Breech Baby

[JessicaES]

Hi all,
I'm currently 36 + 6 with my second child. He's been breech since 20 weeks and I've had every hope that he may turn in time for labour, 18/12 due date. My midwife said he's still presenting breech at my appointment a couple of days ago. I'm not against a CS delivery I am however absolutely petrified.
I've got so many friends who have had a CS and have been at home 24 hours later.
Has anyone else had a pleasant elective CS and been home fairly quick? My daughters 3rd birthday is the day before sons due date. I've been informed they're likely to do a CS 5 days before due date meaning I could be home for my little girls birthday.
Looking for positive/honest CS stories and anything that may help settle my nerves as I've lost all hope in the little monkey turning.

• Not against ECV - Just isn't for me personally.

Mine was lovely.
Just lovely.
I was home in under 24 hours.
Was happy and ready as I had another child at home.

Thank you so much for your response. Do you mind me asking roughly how long the procedure took, if you can remember?
I'm sure my head is telling me it's worse than what it actually is and I'm insistent on wanting to be home as soon as is possible all being well with myself and baby.
I'm worried my anxiety could cause more problems than necessary.

Yep same boat.
Elective c section for breech DS1 and DS2.
Home within 24 hours with DS2 (during lockdown, maternity ward (non) visiting was hellish and I just wanted my home and my family) and was fine.
DS1 I stayed in 2 nights but only because I wanted to establish breastfeeding and so i chose to stay.
It is feasible and possible, I'd just say really stay on top of your pain meds , take them at the set times even if you don't feel you need them.

Good luck xx

If I recall the surgery itself is about 2 hours from ward to ward but that's an hour or more in the recovery suite.
Honestly my ELCS's were both joyous and relaxed.

Thank you so much!
I've spoken to so many people but it certainly helps to have as much reassurance as possible. I've relied heavily on Google which, of course likes to supply endless horror stories.
I love hearing how people have gotten on with their elective CS and it helps the fear of the unknown seem more bareable.
I'm adamant to be hope ASAP so praying it works out how I'd like it to! xx

@OgdensGoneNutFlake The actual procedure from first cut to finish is 2 hours from memory? x

Not exactly what you asked OP but mine was presenting breech and I tried the spinning babies exercises as well as this video on YouTube showing you to lay forward on an ironing board. It was hard being so big and my husband had to help but after 3 days of doing this (and feeling like an absolute plonker) I woke one night feeling like my insides would burst or I'd wet myself. Ran to the bathroom all fine but the next day my baby's hiccups were super low down and not near my ribs, scan showed baby turned, I have a feeling it turned at that moment in my sleep. I also started prepping for a c section too but just my two cents in case baby does turn.

@greenerfingers Thank you, any advice is more than welcome! I've had a lot of people say "you're too far along now, he won't turn" I've been losing hope. I've been sleeping on my left side as expected with cushions wedged between my knees hoping to open my pelvis, recommended by Google. The MW said his bottom is in my pelvis.
Naturally I spend a lot of time on all fours playing with my little girl and am quite active with walking etc too so assumed that may help move the little monkey.
How far along were you when yours turned? 😊

Not planned cs but from going into surgery to being back on ward was under 2 hours, probably under an hour in surgery actually minutes from first cut to baby in arms.

My first cs was very surreal as it was planned emergency (wasn't in labour) and I walked into the operating theatre, had never been in one before and remember thinking it looked like a TV set. All the staff are amazing though, i was so nervous not of anything going wrong as such but just the unknown. They really put you at ease and talk through everything that's happening.

Second had been in labour for hours with no progression and was glad to just get it over with was more relaxed in myself and by then was quite looking forward to it.

Was out of hospital within 12 hours second time, first was 5 days but I had blood pressure issues and baby was in nicu think they were holding on for us to leave together.

Also to add, my baby turned the week of my induction at 38 weeks (second baby) she still come out like a little spatchcock chicken

Also 24 hours not 12 hours....wish they had an edit function

Mine was 25 minutes from cut to being wheeled out to recovery! 🧐 I have suspected since it happened that it was a wrongly-categorised EMCS. I don’t even know how they stuck me back together so fast, it took them longer to sew up my episiotomy two years later.

@babyno2isdue I struggle with severe white coat syndrome, BP is perfect when out of that environment so hoping they don't keep me in for that need, it's obviously all in my notes but that's also been a concern. Hoping to be out as quick as everyone else! Fingers crossed!!

Mine turned I believe from doing the ice at the top of my tummy and a hot water bottle near my business end, I did this during the evening period when baby was most active, after one of these sessions I felt gross writhing sensations and today at my MW appointment she things the baby has turned. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that’s what turned him/her.

