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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Breech baby

21 replies

Weezle · 08/04/2005 13:26

We have just found out that junior (due 6 May) is breech. Our hospital will try and turn the baby after 37 weeks and it would be great to hear from anyone who has tried this (or other options!).

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chipmonkey · 08/04/2005 13:53

Weezle, ds1 was breech and they tried to turn him but he he was too tightly wedged and wouldn't budge! Went on to have a C-section. If your baby is an "Extended breech" i.e the legs are straight with the feet at ear level, it tends to be harder to move them. If they are curled up in the normal foetal position its easier. IMO, if baby can't be turned a C-section is safer. hth.

kikidee · 08/04/2005 13:54

Hi Weezle. My ds was breech and delivered by cs as they didn't want to try and turn him for various reasons. There are risks associated with ECV, have they discussed these with you? I tried acupuncture but it was a waste of time for me but I think it does work for some people.

chipmonkey · 08/04/2005 14:08

actually, I think I read somewhere that if performed inexpertly ECV runs the risk of placental abruption but have never heard of this happening.

mumfor1sttime · 20/04/2005 11:14

You are lucky that you know your baby is breech, didnt know until I was in labour! Had an emergency c section due to high blood pressure and baby in distress. My baby had his feet next to his head-infact tucked behind his ears!! I wish you every success x

frogs · 20/04/2005 11:32

I had a successful ECV with my 3rd baby at 37 weeks. Was uncomfortable but by no means agony. Worth finding out how experienced your unit are at doing these, and what their complication rate is.

I had mine done at UCH (big teaching hospital in central London) where they do an average of 2 ECVs a week. They told me the last time they'd had to do an emergency Caesarean was four or five years ago, which seemed like pretty good odds to me. The overall success rate was 50%, but lower for 1st time pregnancies, higher for subsequent ones (as your muscle tone is shot to hell!)

Also you could get a copy of the written protocol which should explain exactly what the procedure is. Mine said they would put me on a drip to soften the uterine muscles, which was probably the worst part of the experience, as it's an adrenaline-like substance which makes your heart race a bit.

The turning was done by two people, one standing on each side, persuading the baby into a forward somersault. They use ultrasound before and after the procedure to check the baby's position and the position of the placenta etc.

Good luck!

SkiBunnyFlummy · 20/04/2005 11:37

i think acupunture is the most effective method. thats what they do at UCL and they are quite a leading light i think

chipmonkey · 20/04/2005 11:58

No one gave me a drip to soften the uterine muscles, mine was as hard as a rock!

bonym · 21/04/2005 09:07

Hi Weezle - my dd1 was breech and was turned by ECV, allowing me to have a normal delivery. I don't remember having a drip (although was 7 years ago so I may be wrong!) but do remember that it was very quick and not painful at all. If I had another breech I would opt for it again. I

bonym · 21/04/2005 09:09

Oh - I should add that dd2 (now 4wks) was breech up to about 33 weeks - she turned after a session of reflexology. May be coincidence of course as she may have turned spontaneously anyway, but might be worth a try

MissChief · 21/04/2005 09:09

had successful ECV too, no drip and only 2 secs or so of pain, then it was over. really recommend it, tried acupuncture first and didn't work.

Dophus · 21/04/2005 11:10

Mine was confirmed breeech at 38 weeks - it was too late to try ECV. I tried to persuade them but they wouldn;t try.

I then spent two weeks waving my bum in the air but to no avail. I was determined to have a vaginal delivery. I had a trial of labour, didn't progress and therefore had CS.

LadyPenelope · 21/04/2005 13:26

My ds turned breech at around 34 weeks ... I did exercises (where you go on all fours and put your bum in the air) and accupuncture. Had 2 sessions of accupunture and baby moved within 48 hours after the second session. Have no idea why baby moved but I recokend it was worth trying everything as I wanted to avoid c-section. Went on to have successful VBAC. (My midwife tells me it also helps to talk to the baby!!)

CheekyGirl · 21/04/2005 13:29

I had an ECV with my dd, now age 4. It wasn't very uncomfortable really, and worth it as I then had an easy 3 hour labour and homebirth!! I would really advise giving it a go!

Livlo · 21/04/2005 15:26

Hi Weesle
I had a home water birth with undiagnosed breech - blissfully unaware and all was fine - not sure this would be recommended though by hospitals!

Ameriscot2005 · 21/04/2005 15:29

I gave birth to a breech baby - it was very uneventful.

flix · 22/04/2005 10:58

I had an ECV at 38 weeks, they use patches (which is used for people with angina usually!) to soften the abdo muscles but it really hurt and I ended up with planned cs a week later. DD was breech the whole way through pregnancy, acupuncture just made her wiggle. re the risks/complications of having an ECV the doctor will explain them, but the risk of having a vaginal breech delivery was too scary for me to contemplate. Mine was at high risk of cord compression thus would have needed to be resuscitated (more than likely). Good luck, I hope the baby does turn as caesars are damn painful.

Newbarnsleygirl · 22/04/2005 11:00

I've read and heard about putting a bag of frozen peas on your bump to encourage baby to move.

sophy · 23/04/2005 19:29

I tried ECV but it didn't work. I remember it being uncomfortable but not painful. Also tried acupuncture, hanging upside down and reflexology, none of which worked. So had elective CS at 39 weeks -- no regrets whatsoever. Good luck with whatever you do.

gothicmama · 23/04/2005 19:34

dd breach born naturally didn't hve enough room or waters to turn her

Louise1980 · 24/04/2005 17:12

My ds 2 was breach for a while and a midwife friend of mine told me to scrub the floor and get an excersise ball, you know the great big ones you can use in labour?

I sat upright on this with legs at right angle and rotated my hips. I did this often untill he did turn then 2-3 times a week just incase he turned back. Surprising how cumfortable they are too, i used to sit on mine while i was on computer!

pabla · 24/04/2005 19:33

My third baby had been head down until I felt a lot of movement one night (woke me up) at 37 weeks. At my next check up he was found to be breech. I had been doing all the optimal fetal positioning stuff beforehand. I had an ECV a few days later and it was successful. It was done by a female consultant and she seemed very capable. I had a couple of puffs of something from an inhaler to help relax my muscles, it was fairly uncomfortable while it was being done but only took a minute or so. I was desperate to avoid a caesarian because I don't have any family nearby and it would have been difficult to get my older two to school/nursery if I couldn't drive.

The only aspect of the procedure I have any doubts about were that there was a knot in the cord when he was born. Obviously I don't know how this happened - could have been at any time really I suppose - and whether it could have been dangerous to him in any way. The midwives commented on it but didn't seem very concerned. I don't think they even mentioned it in my notes.

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