Breech babies

[annekins]

Hi all

I'm 31+5 but had to have an extra scan last week at the day assessment unit as baby's movements have been very random. In the scan, they said she was breech, with her head tucked nicely up in my ribcage, and that would explain why I've had a really bad pain in that area for a few weeks and also why her movements are weird.

Although there are quite a few weeks to go until they will do anything if she decides that breech is the way she wants to come up, they did outline what our options would be - either ECV or an elective c-section. So my question to you is, have you been in a similar position, and how did you decide which was the best option?

There is still plenty of time for the baby to turn. I had 3 ECVs, none of which worked. There were 9 staff in the room on one occasion as they all wanted to see a successful one which is rare. I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The elcs I eventually had was far less painful than any ECV!

Hmm. We were in the same situation a few years back and went for option 3 - vaginal breech birth (which was not offered to us, initially, either). We did a LOT of reading, talking and thinking (including reading the paper the CS recommendation is based upon and critiques of it) before coming to the conclusion that vaginal breech birth is not intrinsically more dangerous than a CS as long as the baby is in a good position and you have HCP's confident and competent in breech birth. We used IMs to ensure the MWs would have the necessary skills.

Re. ECV, the national average success rate is something like 50% - but it varies consultant by consultant (and I suspect that the consultants with a higher rate have learnt how to judge which babies are unlikely to turn and so only attempt the procedure on those where the odds are good to start with).

If you want to ask any questions about our experience or decision process (or reading list!) feel free. If you try an ECV remember that you can instruct them to stop at any point (before or during the procedure). Fingers crossed your LO turns so this is all an academic exercise - but good luck whatever happens :)

I looked at the stats for ECVs (which are, incidentally, better for second timers than first timers, not sure whether this was your first) and also at the anecdotes of women who had had them. After that, I have to say I felt ECV was likely to be at best an uncomfortable waste of time and at worst downright painful and risky. There are lots of other ways that your LO can gently be encouraged to turn - google 'spinning babies' for tips on how to do it. I'm afraid it didn't work for me and DS stayed firmly breech - oddly enough, I had a feeling that he was going to stay like that whatever and so perhaps that put me off going for an ECV. In the end went for ELC and don't regret it at all. It was civilised, pain free and almost enjoyable! The recovery is no joke, so think about how much help you have, particularly for the first 4 weeks. My body has now recovered well, scar virtually invisible and three years on I am pregnant again with the option of a VBAC or repeat section; haven't decided yet, but I would happily have another ELC if that turns out to be the best option. Good luck whatever you choose and hope baby turns on it's own!

Tangle can i ask you ( sorry for hijack op) if this wasn't your first baby how did it compare to a normal delivery? I'm 36 weeks and baby is breech i'm just looking at my options had planned HB, this is dc3 but would really prefer not to have a cs for many reasons.

My baby is breech and I'm 33 weeks, so have a scan booked in for 36 weeks to check his position and if he's still standing up I get an appt with a consultant who will 'go through my options'.

As a first-timer nervous of labour, I'm ashamed to say (and wouldn't tell anyone in real life) that if I can have an ELCS I will be over the moon, so I don't want him to turn

brianmayshair

It was my first - 9lb 12 and wound up as a footling breech (but pretty well engaged with a free floating cord - and she'd been full breech

Did they talk you through the excersizes you can do to encourage him or her to turn? I did a few funny moves (as instructed by my midwife) on an excersize ball a couple of times a day when DD was breach & it worked. Uncomfy when she did tun but better than the alternatives! Google the moves if they didn't talk you through

Currently 29wks and have started visualisation techniques to turn my breech. Have also been recommended The Inversion by a few Mums. Also just started reading about hypnobirthing, again, helping visualise LO with head engaged. I've also been told swimming can help, so will be picking that back up again soon. All these could help, doesn't matter how far along you are.
My LO is uaually somewhere between breech and transverse. Because LO can't quite decide on what position to be in, i'm being positive and not, not thinking about what I'll do if breech, but assuming she won't be. I've been told that at 31wks if she's still transverse/breech then they'll send me for regular scans/proddings, but to really not worry about it until 35wks, where again, it depends on what LOs doing and if she's still changing positions.

No thank you it really helps. I'm really sorry to hear about your dd how sad.
I'm really torn about what to do but am hoping to talk to some IMs next week. So far my options seem to be ECV, happy to try this, CS if it doesn't work. Vaginal breech in hospital which would be fully medicalised ie they will induce me early as i have big babies give birth in lithotomy position with epidural with possible forceps which is exactly how i gave birth the first time and was my idea of hell.

I have had 2 failed HB induced first time due to dates and sent in 2nd time as community MW couldn't really be arsed to find out was happening and sent me in for failure to progress even though i was 4cm after an hour of labour ds was born about 5hrs after we got to hospital but was OP so this was the reason it was slow. Completely natural but with a 2nd degree tear and slightly stuck shoulders. I am really torn about what to do although i have had a show and been having contractions regularly for last 24 hours so decision may be taken out of my hands as i won't have enough time to sort anything out.

I have never spoken to anyone who has had a vaginal breech apart from my gma but her baby was prem so not sure it counts, she more or less said he fell out . Its helpful to hear. I have watched breech births online and it all looks ok and have read alot my main concern is the fear in labour being heightened by the worry of possible risks IYSWIM i'm afraid i won't cope well with it if afraid.

Oh! I forgot my birthign ball. I think the idea is to bounce gently on it and gently rotate on it, though maintining a good, straight back, open posture. Your MW should be able to give you exercises...

Glad it was useful :). And thanks for you thoughts re. DD2. I never know whether to mention her or not, or whether to mention the circumstances or not

• but in this instance it seemed relevant to frame the experience. I just hope it doesn't upset people.

As you know, no birth is without risk. I think what we found hardest was that the risks of a CS were not directly comparable with the risks of a vaginal breech (although more recent research suggests that for a term baby in the frank breech position the risks or morbidity and mortality are comparable for a CS and a medicalised vaginal birth) and there is no research that I ever came across that looks at how a more hands-off vaginal breech approach compares.

I found the book "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites very useful, along with "Breech Birth: What are my options" by Jane Evans, and anything written by Mary Cronk on breech.

We came to the conclusion that there is no universal "right" answer to this question. There were, for us, some answers that were very definitely "wrong", but for the rest it was just trying to find the option that felt "most right" in terms of risks and benefits for us and our family at the time. Its a horrible decision to have to make. I think I had doubts right up until I was in labour - even in the 2nd stage I had concerns - but I think that's probably pretty normal (at least for me) and I'd have been no better if I'd agreed to an ECV or a CS.

Fingers crossed you have time to make a decision you're happy with, and everything goes smoothly for you.

Mentioning your dd is all part of your experience so of course it's relevant, you shouldn't worry about how it may make others feel.
I'm going to carry on with lots of reading and hopefully speak to some MWs next week if baby stays put. Very typical this couldn't get the other 2 out quick enough this one seems to want to make an appearance when i'm not ready.

Thanks again it is much appreciated, i have had quite negative views from people around me so far in fact a colleague who was a MW said to me 'would you try a vaiginal breech delivery'? and then went on to tell me an awful story of one she had attended, eh thanks for that. So its nice to hear a positive experience.