C section for breech baby

[strawberryplum993]

Hi all,

This is my first baby. We found out at the 36 week scan this week that baby is breech, I was offered an ECV but declined for various reasons. The consultants have therefore recommended an elective c section at 39 weeks. They did however say they would scan me again on the day of the section to see if baby has moved to head down.

The consultant said if baby has re positioned to head down they would either a) send me home and wait for labour to start naturally or b)
Induce me so that baby will come quicker and have less chance of turning again. The consultant said the options would depend on who was on shift at the time and their preferences as some doctors believe baby won’t turn again and would rather send you home. I asked if it was possible to continue with the c section even if baby had turned head down but was told that there wouldn’t really be a medical need and the ‘risks would be on me’. It basically sounded as though they wouldn’t want to do the section.

Has anyone had experience of having their baby turn when scanned just before their c section? What was the outcome?

I’m a very anxious person and I struggle with the idea of mentally preparing myself for the c section, only to be told the baby has turned and either going home (which would worry me
in case she turned again and I ended up with a vaginal breech birth) or being induced (which I’d like to avoid if possible).

Any stories or advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

My baby was footling breach and didn't turn. I had a c section book for 39+1 which was the soonest date they would book.

I went in to labour on 37+2 and he hadn't turned. My labour was very quick, went from a show with no contractions and 2cm dilated to 8cm and contractions every 1 minute in the space of 45 mins. The midwives tried very hard to convince me to have DS naturally, whilst I was in labour with no pain relief and incredibly vulnerable. They asked me to justify myself and list all the reasons why I wanted the c section, expecting me to speak in between contractions. My hip was also dislocated at the time and I was honestly scared for the safety of both of us.

They do not want you to have the c section. Period.

If it's what you want, and you have decided, prepared for it and understand the risks, then it is your right to insist. Stick to your plan and make sure your birth partner understands as well so they can advocate for you if you go in to labour spontaneously like I did.

@whatnow41 thanks for sharing!

I really do struggle with the idea of it all changing there and then and them forcing me into a specific route. I didn’t really like the way the consultant said it was all dependent on who was on shift and what their views were, as IMO it should be up to the mother (providing there are no medical concerns)

AFAIK it is your decision.
If your trust or doctor will not accept your choice, switch doctor or switch trust

The elective section is for breech presentation so if baby is no longer breech then you no longer need the section. Where I work they wouldn’t send you home if baby had turned- it would be immediate induction of labour or admit you for unstable lie and observe if you didn’t want to be induced.
Decisions are always down to the consultant on call that day, and I completely get that it’s frustrating that they sometimes go by their own experiences rather than the evidence.

@FelicityBob thanks! I wouldn’t mind being admitted and observed as that would make me feel more confident that they could catch if baby turned again. They didn’t mention that as an option so that’s good to know, thank you.

@schoolfinder007 I was also under the impression that everything was your choice, unless there is an immediate medical need but I didn’t get that impression today

You can choose to decline intervention, but you cannot easily opt for intervention if it’s not in your best interest

You can choose to decline intervention, but you cannot easily opt for intervention if it’s not in your best interest

Hmm. Why is an elective c section not in the best interests of both mother and baby, when all the evidence shows that it is equally safe as vaginal birth? Seems like there's a lot of old fashioned thinking and prejudice (not to mention paternalism) in the maternity care sector. It just ends up leading to fear, stress and mental health problems. Women should be informed of the risks and allowed to make their choice. Just like in any other area of medicine. Why is this not done? Because actually the risks are pretty much equal so a lot more women would choose c section, which for some reason they don't want.

I understand what you mean about mentally preparing yourself for a c section and not wanting to change at the last minute, I'm the same. I've had 2 c sections for breech babies and I was terrified they would turn at the last minute (neither did). I think your best bet is to make it clear now that you are opting for an elective c section and going through that process to make it official. Rather then arguing it at the time when they could be in a position to delay until you lose your ability to chose.

