Footling Breech

[melodyxc]

Hi
I’m 36 weeks pregnant and found out at my growth scan yesterday baby is footling breech. The dr offered an ECV but I declined, I do have a c section booked in for when I’m 39 weeks and 6 days. Which I thought heightens my chance of going into labour naturally

The Dr mentioned if my waters was to break at home I would need to be ringing an ambulance and getting to the hospital ASAP as there is a risk of cord prolapse.

I am really worried now and my chosen hospital is 35-45 minutes away so would the ambulance take me to my local hospital which is 15 minutes away or would it be my chosen hospital? where my care is booked there.

Just wanting peoples experience and how they got on with a footling breech and if baby did turn at all and there labour stories

[DustyLee123]

It would be your nearest. Cord prolapse is an emergency.

[Greybeardy]

As above - if your cord falls out at home it'll be your nearest hospital that can do a c-section.

[NamingConundrum]

Nearest, as quick as possible. Any chance of c section bought forward to bang on 39 weeks?

[CancelledCheque]

I echo the previous poster re asking for your section to be scheduled at 39 weeks. Have you been advised on what to do if you go into labour and suspect a cord prolapse at home? The RCOG website shows you how to adopt the face down knee-chest position while waiting for an ambulance. And yes, you would be taken to the nearest hospital that could perform an emergency section.

https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/umbilical-cord-prolapse-in-late-pregnancy/

[Mishmashs]

I had a planned csection at 39 weeks for a breech baby. Can you ask them if they will bring it forward a few days, just for peace of mind? There was a website people used full of exercises to try and get baby the right way round - spinning babies or something?

[CTW23]

I had a footling breech caesarean at 39+6 after 2 ECVs that didn't work. That was the only date available. All was fine in my situation obviously. No harm in asking but might not be possible

[FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant]

It will take you to your local hospital, not your chosen hospital. Although I'm intrigued as to why they've recommended an ambulance. Most areas you'd be waiting hours for an ambulance if labour is the only reason. How were you planning on getting to hospital before this?

[melodyxc]

I transferred my care at 35 weeks so Dr said they was no slots available and this was this only slot present

if my waters broke and no cord was present would I still go to my nearest or would it be my chosen hospital, sorry for all the questions but it’s been quite confusing.

He did do a mention about certain positions to try and change baby but he said it isn’t medically backed information.

I just feel so worried about it all I know baby can move head down but he said it was a 8% chance and do to baby being in footling it’s harder :(

[Whatwasthatthing]

Ask for your c section to be earlier or to be admitted from 38 weeks

[supercalifragilistic123]

If your waters break you need to call an ambulance asap. Normally there is either a head or a bum in the way but with a footling breech there is a real risk that the cord can come out through the cervix.
You mustn't be walking around, but must get in the position mentioned above and wait for the ambulance.

[HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear]

I'd recommend
-asking for an extra midwife appointment to go through the doctor's notes together
-asking for an earlier C section

But also being aware that the cord prolapse would be an emergency, but it isn't automatically going to happen.

So if your waters break at home, definitely follow the advice to call an ambulance, plus any other medical advice.

But the chances are your waters won't break at home. And if they do, you'll be at increased risk of cord prolapse but that doesn't mean it will happen. Absolutely prepare for this, but please try not to expect it.

You can also look into information about less stressful sections. Obviously in the case of accord prolapse there wouldn't be time to put the music on! But it's worth spending a bit of time thinking about how to make baby's birth the best it can be for you - look into "slow" sections, holding baby right away, feeding right away etc. Prepare for the nicest kind of birth you might have as well as for the stressful one.

[WhatDoesThisMeanForUs]

Gosh I'd be worried in your position as well, 39+6 feels very late for a planned footling section.

I actually had a footling breach with my last baby, but didn't realise. Baby had turned very late on and got herself wedged feet down. I was having a planned C-section anyway, and just before they took me to theatre the midwife examined me and asked if I knew that the baby was feet down! No, I didn't.

Her feet were very turned inwards at birth but they straightened out.

