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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Transverse baby at 37 weeks

25 replies

mightyradish · 23/05/2011 21:44

Wondered if anyone has experienced this? I have a scan on wednesday to check position and I may be expected to stay in hospital until section if so. I would really like to have a section at 38 weeks rather than 39. I am measuring big so the baby is a good size. What do you think the chances are of getting a section done at 38 weeks? they won't try and manually turn the baby because I have an anterior placenta. Also been told that even if the head is down I will be closely monitored because the baby is still able to turn at the this stage (stretchy uterus, baby no.3!) Any advice welcomed. thanks. X

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mrsmon · 23/05/2011 22:11

my 2nd preg was a transverse baby (1st was breech) and i had elcs at 39 weeks, i didnt have to stay in hospital or anything and he didnt change position they said i must have an unusual womb tho nothing has ever been mentioned since. im 26 weeks with 3rd and baby is breech with anterior placenta and they havent shown any worries about it. so im not to sure they will section u at 38 weeks they dont normally like doing it but i suppose everyone is different x

buttonmoon78 · 23/05/2011 23:04

My dc2 was transverse until 37+6 - the day before my elcs!

She had been since 20wks but no one ever mentioned staying in hospital, just that if there were any contractions I should go straight in and that if my waters went I was to get onto my knees with my shoulders on the floor and call an ambulance immediately.

I would ask them the rationale for not delivering until 39wks esp as you have other children to care for.

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 10:36

Thanks for your replies. My mw had never mentioned being kept in after scan but when I started researching it was something that I had read and then I met someone who had also been asked to stay in. I called the maternity unit last week and asked what the likelyhood of this was and was told there was a strong possibility because they don't want my waters breaking 'out in the community'! (who does?!). I'm just really uncomfortable now and don't fancy being kept in for 2 weeks with 2 other small children! I think the anterior placenta only becomes a problem if an ECV needs to be performed. Hopefully baby will spin round and come out in the usual way, it's frustrating not knowing whats going to happen!

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WinterLover · 24/05/2011 10:41

Do they not do an EVC with anterior placenta? That's worth knowing as im 28w (early days yet I know) and baby lays either transvers or breech...

Good luck for tomoro

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 11:01

No, because of the risk it can rupture the placenta. I was slightly relieved as I'd heard it was painful and only about 40% successful and given that baby was head down a couple of weeks ago and went back to transverse at 36 weeks, it may not stay put if turned anyway! My placenta was covering my cervix until 34 weeks and can be one of the reasons why a baby is transverse because it's in the way!

Good luck to you too!

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Portofino · 24/05/2011 11:04

I spent 2 weeks on the ante-natal ward as dd was transverse. They refused me elcs before 39 weeks. She went head down the day before the op and they sent me home!

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 11:50

oh no! I will try and push for 38 weeks but will probably be dissapointed! I just don't want to end up in an emergency situation but I guess no one can predict that outcome!

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TiggieWiggle · 24/05/2011 12:52

It's so worrying isn't it. It's the uncertainty too as it's hard to get your head around the changes to your birth plan.

Mine was breech at 35 weeks. Started to accept that I might need a c-section and mentally preparing for it but then went for a scan at 36 weeks and she'd turned.

Saw the midwife at 36 +6 and she was breech/transverse again - she said it was an 'unstable lie' and that I must get to hospital asap if I went into labour .

The midwife has just been round today(37 + 4) and she's now head down and 3/5 engaged (yey!) Just hoping she's going to stay put now .

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 17:39

That's great news! Can they turn once the head is engaged? Is she your first?
I'm 37+2 and I can tell baby is transverse today, I can feel the curve of it's back across the top of my bump and that's where todays hiccups have been! I just don't know what to mentally prepare for. I have a birthing ball but I daren't sit on it for fear of setting things off!!
My bump just aches so much and if it gets any bigger my stretch marks are going to have stretch marks!

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TiggieWiggle · 24/05/2011 20:50

She's my second. DD1 was head down early on but didn't engage til really late, born 3 days after due date.

Midwife said she shouldn't be able to wriggle out of this one - but knowing her track record so far anything is possible

Midwife told me to sit on gym ball to keep my pelvis wide and encourage her to stay there - not sure whether that will help you though if he/she is not head down. FWIW I didn't feel her engage at all. Told DH last night that I thought she was transverse still - bump doesn't seem lower to me and could still feel her back to the right of my tummy button. A couple of people at work said I had 'dropped' yesterday though come to think of it.

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 21:04

My bump's quite low anyway, I literally look like Mr. Greedy! Well I should know more after tomorrows appointment. I'm going to take my bags just incase I'm asked to stay and if not Im gonna get bouncing on that ball!

Hope your lo stays in position for you and everything runs smoothly, i had a really easy delivery with my second, I stood up and out she came in her bag of waters!

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Portofino · 24/05/2011 21:14

I was given the advice that if spontaneous labour happened I needed to get on the floor, phone an ambulance, and stick my bottom in the air to avoid the risk of cord prolapse. How glamorous!