My baby was footling breech and I was booked for an ELCS at 39 weeks. Gowned up, just before going to theatre, they scanned me and he had turned. I still insisted on the CS due to having no childcare available for a long induction process (my first was 4 days long!) I had to stand my ground, but I got it and it was recorded as 'maternal request' on my notes. Hold firm, and have the birth you want (subject to usual NHS restrictions).

I watched this exact thing on a one born every minute clip on YouTube the other day! She went in for the scan and was all ready to go for the section and meet her baby and was told to go back home because baby had turned 😐 I couldn’t believe they had just sent her home like that. The woman ended up back in a few days later and went into labour but ended up needing a section anyway! If you want to opt for a section for your own reasons (regardless of baby’s position) you can do, due to the NICE guidelines. If you explain to them the heightened level of anxiety it’s causing you not knowing what is going to happen and would rather just know what’s happening in advance then make a maternal request for a c-section. That’s what I’ve done and it has been approved. They did try to scare me with all the risks but many of which are presented to you in a very one-sided manner when they give you none of the benefits of a section and none of the risks of a natural birth. I have a low placenta which can change right up to the last week or so, if it doesn’t they’d have to do a section and it’s still low now in the third trimester so I think it will be anyway but I’ve had a lifelong fear of birth so I needed it set in stone that I was having a section regardless. I feel way better now I know it’s actually happening and I don’t need to worry about last minute changes. Have a look at birth rights too if you’re going to speak to them about it, there’s a section on maternal request c-sections x

@FelicityBob

You can choose to decline intervention, but you cannot easily opt for intervention if it’s not in your best interest

Due to the NICE guidelines you can opt for intervention (in this case a c-section) if that’s how you choose to give birth. It’s maybe not ‘easy’ to do in some hospitals but there should be a clear protocol in place for when someone makes a maternal request for a c-section. Mentally, it may be in the mother’s best interests and often is physically too when the alternative can be further intervention during labour or even an emergency c-section. Everyone has the right to choose how they give birth in this country, even if some trusts make it more difficult than others! Birth rights has rated every trust in the UK red amber or green based on how well they follow the NICE guidelines and how straightforward their protocol is

@whatnow41

My baby was footling breach and didn't turn. I had a c section book for 39+1 which was the soonest date they would book.

I went in to labour on 37+2 and he hadn't turned. My labour was very quick, went from a show with no contractions and 2cm dilated to 8cm and contractions every 1 minute in the space of 45 mins. The midwives tried very hard to convince me to have DS naturally, whilst I was in labour with no pain relief and incredibly vulnerable. They asked me to justify myself and list all the reasons why I wanted the c section, expecting me to speak in between contractions. My hip was also dislocated at the time and I was honestly scared for the safety of both of us.

They do not want you to have the c section. Period.

If it's what you want, and you have decided, prepared for it and understand the risks, then it is your right to insist. Stick to your plan and make sure your birth partner understands as well so they can advocate for you if you go in to labour spontaneously like I did.

Are you in the U.K.?

@SnackSizeRaisin so true and these risks should be presented in a way so that women are able to weigh up both options and not just told as I was ‘you can have a nice easy birth’ or .. and then a big long list of all these awful things that were going to happen to me if I had a section instead. One of which being death, another being the risk of having to return to theatre for further surgery (I know sooo many people who have had to return to theatre after birth and not one of them was a section), blood loss (again, many friends have experienced this with a vaginal birth and one even needed a blood transfusion) and the recovery time was mentioned but no mention of people like my best friend who couldn’t walk for 2 months after her vaginal birth 🙃 The unfairness of how they present the risks is obviously their only hope of putting some people off but it certainly didn’t work with me 😂

You can still opt for a caesarean. This exact same thing happened to me with my second born, my elective caesarean was booked but I went into labour early and was 8cm by the time I got to hospital, they did push for me to attempt a natural delivery but I was a blubbering mess and was absolutely certain I wanted a caesarean and was wheeled to theatre. Also despite it being an emergency caesarean it was a very pleasant experience- so much so that when I had my 3rd last year I booked for another elective (never happened right, but thats another story) good luck!