In your shoes I'd just say hope for the best, try out the position in case the baby turns, but otherwise if you feel any kind of labour get on the phone and let the hospital know. Good luck!

[ProjectKettle]

When you say Dr, did you talk to the obstetrician or the consultant midwife? Im nearly 38w and i found out last week that my baby is breech (not footling though). I found the obstetrician who talked me through all the options to be very rushed and didnt give me a lot of time to ask questions etc. I arranged to speak to the consultant midwife the next day and she was brilliant - lots of detail, practical advice, answered all my questions etc. Can you arrange something similar? It really helped me to understand what i should i should be doing in all different circumstances.

My section is also booked for 39+5 - mainly due to theatre space being already booked as a result of the easter bank holidays, but she assured me that they will keep looking for earlier slots. Potentially your hospital will do the same?

[AgathaMystery]

@FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant

It will take you to your local hospital, not your chosen hospital. Although I'm intrigued as to why they've recommended an ambulance. Most areas you'd be waiting hours for an ambulance if labour is the only reason. How were you planning on getting to hospital before this?

The ambulance is for cord prolapse at spontaneous rupture of membranes. It’s an obstetric emergency. It’s not labour.

[melodyxc]

@ProjectKettle

When you say Dr, did you talk to the obstetrician or the consultant midwife? Im nearly 38w and i found out last week that my baby is breech (not footling though). I found the obstetrician who talked me through all the options to be very rushed and didnt give me a lot of time to ask questions etc. I arranged to speak to the consultant midwife the next day and she was brilliant - lots of detail, practical advice, answered all my questions etc. Can you arrange something similar? It really helped me to understand what i should i should be doing in all different circumstances.

My section is also booked for 39+5 - mainly due to theatre space being already booked as a result of the easter bank holidays, but she assured me that they will keep looking for earlier slots. Potentially your hospital will do the same?

It was an obstetrician and yes I felt exactly the same! Very rushed, not much information. It felt like he was pushing me for a ECV he would not stop diverting back to it and how it is the better option but I declined a total of 5 times in this one conversation.

I will give that a try thank you for the advice, because my mind has not stopped worrying.

[FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant]

@AgathaMystery

The ambulance is for cord prolapse at spontaneous rupture of membranes. It’s an obstetric emergency. It’s not labour.

Thanks, I hadn't realised. I had a footling breech baby 10 years ago and went into labour spontaneously and absolutely none of this was explained to me!
We still have a huge wait on ambulances here, I'd hope they'd come through much faster in this case then.

[BeyondMyWits]

I had an undiagnosed footling breech and went into labour when a foot kicked through my cervix... a tad painful.

No cord prolapse though. (Around 80% of footling breeches don't have a cord prolapse.)

Got to hospital (5 min, hubby drove) had gas and air followed by an epidural, and while waiting for a consultant had 8 students gather round for a feel... not a common presentation - and it is a teaching hospital so was happy to (gas and air, epidural etc may have given a who cares attitude🤪😜 ) Then an unplanned cesarean, all went well.

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

DS was an incomplete breech, so one foot down and one foot in front of his face. I refused a c-section after my consultant said she didn't think it would work anyway.

I was scheduled for a c-section at 39+3 but was told not to stray more than 45 minutes from the hospital and that if my waters broke I should drop everything and come immediately. An ambulance wasn't mentioned, but I don't live that far away.

Anyway, it all went smoothly and DS was fine. He did have to have a hip ultrasound because of the weird breech position, but he didn't need any further treatment.

[Teaandcrochet]

Not sure if it's helpful as my son was born at 30 weeks so very small, however, he was a footling breech and absolutely fine (delivered at home by my partner as we didn't get to hospital in time!)

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

I had a footling breech baby by emcs 15 years ago.. Completely undiagnosed until I went into labour (spontaneously at 36+5) and labour progressed very quickly. we drove to hospital as it was 5 am
on a Sunday morning and no
traffic on the 6 mile journey. With the risk of cord prolapse its an emergency and , the ambulance will take you to the nearest hospital.