Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

What happens when you have a planned vaginal breech delivery?

36 replies

NCKitten · 20/02/2019 21:50

Just out of curiosity - has anyone known their baby was breech and still had a vaginal delivery? It wasn't (presented as) an option for me, as the baby was my first, big with a biiiig head, and footling breech. I have heard of undiagnosed breech babies being delivered vaginally, but I am curious if anyone consciously decided to have a vaginal delivery with a breech baby. What was labour like? Was it very medicalised? Did you feel the medical staff knew what they were doing/ were experienced?

OP posts:
colourrunruinedmyhair · 20/02/2019 21:59

I had an undiagnosed breech baby at one of the leading centres in the UK for maternity and neonatal services. They are a huge experienced hospital and they take ‘uncomplicated’local women (me) as well as women from all over the UK and Europe with very complex needs, as they are so specialist.

I’ll be honest it was utter panic when my breech baby was discovered. I had so many people in the room and it was chaos everyone seemed twitched by the situation. My baby was delivered and then has quite extensive bruising due to delivery which meant he got jaundice and had to go on NICU.
We ended up with a longer stay in hospital due to his jaundice instead of home the same day as I had hoped.

The midwives and doctors explained afterwards that breech babies tend to be ELCS and because of this people just don’t have the experience anymore to be confident in delivering breech babies.

Had I known ds was breech I would have had ELCS as to be honest it was awful being so frightened during the delivery and really frightened me when it came time to have dc2. Sorry if that’s not what you want to hear I’m just trying to be honest.

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:09

I'm sorry to hear you had such a frightening experience, that must have been horrible! Our baby also spent quite a bit of time in hospital (unrelated to the delivery), it is the pits, I never want to feel like that again.

I had an elcs due to the baby being breech. I know it was the right decision, but I am struggling with the fact that I did not experience labour (apologies if that sounds crazy to women who had difficult or traumatic vaginal deliveries). It occurred to me today that if my next is breech too I might never experience it, which led me to ponder vaginal delivery of a breech baby.

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 20/02/2019 22:16

I was an (unplanned) breech delivery. My DM said I came out bum first with my feet wedged in my armpits! 😳

Tolleshunt · 20/02/2019 22:19

Why did you want to experience labour, OP?

Not being snarky, just curious as to what I'm particular you are worried about missing

ThunderStorms · 20/02/2019 22:24

Definitely not. It wasn’t offered to me, but they explained the difference - maybe biased, but it convinced me. Caesarean is not risk free, but better than breech.

The baby 'breathes' through the cord until it is cut. When the baby comes headfirst, the chord remains free and un-squashed, even though the head is tight. After the head, the body comes out easily.

The head is designed to come first, and the skull squashes this way to come through.

When the head domes last, it can’t squash down properly and can get stuck much more easily - bottom of chin/ ears etc.

When the head comes first, the chord goes from the baby's stomach, past the head and into the placenta - the chord gets crushed by the head (which is more likely to get stuck). Oxygen can be cut off.

I am a layman and this was explained years and years ago, but for me, I never even considered it.

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:25

I've just started a thread about it actually. I want to know what it feels like, it's the most womanly thing you can do I feel, and everyone talks about the pain and sensations you get. I just want to experience it, to know what it's like, how I would have coped etc. Even in extremely old age most women can recall their labours, it's such a big thing! I readily admit I have issues wrt my caesarean, which I am working on.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:27

QueenMabby that sounds uncomfortableSmile waves to fellow R and J fan

OP posts:
ThunderStorms · 20/02/2019 22:29

I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to experience birth at all. Don’t make people feel guilty for wanting this. Birth is not always a bad experience and is considered better for the baby. Doesn’t mean it will always matter, but it’s a fair enough thing to want to experience.

HJWT · 20/02/2019 22:34

@NCKitten I told my DH to kill me when I had DD but id chose natural labour over a section any day!! I think you want to give your self a pat on the back sweet!! It takes a very brave mother to give permission to be cut open for the sake of her baby! I know id have to be put to sleep xx

Tolleshunt · 20/02/2019 22:34

Sounds like you might feel you have missed out on a rite of passage, OP?

Mookatron · 20/02/2019 22:37

I didn't especially enjoy labour but I can understand why it might feel like you had missed out on something. Don't be misled, though. Many people's recount of Labour is, although truthful, a version that they've processed down into a little 'tellable' package and doesn't include the fear, pain, and often boredom involved. One thing I will say is that having professionals who knew what they were doing made a huge difference. My dd1 was breech position and turned a few days before a planned c section. I had the info about how delivering breech babies is disappearing from midwives and Dr's experience. I would NOT have wanted to feel that the people in the room were not absolutely confident about what they were doing.

SprogletsMum · 20/02/2019 22:37

My dc3 was an undiagnosed breech.
She was my fastest overall labour. I went from no signs of labour to holding her in 3 hours, she was 2lb heavier than my other 3 DC as well.
I had about 3000 people in the room and they had forceps there and ready to use. The dr really hurt my urethra trying to shove a catheter in whilst I was pushing her out. It wasn't pleasant at all and now when I get a cold with a cough, I get a bit of a prolapse.
If I'd have had a choice, she would have been a c section.

jackstini · 20/02/2019 22:38

My mum
I came out bum first, legs round my neck and she found out I was breech just beforehand
She had a wonderful midwife that just told her to take it steady and see how things went
They calmly went fine Smile

robinsinthespring · 20/02/2019 22:38

Nearly 40 years ago my first baby was breech. I had had a hospital appt with my consultant in the morning (I was 37 1/2 weeks at that point) he told me the baby was in a breech presentation and that he would turn it the next week. Well my waters broke that same afternoon so no time to turn the baby. Had to have an x ray of my pelvis to see if I had room to deliver baby vaginally. [I can remember having to stand with a ruler clamped between my knees with water oozing down my legs]!!
Labour progressed normally, I was prepped for a c section, just in case.

