37 Weeks with a Breech Baby and coming to terms with a possible C-Section

[Lloydy88]

Hi all,
I just wanted other people's stories if possible and also some advice -
I am currently 37 weeks pregnant with baby number 2 and she is breech! (footling)
Obviously I know she still has time to turn and I'm going to do all of my exercises up until the due date.
I have however got a c-section booked in at 40+2weeks - I know it's cutting it fine but I wanted her to have every opportunity to turn.
Has anyone got any stories on whether their baby turned and when? How did they turn?
Also, has anyone got any advice on hospital essentials for if I have the c-section? - I have most things I need - I'm totally not against c-sections at all, they do terrify me though and I don't know why. Any advice for best ways to recover, not cause infection etc...would also be great. Not after any scary stories though please! :)
Thank you!

Can’t be of much help but offering a hand hold! Currently 36 weeks with DC3 who can’t make up his mind between breech and transverse (seems to be able to get part way to turning but think he’s just too big!)

Like you I’m not against c sections but I’ve not previously had one and my last birth was text book waterbirth. Were you offered an ECV?

I’ve got some clothes/underwear packed that don’t cut in. Plenty of high energy snacks, phone charger pack I’m guessing I’ll be in bed for a bit! Thinking of packing BF pillow so I can get baby in a good position and also have something to hold onto in the event of cough/sneeze!

Xx

I had a c-section due to a breach. He was too big to turn so that wasn't an option. This was almost 27 years ago so I don't remember anything special that I took to the hospital, just the normal things you would take for any birth. You'll be sore afterward so be prepared. They gave me morphine the first night, but the next day had me get out of bed and sit in a chair for awhile and the day after that take a short walk. This was in the US so I was in a private room. The baby stayed in the nursery except for feedings, which were every 1 and 1/2 hours. My husband stayed with us the whole time, sleeping in a chair that converted to a bed at night. We were in the hospital five days, and I was still on oral pain meds for several days after getting home. One thing I do remember clearly was being given a steak dinner the night before I went home, but I had gas so bad that I couldn't eat it. When they open your abdomen air gets in and it hurts coming out.

I was directed to stay home for three weeks to avoid infection, and had a followup with my doctor at six weeks. By then I was mostly healed and free of pain.

Even after it's healed, your incision may be numb for a long time. Mine was numb for a few years. All these years later you have to really look to see the scar. It's almost invisible now.

My third baby was transverse/breech and unstable lie. She was delivered by c section at 37 weeks as she was also measuring small.
I’d had two vaginal births and was terrified but actually the recovery from c section wasn’t too bad. I got moving fairly early on and as my little one was small we had a week long stay on postnatal and I had to walk the full length of the ward to wash my pumping equipment 10 times a day! In hindsight, I think this mobility really helped my recovery. I didn’t need painkillers after day 3/4 although I could feel it if I sat still too long.
I also drank peppermint tea religiously for a few days and managed to avoid trapped wind which can be painful apparently.
Best of luck

They can turn. Dc2 was breech and turned head down at 38 weeks. I had opted for an elcs due to previous emcs and she was delivered at 38+2 weeks and weighed 10.9lbs, she was also very long.

This was me with my second - much preferred the recovery from the c section.

I had a 19 month old so had to be up and about quite quickly and was driving within 2 weeks.

Hi Lloydy88. I'm 36 weeks tomorrow. My baby is breech, diagonal with head up. I have a scan Friday. If still breech I'm definitely doing the ECV. I want to avoid a C-section if I can. I feel down about it and Google breech position all the time. I had a vaginal birth with my first and really hope to with my second and last!). Good luck if you go for an ecv. I understand waiting til 40 weeks for Csection but I will book for 39 weeks if I need one to avoid risks associated with an emergency Csection (if you go into labour before your Csection date).

My little one was breech from 32 to 37 weeks. I was booked for a ECV at 37+1 and it was very quick and successful. She's been head down since so all ahead for vaginal birth.

You can also look at the spinning babies website for exercises to try to turn the baby round!

Like you, i was terrified of the idea of a section, but after a failed and very unpleasant 4-day induction I had changed my mind! Speaking for myself my c section recovery was actually fine - I had much more of a lasting issue from the failed induction tbh. Yes it's major surgery but I was so pleasantly surprised, my pain was easily managed, scar healed well and i was up on my feet relatively quickly. I am due my second DC in two weeks now, and did not hesitate to book an elective section.

I also have a friend who had a very natural water birth with hypnobirthing for her first - but she had a breech for her second and went for a section, and she also recovered well.

Have some really, really high-waisted big black knickers, high-waisted PJs or joggers (or a nightie) and take some Rennie Deflatine in with you also. I found the pain from the trapped wind worse than the incision and they work so well (safe for breastfeeding). I’ve only had a c section but it was a good experience and I’ll be choosing another in future.

I was terrified of having a C-section but ended up having a (cat 2) EMCS. It was absolutely fine. I think it helped that they knew I was scared about it so were as reassuring as possible, so do tell them you're worried/scared about it. I also (and I know this may not be your experience) didn't find the recovery as bad as I'd expected. By the time I came home from hospital 3 days later I was in minimal pain. The worst side effect was the constipation, which also lasted the longest (8 weeks afterwards I still dreaded those visits to the loo!) but even that is fine now, at 11 weeks.