I had on going blood pressure issues through pregnancy that I was on medication for so it was in relation to that, they had to monitor for so many days without medication if I recall so I wouldn't worry about a couple of High readings especially if they know your circumstances.

Strangely I had no bp issues second pregnancy and when they checked while I was in recovery the reading were worryingly high, to the point the anaesthetist was asking if I was feeling unwell....turned out they had put the cuff on wrong 😑

As long as you feel well just make them aware you want to be out asap, have all the drugs they will offer for pain relief after, get the catheter out asap and get moving (slowly) the worst part for me was getting up.

@babyno2isdue Appreciate all the advice, thank you!
it’s definitely more in my head, I’m telling myself it’ll be totally claustrophobic and awful laying flat on my back, it’s my worst nightmare 😂

I was in your position a year ago!! 2nd baby, always breech, due 1st of Jan. I did have an ECV which failed, I don't blame you for not going for it BTW!

I got my elective scheduled for the 30th Dec, but DS decided to come early, so I technically had an emergency section, but it was absolutely fine. So I'll tell you my story in case you don't make it to your elective date. Like you I was terrified but honestly it was fine. Waters broke at 0130 I think, I got to hospital around 3am, just with gettingbthd last minute things sorted. I drove myself as DH was waiting on our childcare arriving and I was getting nervous.

It was totally chilled at the hospital though, they scanned me to make sure he was still breech, he was, and then waited on DH arriving before even waking the anesthesiologist. DS was born at 4am I think and I was up on the ward early evening, but emergency sections have longer observations in recovery than electives. I got out of hospital thd next afternoon.

If I have another I'll be requesting an elective, it was honestly fine!

Fantastic experience and wouldn’t change a thing, son was also breach. Took about an hour all in, very calm and relaxing. Was bloody starving though lol. Keep on top of your painkillers take them every 4 hours even if you’re not in pain, I kept busy afterwards the only thing I couldn’t do was hoover was sore.

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee That has been a big worry of mine, not making it to my ELCS, we haven’t currently been booked in yet, I’m due a phone call from the Obstetrician on Thursday but have been told to go straight in if labour starts etc. oh the anxiety children bring before they’re even here! My main thing is being out asap and ideally not being laid in the operating room for too long.

Do you know regarding the catheter situation, is it removed on their terms or when I feel ready? 😊
first born was born vaginally and within an hour of pushing so naive old me expected it to be just as easy this time round 😂

@Coconut212 Thank you! So pleased to read so many reassuring outcomes, Google has been my worst nightmare but I just can’t keep off it 😫

I think I was 34/35 weeks when it turned. The midwife said not to worry as baby's turn even up to 39 weeks unbelievably. There are a few old threads on here about women who had their babies turn the morning of elective c section and got sent home to labour naturally.

I did the ice and hot water bottle thing too a PP mentioned and also lots of all fours like you said and over a birth ball too. Don't get me wrong it made my SPD so much worse but I'm just glad I tried it.

@greenerfingers Ill give the ice and hot water bottle trick a go!
Currently struggling with sciatica during the night mostly from sleeping on my left side so I’m cautious as to how much I do incase I make it worse and end up crippled 😂

EMCS DS2, forceps DS2, ELCS DS3.

ELCS was hands down the most cathartic and relaxed way of processing first EMCS (which I was totally traumatised by and barely remember as dissociated), and the best and easiest way to deliver a baby.

Would do it again. Also 7 days prior to due date. I have the stats right here:

Time in theatre 11.02am
Anaesthesia complete 11.25
Knife to skin 11.39
Knife to uterus 11.44
Time of birth 11.35
Third stage complete 11.36

Incredible, really. Was back in recovery about an hour later, and went home the following evening.

Turns out DS3 was breech oblique so ELCS was ideal.

@HolliDays Im shocked at how quick the procedure for an elective is! My MW said even with an elective the baby can usually be born within the first 5 mins and the longest bit is suturing you up, 20 minutes roughly. So much quicker than I imagined. Thank you for that, that alone has helped!

Just a slightly different perspective:

I had two ECVs prior to my elective for breech. He didn't move. Caesarean was very difficult to recover from. Much harder than expected. I felt 'back to normal' a couple of months after but prior I felt mobility was very difficult and I took long time to feel pain free. I think having a toddler and a caesarean would've been quite difficult. I know this isn't everybody's experience but was true for me.

The ecv was not particularly pleasant- again it was worse than expected, but if it had worked it would've been a small price to pay. I used gas and air the second time which made it much more tolerable. After the procedure (which took probably <5 minutes) I felt fine. No residual pain or concerns.

Good luck!