The delivery room was full of Doctors and midwives. I was quite young and totally unaware of the potential risks of a vaginal breech delivery, no-one said anything.
Baby was delivered by consultant with forceps, all OK!

Knowing what I know now about the risks, I would advise any one to have an elcs.

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:41

ThunderStorms I wouldn't have done it even if it was presented as an option. I know it would likely have ended badly for my baby, as his head is really big.

OP posts:
QueenMabby · 20/02/2019 22:46

NCKitten my dm went on to have another child (my sibling) so can’t have been too traumatised by the experience! I was fine but she had a retainer placenta so had to go into theatre anyway!

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:49

Thank you for sharing your experiences and being so sympathetic! Yes, I do feel I missed out! And part of me keeps trying to tell me I failedSad ridiculous, I know... So no one so far chose to go ahead knowing their baby was breech. robins I had a big consultant try to turn DS - shitting hell, that was unpleasant! It felt like they were trying to rearrange my insides, which is, in a way, exactly what they were trying to do! I was left with bruises on my bump and a baby that wouldn't go further than "2 o'clock"ConfusedGrin

OP posts:
Tolleshunt · 20/02/2019 22:54

It's ok to acknowledge the sadness and disappointment, OP, but one thing you are NOT is a failure.

One of our biggest and most fundamental tasks as mothers is to put the needs of our children above our own. You did this right from the start, by opting for the mode of birth that was safest for your DS, rather than the birth you would have preferred for yourself. So very far from being a failure indeed.

Next time (and every time) that little voice pipes up in your head telling you you're a failure, maybe you could counter it with this fact, if it feels right to do so. If you carry on doing that, over time the feeling of failure should recede.

cudbywestrangers · 20/02/2019 22:55

I also had an undiagnosed breech. I was given the option of delivering vaginally (and was ready to push by the time I had a spinal!) But opted for emcs as I had some recollection of increased risks with breech. They seemed quite keen to let me have a vb though and there is a paper about vb vs elcs for breech that they quoted me but as I was in the fog of labour I can't remember the details! If it's any comfort, my 2nd was the right way round so I did have a vbac with him

burblife · 20/02/2019 22:57

I'm in a similar position OP.

I was actually vaginal breech baby myself. DM was all prepped for surgery but started vomiting from anaesthetic and I shot out, legs round my head apparently! I was only a small baby though so that helped.

My second baby is due in a couple of months and I'm deciding whether to opt for elcs or try for vbac. First baby was discovered breech in delivery room. As labour hadn't progressed well, all advice was to opt for elcs so I did. I do feel similar to you though in that I may end up having two babies without experiencing 'real' labour. I keep telling myself a calm, organised birth is safer!

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 22:59

Thank you Tolles!!! That is so sweet! I think I hadn't seen it that way, because when we made the decision, it felt like it was my fear of losing the baby and how horrendous I would feel that was decisive. It didn't feel like I was advocating for my baby at the time, although the outcome would have been exactly the same. As soon as he was here I did feel like I'd do anything in the world for him (including being present for some horrible medical procedures as I felt he couldn't go through them alone). I'm getting very emotional now, time for bed.

OP posts:
Stuckforthefourthtime · 20/02/2019 22:59

I had planned a vaginal breech delivery, but at the last minute the little monket turned transverse and it was a section instead
We'd planned to go with a doctor who does a lot of breech, otherwise would never have considered it - also it would have been my third natural delivery Vs first, so very different from a first.
After that I had a vbac for dc4, a vbac could be well be in your future too, if you want it!
I met a number of women at the breech clinic, one had a very positive previous breech birth experience that was comforting, but they only take 'perfect" cases with no other risks, and are much quicker to move to section, so many like you and I don't have the option.

For what it's worth, just because you haven't experienced labour doesn't mean you haven't fully experienced child birth with a section. Personally I preferred natural labour, because for me the pain of labour is bad but brief while the pain of a badly healing section scar was not good and went on for ages. But in the end, the best bit of the birth is seeing the baby emerge, and you've got that Smile

Original poster
NCKitten · 20/02/2019 23:00

Actually, I tell a lie. I do remember saying I couldn't justify the baby being injured because I had wanted a vaginal delivery.

OP posts:
kiabella · 20/02/2019 23:09

I had an elective section with my first baby due to her being breech and felt just as you described above OP. It really affected me for quite a long time after. I had my second baby 9 months ago and had a successful natural birth. I was very lucky that it went so smoothly for me and I feel as though it healed a lot of the feelings I had about my first birth. I know it can be really hard not to overthink the what ifs but there's no reason why a second birth would be the same for you and hopefully it will be something you can experience one day!

OwlDoll · 20/02/2019 23:10

I had a breech birth with DD In 2016. The consultant tried to turn her a week before her due date but she stayed put. The birth itself was quite straightforward , but when I was ready to push I had to kneel on the bed hanging over the headboard. This was to give DD room to hang when her body came out as they don't want to touch the baby before the head comes out as its best to let gravity help.
Labour wasn't any more difficult than previous labours but the actual pushing stage took longer. With a normal delivery, once the head is out the really hard work is over but with a breech I had to push her bottom out first then one leg, then the other, then the first arm then the other and finally the head.

Swipe left for the next trending thread