C Section for Breech Baby

[Lynne425]

Hi All

I've just been given my date for my elective c section due to baby being breech and looking for advice!!

I personally didn't want a section but the doctors don't think there is a chance of baby turning (I'm 37+6)

Is there anything I should do before hand to prepare or any advice for post operation care?!

From a worried FTM xx

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen because you won’t want to run out of them when you get home.
Get lots of maternity pads.
I found an ice pack over my section scar helped.

Congratulations on your impending new arrival

Get big high waisted knickers too so they come up right over your scar. I got them two sizes above.

Yes to the massive apple catcher knickers!!

Accept all offers of help from friends & family. Don't be afraid to buzz the midwives on the ward. When you get home order the shopping online.

Try and rest as much as you can before the operation. Sleep sleep sleep and don't do too much.

If you don’t want a section it is perfectly acceptable to request a discussion with your consultant about a vaginal breech birth.
There is plenty of evidence to support the safety of breech birth and in fact the pivotal evidence that steered towards c section has been found to be flawed.
The only issue is because c-section for breech has mainly become the norm in uk hospitals, so most obstetricians have limited experience.
All midwives are trained to deal with unexpected breech delivery, although as a midwife I have only attended one.

3 weeks post EMCS for I diagnosed breech after 32 hours in early labour (contractions got to 2/3mins apart then dropped back off - was meant to be a home water birth and only ended up in the hospital because he pooped in me). I personally wouldn't recommend a natural birth, even in early labour it felt like someone was shoving a pole up my hoohar and I was utterly convinced that although my contractions were irregular, I was going to be one of those people who never got regular contractions and at any point I would have the urge to push and would end up giving birth without medical assistance. I don't think there was ever a chance of him coming out naturally. Saying that, that is my personal experience and I know a vaginal birth for a breech is entirely possible (research birth Vs extraction for Breech as one involves intervention and has poorer outcomes whereas the other involves you labouring naturally and the term "hands off the breech"). I personally am furious that I was at risk away from medical intervention should something have gone wrong and any future births will now me ELCS.

May I offer some hope for Csection though. Baby born 3pm Saturday. Hope by 6pm Sunday. Our and about down the shops by Tuesday. I think I recovered better than I would have had he actually come out naturally (I dread to think the damage he would have caused en route). I found moving about really helped, apparently trapped wind is an awful thing and the ward MW said she had seen people attend A&E thinking they were having a heart attach after a C-section but I avoided this and I honestly think it was due to how quickly I moved. I also felt it necessary to get out and the baby blues are very real and if you're sat in all day incapacitated and not used to it, they'll hit you like a ton of bricks. Big nickers are a must though! Oh and heads up about the injections they give you when you're discharged. 10 days of tears they caused, at one point I hid upstairs because I didn't want it, it really is the straw that broke the camel's back by day 4 when you're aching, and your boobs are aching. On a positive note though, the spinal was a breeze! You'll be fine x

Undiagnosed*

This thread might be useful:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/3474602-packing-for-c-section