If you do want a c section, they shouldn't refuse you. You could potentially decline the scan beforehand so you/they wouldn't know if the baby had turned.

I had a similar question mark over whether I needed a c section or not due to other medical conditions and it was such a relief when the consultants confirmed for certain that it would be a c section so I could prepare accordingly. (I loved my c section - was the best park of the whole pregnancy!)

I hope you are able to give birth the way you want to :-)

My first DD was breech, she didn’t turn from around 27 weeks onwards and was still breech when I went into labour naturally at 38+2 (was given a c section then). I think by 36 weeks baby is unlikely to turn and I think you would probably know about it if they did and be able to prepare yourself for a change of plan! Good luck OP!

Thank you so much everyone! This has made me feel a lot better about standing my ground too if I do want to continue with the c section even if baby has turned.

I know that with birth things can be unpredictable in general but I do feel that in this instance where I am being told to have a c section as baby is breech and I am mentally preparing for that, I really don’t want to be turned away.

I was told by my consultant that there was only a 3% chance baby would turn by herself at this point but I have also read many stories of people saying their babies did turn / also that it is rare for babies to still be breech right at the end. I think it’s hard when you read up and a lot of it is contradictory.

I just ultimately want to go for a birth that is going to be safe for baby and myself but also one I feel comfortable with and can prepare myself for.

Really appreciate everyone weighing in on this!

@Glitterheart thanks! A lot of people said you’d probably be able to feel if they do end up turning at this point too. When you went into labour naturally, did they try to scan to check if baby was still breech or can they examine you? Sorry if that’s a stupid question, this is my first time!

I had a c section for a breech baby for my first and I don't think that after around 37 weeks a baby can turn very easily. Obviously it still happens, but it's the exception not the rule. With giving birth even if your baby turns and you go into labour naturally a whole range of things can happen during birth and you might need an emergency c section anyway so I would prepare yourself for that too.

In your case the most likely thing is that you'll have an elective section at 39 weeks. Good luck!

My footling breech turned at 38 weeks. It was really obvious she had turned. I could see it happening and it was really amazing to witness. Everyone told me the next day that my bump looked totally different - it had been very high and was now low. I was still scanned and they basically said “the heads down” and to come back when I was in labour. I was only told a c-section would be booked if she had not turned and also if they attempted to manually turn her and I went into labour following that. She did not turn back and I gave birth naturally.

Apparently rocking side to side on hand and knees and walking up stairs sideways helps to turn a baby - I did not that but she might have turned anyway. Good luck OP!

Actually it was 37 weeks when she turned.

@brushlaptop @OnlyToWin thanks!

I’ve been booked in for the c section at 39 weeks as it stands so we’ll see whether she turns!

But yes, I guess I just need to try and prepare for all possible situations

If you want a section regardless of baby's presentation then make sure you request one now for reasons other than presentation. You are allowed to have one for maternal preference, if the consultant disagrees they have to let you see another consultant to sign off on it.
I had a c section for a breech baby, I actually wanted a vaginal birth but contrary to other stories on this thread the hospital said absolutely no way as no one felt comfortable delivering a breech baby.

Dc2 was breech but turned, I did have polyhydramnios (lots of amniotic fluid) though. I was in labour for days and still ended up with a csection but he was 10lb 9oz and I've never achieved a vaginal birth so not necessarily related to his breech lie.

Dc4 was transverse/unstable lie and they were sure he had turned head down. When I was in labour he they lost his heart beat and were about to scan me when an older midwife managed to 'find' him and sent the scanner away. She was wrong, he was wedged in sideways, and we had a traumatic c section.

I do remember spending a lot of time hanging upside down off the edge of the sofa trying to turn dc2. Good luck OP and don't be afraid to tell them what you want.

What risks should be on you? In theory you should always be able to choose a C-Section on the NHS for any reason. As you have found in practice it might not be so straightforward or at the very least they will try to pout you off.
Good luck. Anyone with an ounce of empathy can see that it would be better for you to know what is happening now and to be able to have a degree of control over what is always an uncertain situation.