I could find an experienced midwife. But it's a very personal decision.

I had a successful ECV as well and I would do so again.

I had a sucessful ECV, definitely try it, it was painful (chinese burn all over bump), but it was over within a minute. I posted at the time, firstly about being sad about possible cs and then about the ECV. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/1408145-Had-ECV-for-a-breech-today-and-thought-Id-update-you-all www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/1393510-Breech-baby-34-4-feeling-a-bit-about-it

As it happened DS was turned, and I was all set for a lovely pool birth etc, even managed to get in to the room with the pool during labour, but then had a bleed so couldn't go in, then DS was at a strange angle so needed ventose, but it was all ok - my point is that even if you get your baby turned, you may not get the birth you hope for anyway and I think it's good to prepare yourself mentally for all eventualities.

Good luck :)

I had an unsuccessful ecv but a successful vaginal breech delivery.

If you do a search you should find some threads on this. There's a good book called Breech Babies that I'd recommend

My second baby was breech and i found out at 36 weeks. Doctors did not attempt to turn the baby and i had an elective c-section. I was told that in my area there were no specialist midwives to do a vbac with a breech baby (I had an emergency c-section with my first) and that none of the hospitals in the area would allow this.
However, i did not push on this as tbh i was not convinced about the vbac either and was happy to have a c-section.
THe c-section was good, i recovered well, was out of hospital after 1 night, shopping in the supermarket a few days later, and it was all quite a relaxing experience!
I know you want a 'natural' birth but i just wanted to share that c-sections are not as awful as you might think and can actually be quite a postive experience.
Good luck!

Thanks for all the comments, I'm trying to be optimistic that baby will turn as its my 2nd baby so I've heard that there's more chance that it will.

I'm not that bothered about the thought of the actual section but it does really upset me to think that I might not get to give birth again. I just loved it so much (I'm weird I know) and as my DS isn't my DP's it's an experience that I wanted to share with him, plus I'm worried that I won't bond with baby so easily if it is cut out of me.
I know I'm probably thinking about it too much and worrying too much, but hey I'm a woman and that's what we do lol.

Well hopefully I should know after my appointment with the consultant tomorrow and hopefully baby will turn in ECV...fingers crossed!

Will keep them crossed for you!!! :)

Mine is currently breech like my first, that time I had a c section. This time the hospital consultant has offered me a breech vbac!

Unsure and nervous but going to attempt it.

grassisntgreener when r u due? Would love to hear how it goes. Will u have an epidural?
I wouldn't normally have an epidural but I'm considering trying a vaginal birth with epidural and then if baby ends up getting stuck then can always have c-section but at least I would know I'd tried to do it.
Good luck x

I'm due early Oct but more likely to have the baby mid-late September. I have no idea about epidurals...I was hoping not to but I'm going to go with the flow a bit.

Apparently offering breech vaginal births is something they've just started offering, the midwife said I was the first one she came across to have been offered it. The midwifes are trained and ready! I've seen a few videos and articles about 'hands of the breech' where the baby is not pulled or tugged but left to guide it's own way out. That's done on all fours and looks promising.

Good luck to you too!

Just thought I'd update u...had a successful ECV today :-))))
I don't think I have been so happy apart from when I gave birth to DS.
It was a weird experience but defo wasn't painful, maybe a little uncomfortable but more than anything it was just a strange sensation.
The dr said it is 40% her doing it and 60% me, basically you have to be totally relaxed or else it is impossible for her to turn baby.
So I just lay there looking at the ceiling, trying to ignore what was going on and did some deep breathing...this is where hypnobirth techniques come in handy!
So I'd defo recommend ppl try it, it's really not as bad as it was made out to be and it now means (touch wood) that I should be able to have the water birth I wanted :-)))

Fantastic!!!!!!! :o

Yeay! Great news - just the waiting for labour now!

Well done! I bet you were nervous beforehand. Mum had one 40 years ago and baby flipped right back again, plus she's been left with damaged stomach muscles (she knew this straight away so I'm sure you don't have that at all) which puts me off. I don't think they recommend I do it anyway I have a bicornate uterus.

Great news though ooh bet you're excited now!