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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Breech confusion form midwives

33 replies

Sneezy86 · 14/12/2013 12:47

Hoping someone can put my mind at ease more than anything I guess.

Basically- midwives are all convinced baby is head down until they see it on USS and then they look baffled.

Timeline of events:
Saw doc- said breech

2 days later saw midwife- said head down (I questioned her but she was sure)

week later- 32 week scan- breech (made me assume midwife got it wrong)
week and a half later saw consultant- said head down. I questioned this as was breech a week before and she said she was sure but looked and a scan room was free so scanned me- breech!! She was baffled and said if she hadn't seen it she wouldn't have believed it.

2 days later saw different midwife- said head down. I told her the story about being breech 2 days earlier and baffling the consultant and she said she was convinced but as I have a 36 week scan booked it didn't matter. (She was lovely about it).

I have a scan booked for 36 weeks to check but the way I see it there are 4 possible outcomes, 2 of which I don't like!

1- baby ends up right way and all is fine
2- baby gets seen breech at 36 they give me c-section (although not ideal this is fine)
3- baby has always been breech and will stay that way and will show at 36 week scan but midwife at next appointment will think head down and I will go into labour breech :( can this even happen or if she is breech at 36 will they definitely scan again?
4- baby turns a lot and at 36 week scan is head down but then goes breech again and no one knows as they can't seem to tell and I go into labour :(

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Original poster

Sneezy86 · 14/12/2013 12:48

And obviously the title should say from not form! sorry

OP posts:

shelley72 · 14/12/2013 12:56

You have forgotten the option of baby is breech and they offer you an ECV. I've had three breech babies (one turned at 38 weeks, two didn't). my last baby, I knew she was breech despite the midwife being convinced she was head down. A scan is they only way to be definite, and if you are booked for a section they will 're scan before they start to double check.

Clobbered · 14/12/2013 13:06

So it seems that the baby IS most likely breech, as all the scans so far have shown breech. There's still plenty of time for baby to turn, even if breech all along so far, and you do get scanned again before a section just to double check, so don't despair!
My last one was breech all the way and I had a section booked. Thought I was going into labour about 10 days before due, but actually it was baby turning...

HarderToKidnap · 14/12/2013 13:08

Don't worry too much. Breech at 36 weeks is a game changer and it will then go consultant led. You'll be offered Ecv, and a CS if that isn't successful and a scan a week later if it is to check baby's position. I suspect they will do a very quick scan when you go into labour too, if Ecv is successful. If baby turns t to be head down at 36 weeks then it is very very unlikely to change after that.

In the meantime you could try moxibustion, as successful as Ecv in clinical trials, if you're keen for baby to turn!

Original poster

Sneezy86 · 14/12/2013 13:13

Thanks for the replies. Forgot to say I have researched ECV and I'm not happy to let that happen.
Sounds like they'll keep an eye on me with scans so I'll just have to see how things are in 2 weeks at the next scan. I just don't want to go into labour breech and them not realise!

OP posts:

Ubik1 · 14/12/2013 13:16

I had a CS with DD3 - no scan before

Surgeon was like..."oh it's a foot..

VivaLeBeaver · 14/12/2013 13:17

When you go into labour you could explain all the confusion on palpataions and ask them to do a quick presentation scan to confirm. The labour ward should have a small, portable scanner for scanning women when its not sure if baby is breech or not. Takes a minute to do.

BearPear · 14/12/2013 13:18

Is it normal to do a C section for every breech these days? I had both mine "normally", one classic bum first (8lb 1oz) and one feet first. Admittedly this was 20 years ago! I had an X-ray to check the size of my pelvis, and both were delivered by the consultant. Both fine!

HarderToKidnap · 14/12/2013 13:18

I'm not saying breeches don't get missed because of course they do. But if jyou have a scan at 36 weeks and baby is breech, then it's a known breech and will be treated as such, and you will not go into labour with them thinking its head down! In fact if you're declining Ecv then they will prob book your section for you on huge day they do the scan.

MiracleOntheM4 · 14/12/2013 13:19

My baby turned between the 36 and 37 week scans so don't lose hope!

Incidentally if also decided against ECV following some useful advice on here as well as my own research.

HarderToKidnap · 14/12/2013 13:19

Our unit are actually trying to increase our vaginal breech rate for Multips. For primips though, it's generally a section.

Hermionewastherealhero · 14/12/2013 13:24

My midwife couldn't tell if baby was breech so I had a scan at 36 weeks, he was so booked for a section. I went into labour 2 weeks early so rang the labour ward who said come straight down.
When that midwife checked if my waters had gone she could feel his little bottom so surgeon scanned me to confirm still breech (I knew he was) and then I had a section within half an hour, so please don't worry. It was all fine.

