Will they 'let me' give birth normally to a big breech baby?

[Bekki]

I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second and my baby is currently breech. My ds was 8lbs 14oz and I am 5'1. His birth was easy and I was looking forward to a normal birth this time but I am getting progessively more worried as the weeks pass. I know that there is still plenty of time for baby to turn but I would really like to prepared for a possible c-section if my midwife insists on it. When a proffesional advises you to have a c-section is that really the only safe option or is that just their assumption that I would prefer one?

I'll be thinking of you Neen99. Whats happening with your little one at the moment Wills?

Just been for hospital appointment today - consultant couldn't make up his mind what position he thought baby was in so I had a scan. Turns out that he was probably 'head-down' all along! His head is so far down in my pelvis it's not palpable, it was low down when I had my scan for the placental site at 32 weeks, and they said it's very unlikely that he has moved in between then and now (36 weeks).

So I worried for nothing!

Just hope this doesn't mean he'll be early as we've just moved house and we still haven't picked up his cot or put anything in his room!

Gulp... maybe it's time to get organised!

Thats great news, but all that worry for nothing. I wish I still had loads to do, I'm bored rigid at the moment, everything was done weeks ago.

Well I go for my "almost 36 wk" check today. Its a double whammy for me as my ankles are now so fat they're bigger than the widest part of my foot - ugh disgusting . On top of that although little one has certainly been wriggling a lot I too have not felt a distinct turn around movement. Saying that I completely incapable of going more than an hour without needing the loo and have that distinct feeling of "baby about to pop out" every time I do sit on the loo - to me that means head engaged - so I'm completely baffled and glad that I will be seeing someone today. I do soooo want to have a home birth but given that I had pre-eclampsia last time and that my toes and fingers are doing a good impression of sausages I really should change my hopes. Its silly really because ultimately all I really want is happy healthy baby. Worry worry worry - they really should hand out qualifications in worry - I'd do really well !

So Bekki - am I reading your posts correctly? Little one has turned - I do hope so.

Neen99 congratulations!

Thanks Wills. Hope everything goes well - sometimes they surprise you. How has your blood pressure been this time?
Mine had increased on Monday - the second number had risen by 20. I have read somewhere that if it increases by 20 or more they will want to monitor you, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy, but the Doctor or Midwife didn't comment so I suppose it must be okay.
God, I'm such a worrier at the minute, in my last pregnancy I was so chilled and relaxed, but this time I feel totally different. I suppose things are different now I'm running round after a toddler!

Neen99 - I was told a similar thing only 15. However when it rose by 18 just before my holiday nobody said anything so I'm a little confused and waiting to see what today's results bring.

Think it depends on whos doing the checking. Mine had gone up quite a bit at my last check (usually 110 over 80 but was 130 over 70). However MW dismissed it as being the heat and wasn't worried at all. But then I don't have a history. Although my BP did rise quite a bit at the end (35 weeks) with my first - they were going to check me every day but I went into labour instead. Put it down to the pressure of moving house rather than the pg though. Waters broke at 6am and we were due to collect the van at 9am. Neen - at least you have moved even if you don't have everything ready. The only furniture we had was a (now soggy) blow up mattress. Didn't even have any spare knickers! Still meant I got to spend a lovely week in the local MW unit while poor DH moved house on his own... and the chocolate pudding was fabulous.

It is "normal" for your BP to rise at the end of pregnancy and it is very uncommon to have pre-eclampsia twice... hope this info helps you !
Think calm thoughts....

Head is Down!!!!! Blood pressure is okish but there's protein in the waters. m/w has sent the waters off for checking but wants me to go for mid week check on blood pressure and to go straight away if I get headaches or blurred vision. Fair enough. At the same time she's agree to put me back on for a homebirth which is just wonderful! Oh and told me to "relax, relax, relax, relax". This said whilst my three year old turned her room upside down in front of us. V. funny!

Wills. Fabulous news. Wehey!. I'm so chuffed for you.

That is fantastic news Wills, I'm really pleased for you

Great news Wills! Am I right in thinking you are due the Saturday (23rd) after I am due on the Monday (18th)?

Katherine, sounds like you had the best deal to me! Although you probably still had stuff to sort out when you got home if your dh is anything like mine!

This has turned out to be a very heartening and positive thread for anyone who is in the position we were a week or two ago!

I know your breech babies have turned now (hooray!), but I want to add my positive comments about ECV in case anyone else with a breech baby looks at this thread.

My baby was breech and I was planning a home birth, so was really not up for a CS. I was offered an ECV at 37 weeks and it was fantastic! A wonderfully skilled consultant turned my little boy in less than a minute. It felt quite peculiar, and the side of my tummy was slightly sore afterwards where he'd had to press his fingers in, but the turn itself wasn't painful or uncomfortable. I was so relieved that something that had been worrying me so much could be solved in such a short simple action that I burst into tears immediately afterwards!

Unfortunately I didn't quite get the home birth I was after - got to fully dilated at home, then transferred to hospital as no pushing contractions. It then turned out that my boy was posterior and star gazing and I had to have a CS anyway. Of course there's always the possibility that the ECV put the baby in the 'wrong' head down position (although they say it's unlikely) - but given the choice again I'd still go for it - at least I had the chance of a V birth instead of the prospect of an elective CS.