Breech presentation - Could midwife be getting it wrong?

[CADS]

Hi Everyone

Just wanted some advice/reassurance.

Saw my midwife of tuesday for my 38wk check and she couldn't tell me want position the baby was in. So I'm off for a scan tomorrow to confirm.

The thing is, she has been telling me the baby was breech since my 28wk check. Then at 36 weeks she sent for a scan and the baby was actually heads down. There were only 12hrs between my check with her and the scan so not sure whether she was getting it wrong. It is possible the baby might have moved in the night but now 2wks later she isn't sure that it is still heads down. This is causing me so much stress because I really don't want a c-section and was hoping for a homebirth.

Anyway, the question is, could she be getting it wrong? I have an anterior placenta, would this make it more difficult for her? Also, she always battles to find the heartbeat straight away.

Where does she find the heartbeat? Is it low down?

My midwife was struggling to find out which way my baby was lying at my 28-week check the other day - she thought s/he was head down, but said if she still couldn't tell in a few weeks' time, I'd have to go for a scan.

I have a posterior placenta, so it can still be quite hard, I think. But she found the heartbeat relatively low down on me, so I think the baby is head down.

Good luck with it - I too am hoping for a homebirth and want everything to be right for it too.

Thanks for reply hunkermunker. She tends to find the heartbeat around my bellybutton. Any ideas?

Also, does anyone know where you would feel hiccups if baby is heads down?

I feel them at the bottom of my bump, and did with DS too, and he was head down for weeks before he was born (he'd wedged his bum up under my ribs - lol!).

Normally by the 36 + mark, you feel em if they turn! A sudden gasp inducing wriggle, and normally the bump stickin out at an odd shape.

I was in a weird position apparantly, and they suddenly panicked that my mum was carrying twins because they could feel what felt like 2 heads... turned out to be my head up high, and another bulge for my bum down low.

If you haven't felt it turn round, then I am doubting it has...

CADS, Hi! I was breech for a long time & felt the hiccups quite low down, almost like they were coming out of her arse!! Anyway, 2 weeks ago, my MW said head down, confirmed by hopsital last week but this morning a different MW wasn't convinced she hadn't gone breech again. After a more thorough feel, she thought it was cephalic. I told her bubs must have a big bum...(does my bum look big in this uterus?)

Anyway, if the head is partially engaged, the MW only feels a narrower part which can feel like the bottom, which is obviously smaller than the head.

I've been reading this post with interest my baby is breech and I feel the hickups really low down. On one side near my pubic bone. I keep saying to my mum it can't be hickups she must be like her daddy and fart a lot as it does feel like it's coming from her bum.

I will apparently be scanned in a few weeks to verify which way up she is.

Hi,

I wouldn't panick yet. When I had the dts, I was told on the day of delivery (by a scan and by mw feeling) that one dt was head down. They were actually both breech.

They both turned in the last few weeks of pg and never felt them turn neither and with twins it was pretty cramped in there! Babies can turn surprisingly late. I could normally feel their heads so I had a good idea where they were laying. The head is normally the bigger and harder lump!

Oooh, I must just be in a group of people with babies who like causing us pain

I assumed it was the same for everyone because so many of us had had it.

you with your nice turns now though!!!

there are threads on here that discuss getting breech babies to turn. Also, there's a thing called Optimal Positioning Techniques, try googling it.

I've heard that if they turn after 36 or so weeks, you might throw up, or fall over, from the pain.

So I suspect your baby is still head-down, and your midwife is just confused.

Thanks ladies

Maybe she has a big bum like her mother. Will have to wait and see what the scan reveals.

Doctors and even midwives can get it wrong about which way up the baby is. My GP told me at 39 weeks that my baby had turned and I must go to hospital immediately for a C-section, but when I got there the midwife who examined me thought my GP was wrong, and a scan proved that the baby was still head down. Apparently it's not as easy as you might think to feel which way up the baby is, especially if it has a big bottom which feels like a head!

Hope the scan confirms a head-down baby for you - will be thinking of you tomorrow!

Oh yes, easy to get wrong. Especially if you are not erm, that svelte IYKWIM. My first baby was undiagnosed breech. Only diagnosed with 'intact' meconium was noticed during labour.

Hi ladies

Had scan today and guess what?? Baby is head down . Think I will just ignore midwife if she says anything at next check at 40wks. Sonographer said though baby still has space it is highly unlikely it will turn especially as it was already head down at 36wks.

Thanks for all your support.

Oh good, glad to hear that.

If s/he turns after this, I'm told you'll know. And anyway, yeah, it's pretty unlikely.