Experiences of Elective C-Section for BREECH presentation please???

[Leilababyno1]

Hi there,

1st Baby is breech at the moment and not sure if I am going to opt for an ECV.

Any ladies experiences/stories of their elective c-sections for breech would be much appreciated??

Thanks!

I had an ELCS for breech. Great experience - still feel slightly guilty about not having gone through 'proper' labour as I had perhaps an hour of pain in the middle of the night when the spinal block wore off. They gave me more painkiller, away it went and I never took any more drugs. I've taken more this week for the flu!

Downsides: exclusive breastfeeding proved impossible. After 3 months of pumping and trying, I gave up. Have no idea if this was because of the ELCS or because the ladies in my family have never been able to bf anyway.

The CS overhang! There is a flap of skin hanging over the scar which won't go. Probably never will.

My tummy over the top of the scar towards my bellybutton never got its feeling back due to cut nerves. I have a 6"x2" band of numb.

But I have a healthy son with a fast stress-free birth and no need for forceps, ventouse, or EMCS so I don't care!

(But if you do have one, MAKE SURE they give you your baby immediately - I didn't get to hold DS for half an hour while I was zipped up! Might have helped the bf. Instead DH held him, which was good, but all the same...)

Let me know if either of you want to hear about my experience of the ECV. I'm very glad I tried it but it wasn't enjoyable in any way.

oh, bedrest 24h
in hosp - 2.5 days
carried baby in sling out of hospital
if you bend properly, picking up easy (bend ze knees!)
zipper out Saturday after CS on Monday.
Scar now vanished.

Could have driven quite soon but as they say, you don't notice a problem until you fail to make an emergency stop so not worth the risk!

yes please share iloveholidays??

Thank's for sharing your experience moonbells, it seems it was a very positive one overall..

I had an elective CS for my second DS who was in breech position, was offered ECV but suggested he was a big baby 10 lb at 37 weeks and they were more concerned at the weight on his pelvis.

Did not feel anything, then had a wonderful 7 days of relaxing in bed with midwives doing everything for you for the first two days and making you relax, and you even had to call them to come and lift baby out of cot for feeding, you were not allowed to move or strain.

This was in France though where they insist that if you have a CS you must stay in hospital for at least 5 days, ideally 7 days, which I did and it was a great time to rest. I was an old mum at 47, needed the break!!!

I had my ECV on Monday. I had a consultant and a registrar doing the procedure. They went through it all first, told me their statistics (performed 80 last year, 50% success but closer to 70% for 2nd of subsequent pregnancies).

I was on the monitor for about half an hour before hand to ensure the baby was okay, took my blood pressure, temperature etc. They then scanned me to check baby was still breech.

They kept the CTG (baby heartbeat monitor) on my tummy the whole time to keep an eye on the babies heartbeat. Firstly they try to push the baby's bum out of the pelvis. It was extremely uncomfortable, but more from the point of my skin stretching - felt like a chinese burn. I was surprised how much they actually pushed - really really gave it some welly!! They then gave me an injection to relax my uterus - this wasn't nice. It makes your heart beat very fast and feel very odd. Then tried again, he then managed to get the baby half way round by pushing the head as well as the bum but unfortunately the heartbeat dropped so they stopped - baby's bum went straight back into pelvis :( They then left it a while until the heartbeat picked back up and then the consultant took over to try again. Unfortunately although they managed to get the bum out a couple more times baby didn't want to turn.

They were constantly checking with the scanner, CTG and asked me every minute if I was okay.

So, it was painful but like a chinese burn not the actual pushing, the injection wasn't a nice feeling, but they constantly kept an eye on everything. They had a hand on my leg constantly which I think was to sense how I was as well as the baby. But I was surprised how much they actually pushed - more than you would think.

I wasn't scared at any point - I had a lot of trust in the consultant which I think is important, but he has a very high reputation.

A success story - my friend had an ECV 2 years ago with her first. She said it was uncomfortable but not painful and her little boy turned very quickly so I suppose if they turn then it might be less painful.

Hope that helps - ask if you have any questions.

Thank you for your account. I think trust is quite important - unfortunately, I have none in most of the people I've encountered at our local hospital.

Anyone tried moxibustion? My friend has told me she's heard of loads of successes with it!

I have tried moxibustion, but unfortunately no luck, but then I don't think it would work if the ECV didn't.

I think it has a 60%-70% success rate.

I was very dubious at first, but baby moved a lot during the sessions so I would definitely say its worth giving it a shot.

Thank's iloveholidays, well done you for giving it a go! Guess baby is just too happy and comfy where they are!

I was desperate for another VB as had such a good one with DD so thought it was worth a shot, but cheesy as it sounds I believe things happen for a reason so believe ELCS is now my best option. There is obviously a reason of sorts why baby won't turn.

12 days until I meet my baby - gosh it is weird knowing when it'll come (assuming I don't labour before hand!!) :)