So if you do have to have a C-section, it may not be as bad as you fear.

I've had two and they were wonderful :-)
You'll get to have your baby with zero pain, without being exhausted, and if you're lucky recovery will be really easy. I know I recovered from my sections far faster than most of my friends and their vaginal births. I was basically back to normal within about a week. The first 48hrs were sore getting up and down, but after that it was basically painless for me. I wouldn't want to give birth any other way.

Having tried both ways of giving birth I have to say I found a planned section far less traumatic and easier to bond with baby.
Took in pretty much the same stuff aside from no tens machine. Lots of various drinks as hospital hot, a whole cake that I used when I was suddenly starving at inconvenient moments staying in overnight. I took a book etc but didn't read it. Just slept and fed the baby. For me the hardest part was the after effects of a catheter. But you could end up with one however you give birth.
A comfy place set up at home with a place to change the baby at the right height, without bending, is important too and lots of help of course in the first couple of weeks. Plus never missing a pain killer time slot!

Oh, I will say, the only thing that I wasn't prepared for was the baby being very mucusy in the first couple of weeks due to c section. It was upsetting hearing her struggle so much though it did pass.

My second baby was also footling breech and never turned head down, despite 2 ecvs. My waters broke at 38+6 and went on to have the c section. He was a very easy going baby, very calm and slept like a dream form birth unlike my first baby. Everyone was saying it was because he was a csection baby. Dont know if thats true. Make sure you pack some extra large granny pants to go over your wound. Also, you will lose feeling around your scar, but if you massage it (once it's healed) the feeling will come back.

As this is your second baby have you considered vaginal breach?

I would not consider vaginal breach! If you'd had three very easy normal vaginal births, really trusted the midwife etc. But the NHS never book you in for a section unless there's a very good chance you need one.

Having said that, there's a good chance the baby will turn. My second son was breech at 37 weeks and I was told (by an eminent consultant at a London hospital) that the possible caesarean now had to be a definite. He turned on the way out of the hospital. (In fact he was turning a lot at that point. Is that the same for you? I think they do eventually assume a position, but not necessarily as early as books say.) I still had a c - section because I was overdue (again) and he was very large and they didn't want to go past dates for a vaginal birth with a big baby. But keep moving around and try not to worry. The birth will happen very soon either way and will soon be in the past.

i would not consider vaginal breach! If you'd had three very easy normal vaginal births, really trusted the midwife etc. But the NHS never book you in for a section unless there's a very good chance you need one

why 3? have you read research that shows a vaginal breech birth isn’t safe until you’ve had 3 normal deliveries? Or just pulled it out of thin air? Not sure how to reply to your last statement!

High waisted cotton underwear from m&s;
Lots of dried fruit to counteract morphine/drug constipation;
Snacks!

Be aware you’ll prob go home the next day and you’ll be up and walking the same day- it can come as a shock otherwise.

Get all your stuff positioned ready for overnight so you don’t have to reach or bend much- nappies, cream, wipes, sanitary pads, water and snacks. Bring lots of snacks.

I’ve had 3. Nerve wracking but a wonderful experience when the baby is born!

OP my DC1 was breech and turned at 39 weeks, I only found out when they scanned me on the day of the planned section.

DC2 was also breech until 38 weeks so I'm starting to think my babies just like being in that position in me .

I ended up having EMCS for first and semi elective for the second (failed induction) and recovered well after both. I'd say second time round was probably quicker than the first, only issues I really had was the scar getting infected both times but antibiotics solved that. Just try to get as much air to it as possible and make sure you dry it after washing would be my tips!

Like a PP said I recovered quicker than some friends with a vaginal birth so it's really notthing to fear!

My first pregnancy I was booked in for c section because of mental health concerns plus baby was breach but I knew even if he turned I was still getting a section witch was fine by me was due section on wed and on the Saturday I got rushed in with such bad pains turned out baby was turning (it’s quite a strange feeling) I was 38 and half weeks pregnant so there’s still a chance , ps I had a great section baby came healthy and happy I know it might not be what you want but it will still be beautiful x

This was me two weeks ago (I'm 39 weeks now!)
She was breech and I was booked in for a ECV at 37+5.
I went to acupuncture and she did moxibustion and my partner contributed it twice a day and it was crazy! Every time we did it the baby moved loads! Then when I went in for my ECV she had turned!
You can buy the moxa sticks online and watch videos on how to do it of you don't want to go to an acupuncturists. Some NHS trusts give them out too so it's all 'approved.'

I would also say (just because this is not how some hospitals make it out to be!) that you don't have to have a c section just because baby is breech. My hospital were really supportive (happy even) that I wanted to go ahead with a vaginal delivery anyway. Obviously there will be circumstances where you can't or where it goes wrong and you end up with an EMCS but I did LOADS of research and the rest of the world seem to deliver breech as just a variation of normal and don't automatically suggest C-section. I had decided I would rather go into labor and be prepared for a last minute C-section than have an elective bit that was obviously a personal choice 😊 😊 xxxxx

Please excuse the typos xx