breach and back to back. help! (sorry it's long)

[wriggles]

I'm 36 and a half weeks and was told by GP at 33 weeks that the baby was breach but would probably turn on it's own because it still had lots of room to move. At 35 my midwife told me that she couldn't tell if it had turned but was definetly but to front at least. Was told to crawl about a bit and come back in a week and if they couldn't tell at the next appointment then she would send me for a scan. Went to next appointment and got a new midwife who still couldn't tell if it was breach (apparently the baby doesn't have a head) but it's back to back. She told me to come back in another week and then if she still couldn't tell I'd have a scan and if it was breach they'd try to turn it.

At the next appointment i'll be 37 1/2 weeks so am starting to get a bit worried. Starting to feel like i could be in labour before we find out or that it will get too late to try to turn the baby. How late can they turn breach babies and what does it feel like when they do? Any experience?

Hi wriggles

Haven't had any experience but have googled 'Eternal cephalic version' and found this:

"It is possible to manoeuvre the baby from breech to a head-first position. This is done after 37 weeks and the success rate is around 50%, though some doctors are successful as often as 70% of the time. It is useful in that it definitely reduces the number of breech and caesarean births. Around 2.5% of babies flip back to breech after a successful ECV.
The doctor places her hands on the womb, and guides the baby through a forward somersault - often the baby seems to get the idea and his kicking helps to complete the turn. Some doctors use a drug to help the womb relax, particularly for first-time mothers. It may be quite uncomfortable during the turn, but shouldn't be excessively painful. The baby's heartbeat is monitored before and after ECV.
It is a safe procedure for the baby, but on the rare occasion the baby becomes distressed a caesarean delivery will be necessary at that time. Because the baby is mature and facilities for surgery are close at hand, this rare occurrence is still not harmful for the baby."

There are loads of other threads on here about breech babies which might help.

Mine has been breeched and back to back since the 12 week scan. I'm only 29+5 weeks so desperately hoping/praying things will change.

Good luck

Thanks, sorry i've been a bit slow replying. Went for a scan today and the baby is deffinitely breach and they're doing an ecv tomorrow. Thought it seemed quite simple but they've somehow managed to freak me out about it. Lots of talk of drips and nil by mouth before hand incase they have to perform an emergency c section. 56% chance of it working and if not i'll be having a c section in a week. All seems a bit scary. Then again it'll probably all go fine and the baby'll turn easily. Still planning on spending most of tonight with my bum in the air hoping it'll turn on it's own before the ecv tho. Will let you know how i get on, i'm probably just being a wuss.

They tried the ECV with me and it didn't work. The good thing is, you can tell them to stop at any time, and they will.

my son turned breech at 38 1/2 weeks! i was sent into hospital to have him turned, which was successful, although they werent sure wether he would turn back again(he didnt).
to be honest it was fine when they turned him, it didnt hurt, it was slightly uncomfortable but no more than having his fat head squished up under my ribs! the only thing that did hurt was the fact the lady who turned him had super long nails

apparently accupuncture is very successful at turning a breech baby-anougher option to consider...

hth

Hi Wriggles

How did the ECV go?? Hope everything is fine!!

Take care

tried the ecv as much as possible but it didn't work. Really stubborn baby in there, every time they thougth it was turning it flipped straight back again. I think it must hurt less if your baby's interested because my stomachs killing me. Still would have been worth it if it worked. Booked in for a c section on the 21st now but still hoping it will miraculously turn. Anyone had one? maybe it won't be as bad as i think.

My baby was breech and I didn't like the idea of having her turned around so opted for a C-Section. I was numb with terror beforehand but it turned out to be such a good experience, as I was being stitched up I planned to do it another 2-3 times!! I think emergency sections are awful due to the fact that the mother has been in labour/pain for two days or a lot of hours, etc, but with an elective section, you don't start off being exhausted. Basically you just lie there and wait to meet your baby. It's wonderful. Have had two sections. Felt "normal" 3 weeks post partum.

wriggles- can you try moxibustion- it has a v high rate of success. CAT me and I will email you some stuff about methods of trning breech babies if you like.

Spend as much time as you can leaning forward with your stomach hanging down - gives the baby the most room to move. It worked for a friend of mine although she said it was very uncomfortable when the baby finally decided to turn round.

If it doesn't turn? Don't worry. Lots of MNers will tell you that c-sections are absolutely fine, especially elective ones.

C-sections are fine - its the lead up thats scarey - I'm sure afterwards you will wonder why you worried.

True

I've had 4 sections, wriggles, and lived to tell the tale but there are things you can do to try to get the little sod to turn - see this thread

Thanks, finally getting used to the idea, finding it a bit wierd that i know i'll be a mum in 8 days tho. Bit scared but excited too. Dunno how i'll sleep the night before. Oh my god it's on wednesday (21st). Anyone know how long it usually takes to recover? Just wondering how long it'll be till i can cope on my own (when partner'll be back at work). Now that i'm finally ok with the idea i bet the little sod'll turn the night before and i'll have to wait.