Rhianna1980 · 14/12/2013 13:30

Stop winding yourself up.
Get the scan done and take it from there.

whereisshe · 14/12/2013 13:42

Have you tried belly mapping? I used it to figure out where my baby was around that time in my pregnancy (she spent a bit of time transverse / oblique and I was paranoid about her going breech). Another giveaway - hiccups. They definitely come out the head end, so if you're feeling them up near your ribcage that's where your baby's head is, vice versa if you feel them in your pelvis/hip area.

Also, if your baby is spending a lot of time posterior (back to back) it's harder to tell breech from cephalic (backs of heads are hard, faces are not) - perhaps you could try some optimal fetal positioning to see if you can get baby's spine facing out - it's a lot easier to tell then what's where.

But as the others said, lots of time yet for your baby to turn. I agree with you on ECV, although my independent midwife did point out that the experience of the person doing it is key - the world expert on ECV is apparently based near Oxford somewhere, she said that's where she would go if her baby was breech.

amandine07 · 14/12/2013 17:40

This thread sounds like my situation- I was told at 32 weeks by midwife that baby is breech, "no worries, they will turn"...a few weeks later 2 midwives disagreed, one said breech other said head down.

Doctor then examined and said head up- again nobody seemed that bothered.
Am now 36 weeks, still breech, midwife said "most babies turn ", has booked presentation scan for 38 weeks but due to Christmas/New year etc it won't be til about a week before due date.

Not been scanned since anomaly one at 22 weeks- you lot seem to be having lots of scans (I'm classed as low-risk by the way).

Should I be asking for a consultant appointment...?
Really not keen to go into labour then find out baby is still breech- would want a CS, absolutely do not want attempt at VB with breech.

Plus midwife mentioned ECV but I wouldn't want that- friends have had it and it seems v uncomfortable, plus their babies flipped back within a day or so!

Should I be more pushy at this point?

HarderToKidnap · 14/12/2013 21:12

Amandine, I wouldn't worry about being pushy... It's not nice being in limbo, but they won't do a section for breech until you are about 39 weeks anyway, and as you have said you would decline Ecv. So if they find baby is breech at 38 weeks then they will book you for a section at 39, if you were to go into labour before then then they would do an emergency section if breech. Basically getting scanned earlier wouldn't change anything so I wouldn't sweat to do it.

breatheslowly · 14/12/2013 21:19

I've not been in this situation, but wouldn't you feel a baby turn after 36 weeks - there isn't a huge amount of room to turn by then.

Shellywelly1973 · 15/12/2013 21:49

My baby is breech & has been since 26 weeks.

I feel abit silly as I just presumed she would turn. The last post made me worry as I've had 2 babies at 37 weeks & 2 at 38 weeks. I am planning on a home birth or cs nothing in between!

Kasterborous · 15/12/2013 22:52

My DD was breech at my 36 week scan. I refused ECV and they booked me a date for a planned c-section. One day before my due date. They scanned me before they did the section to make sure she was still breech -she was- then did the section. They had told me if I went into labour before my section to come to the hospital immediately. My midwife thought she was head down at one point when she wasn't. I suppose it's hard to tell a bum from a head through your belly.

Original poster

Sneezy86 · 30/12/2013 21:40

Just in case anyone wanted an update- Saw midwife Monday (usual midwife not the one I saw last time). She was convinced baby was head down but said given she keeps appearing breech on scans she could be wrong. Had scan today and surprise surprise, still breech. Have to have another scan Friday when I hit 37 weeks as they are not allowed to make arrangements until I reach 37 apparently.

OP posts:

CrispyFB · 31/12/2013 20:47

DS was genuinely head down (everyone agreed, including a scan at 32 weeks plus multiple doctors/midwives) then at 38 weeks my entire bump shape changed and there was quite a lot of movement. I had to have an ELCS anyway, but everyone was expecting him to be head down.. he wasn't! So they can flip at any point!

Shellywelly1973 · 02/01/2014 22:12

Let us know how you get on tomorrow op!

Best if luck.

Original poster

Sneezy86 · 03/01/2014 16:33

Thanks Shelly :)
Still breech so booked c-section for 17th- can't believe that's 2 weeks today! eek!!!

OP posts:

SpanielFace · 03/01/2014 16:36

Better to know. I discovered DS was footling breech at 5 cm dilated with a foot in my cervix. Had an emergency CS. I wish my MW had sent me for a scan but she had been certain he was head down. I understand human error occurs, but it was a hell of a shock at the time.

Shellywelly1973 · 03/01/2014 22:54

Best of luck Sneezy!

Bloody helll SpanielFace that must have been very scary!!

I have an appointment on Monday. I'm 37 weeks on Tuesday. I'm seriously consider ECV. I still think she could turn...

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