Actually though, dd never engaged. I don't want to sound alarming, but I ended up being induced at 41+ weeks, and had emcs due to failure to progress. Depending on what baby does, an elcs at 39 weeks could be a good thing. With the benefit of hindisight, I would have stuck with the planned cs - I did have that option.

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 21:25

I think that's why I've been advised I may have to stay in until section, don't want a bottom in the air situation!

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Portofino · 24/05/2011 21:34

It's hard I know. The antenatal wards aren't really set up for long term residents either. There were 3 of us when I was in. They put us together in a little corner. We used to bitch a lot about the fact that grown women weren't allowed to make tea because of H&S rules and watch Grand Designs together in the breakfast room.

The food was shite - dh spent a fortune on petrol and takeaways On the plus side, there were cute new babies to coo over every morning at breakfast. I feel oddly nostalgic for that fortnight now...

Original poster

mightyradish · 24/05/2011 21:50

Lol! I do have health cover for after the event but not sure they'd stretch to my own private suite just for the build up, lol!

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Portofino · 24/05/2011 22:05

Actually I did ask for, and get, a private room when I went back for induction. I am happy that I spent the other 2 weeks in the ward though - much more social. Slight downside that you might get woken at 3 am by someone huffing and puffing a bit. Upside, that after 2 weeks I heard ALL the stories, good and bad, and totally lost any fear of giving birth. And there were some gorgeous babies. They are all 7 now!

mouseanon · 24/05/2011 22:14

I'm 34 weeks with my 3rd and I'm convinced this one is going from transverse to breech and back again. I have MW appointment tomorrow so will see what she says, and a consultant appointment at 36 weeks (due to prev cs). I'm quite scared since both my others arrived at 39 weeks and the last one was a very fast labour! VBAC was fantastic but I only want to do it again if everything is right, I'd want an elcs if baby is not in the right position and I'd want it before 39 weeks to avoid an emergency situation...

I'll be interested to see what happens for you. Good luck!

Original poster

mightyradish · 25/05/2011 07:02

Thanks, I'll keep you posted!

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WinterLover · 25/05/2011 07:55

Good luck :)

Original poster

mightyradish · 25/05/2011 17:57

Well, what a day, I've spent all morning at the ANC! The good news is the baby is no longer transverse, the bad news is it's extended breech! I refused an ECV, even though they said my placenta wasn't an issue now. I have a lot of fluid around the baby and it's measuring big (97th centile) but they couldn't fit me in for section before 39 weeks but agreed to bring it forward to 38 if a space becomes available. So 2 weeks today! Anyone had experience with extra fluid, I have been told that it can sometimes be a sign of a problem with swallowing, so they will observe after birth! If my waters break or I go into labour before I have to go straight in. I'm back next week to check it's not transverse again and was told I will have to stay in if so!

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Portofino · 25/05/2011 19:03

I had this too. And the baby measured big. I was told to expect a 9lb er +/- 25%. I was too frightened to do the sums . I had an 8lb 2 healthy girl in the end. They broke my waters as part of the induction. I was laughing as it kept coming for ages - totally flooded the floor.

The extra fluid "helps" with the unstable lie though I think. Dd was bobbing about all over the place. She had absolutely no problems afterwards though. Good luck - but remember the bottom in the air thing!

hubbard86 · 25/05/2011 19:28

i had a scan at 37weeks and found that baby was transverse. I was immediatly admitted to hospital at put under observation until csec at 39+4 they wouldn't give csec before even with 1ds at home. I was measuring reasonable but all her centiles were off the charts, telling me to expect a 9lb or 10lber ended up 8lb 1oz . I hated being in hospital as the only space they had was on the csec ward so had to put up with the buzzer goin off every 2 mins and crying babys and rattling trolleys. Not the best place for a very grumpy pregnant lady. So bleeding hot too.

Original poster

mightyradish · 25/05/2011 19:46

I was told that the size wasn't an exact science but when it showed 42 weeks on the screen I let out an Eeeek! I knew then I wasn't going to attempt a normal delivery! I think the extra fluids are definately allowing the somersaults! And was told to expect a big gush as there was nothing to plug the hole! i hope it does gush to be honest as they said they'd do the section the next day and I don't fancy being imprisoned on a hot noisy ward as you say hubbard. I'm just working on getting my private room afterwards now!

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Portofino · 25/05/2011 20:21

I found it quite hard to get round the idea of a planned cs. I never even read that bit in the book! When I ended up with a head down baby on CS day I was really confused. I had spent 2 weeks expecting a CS and had come to terms with it. When they told me to go home and await a normal delivery, I didn't know WHAT to do.

I know this is just me, but if you reach your planned date, stay and bloody do it! I really wish I had insisted. I was booked in, it was possible. A cs was fine and dd and I recovered nicely after, but given a choice I would not risk being knocked out and not seeing my only child born.

Original poster

mightyradish · 25/05/2011 20:33

Will definately go ahead with cs now as I feel all geared up for it, just a bit worried about the extra fluid business, don't really know why it's there? As it was normal 3 weeks ago? Certainly don't want to end up with emergency cs after trying to pop out a gigantic baby!

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