35 weeks baby still breech :(

[Babybeann]

I was told at my 32 week appointment that my baby boy is breech. This is my first baby so didn't really no much about baby's being breech and was told by my midwife that it's nothing to worry about so didn't think anything of it. By my 34 week appointment he was still breech and midwife explained that he has to be head down by my 36 week appointment or I would get sent to hospital for a scan to check his positioning then I will be given the option of either a planned c section or having them try and turn the baby (ECV).

So long story cut short I'm 35 weeks now and can tell he is still breech his head is so high up right next to my ribs and I've tried to turn him myself by spending lots of time on my hands and knees ect... But it hasn't worked.

My question is has anyone had the ECV and how was it?? Did it hurt? Or did you experience any problems with it?? I no I shouldn't have but I've been googling it and have scared myself reading the risks of the procedure although the risks are low I'm struggling with making my mind up of what to do. I've always wanted a natural birth and the thought of not having that makes me feel like I've failed ( stupid I no )

Anyway I've rambled on for to long now. But if anyone can help and help put my mind at rest that would be great.. X

I have no experience of breech babies, but am 28w with DC2 and this one is breech, although it's too early for that to be a concern yet (to the MWs anyway) as baby will probably shift round of it's own accord.

And sometimes, the MWs are wrong. A friend of mine was induced with an undiagnosed breech baby, and they didn't realise her bum was not actually her head until she was well into the second stage. It may be (unlikely, but possible) that your baby isn't breech anyway.

Have you had a go at the inversions on the Spinning Babies website (off a chair, rather than just on hands and knees?)

It is also possible to have a planned vaginal breech birth if your baby isn't footling breech - some hospitals are very reluctant to do them because they don't have a lot of staff who are trained in how to do them, and those that do happen are often very medicalised anyway (lithotomy position, forceps to guide the head) but it is also possible to try a natural vaginal birth - at home though - as some independent midwives are happy to do these, although that will mean paying.

It's a shame really that the skills to allow vaginal breech births are being lost, because the research that the policy of delivering breech babies by CS was based on is now thought to be flawed, but of course once the skills are gone, there's no-one left to pass them on to others!

Whatever happens, please don't feel like you've failed. If your baby is breech, then it's breech for a reason (even if it's just comfier that way) and it may still turn on it's own - if you opt for the planned CS ask for a scan beforehand to check baby is still breech and hasn't moved - if it's moved into a cephalic position then you can cancel the CS and go home to wait for labour to start. And if not, then you'll have a lovely baby sooner rather than later :)

My baby was breech and I tried everything. I went in to be turned at 36 weeks with DD1 and when I arrived they scanned me and bizarrely she had already turned. May be it happened I'm sleep the night before as I was anxious who knows...

Thank you flisspaps. My midwife said they would give me the option of having a natural birth with a breech baby if this was my second. I haven't heard of that website so I'll check that out.

AND nevercan you are lucky I hope this happens to me, well if I could get any sleep lol

Babybeann Well, if you were so minded, you would be able to refuse a CS just as you can refuse any kind of procedure or intervention regarding your baby's birth. Just because they advise something doesn't mean that you have to accept it, and they cannot force you to have one. The decision comes down to you, based on the information you are given and find from your own research.

I think they say they'd offer for a second baby because as a first time mother you have an 'untried' pelvis and so they don't know if the baby would get through (although this is true of all first time mothers regardless of which way up baby is, and as every baby and labour is different, there's no way of knowing really if a subsequent baby would pass through the pelvis any more easily anway!) - but ultimately if the baby doesn't descend, you'd end up having an EMCS so you could consider yourself no worse off than if you'd opted for the ELCS anyway, and at least you've had a pop at a vaginal delivery.

DD was breech until 38 weeks. She turned the day before I was due to go in for a c-section! There is hope for you yet.

hi, i am 35 weeks and breech. i am not having the baby turned. the risks seem stupidly high for something that only works 50% of the time. I am going for c section

The Inversion on the Spinning Babies website that flisspaps mentioned has turned my OP baby in the last couple of days and helped turn her when she was breech...33-35wks...
I decided against a ECV having done the reading up, so if she'd stayed breech, I was happy with an ELCS. My main issue was that my girl's such a mover that I'm not convinced that if it wasn't her choice so to speak, she'd just flip back...as her father did despite many ECVs...

My baby turned at 35wks and i knew about it!

My DS turned at 39 weeks x

Hi babybeam, I'm 40+2 at the moment with a breech baby, which is also my first. I know exactly how you are feeling and I have gone through many highs and lows in the last few weeks.

I've had two ECVs to try and turn the baby, I won't lie they weren't pleasant, but they were bearable and I just kept thinking if I think this hurts how will I cope with labour! The second was a lot easier than the first and I truly believe that's because I was far more relaxed and spent time focusing on my breathing rather than panicking about what was going on, so if you go for it, please please try to do this - relaxed breathing is definitely the key! Look up a technique called golden thread breath.

My two ECVs weren't successful and I think it's important to keep it in mind that there's a possibility they wont work, but equally it may just be successful for you - it was for my friend who had one the week before and for my sister who had one with my youngest nephew.

I've now got a C-Section booked and as my hospital are confident in breech births I have an agreement that if I go into labour before my section date I can try for a natural delivery. This is a massive decision though and one that I thoroughly researched before making. Mary Cronks was a great start for info for me, might be worth googling, but you also need to be 100% confident in the abilities of your hospital team.

Good luck with the ECVs and as some have already said some people find that their babies spontaneously turn at the last minute. I've also read of ladies who were in hospital waiting for their section, had a scan and have been sent home because baby's turned - so anything's possible!! :)

xx

I had a successful ECV at 37 weeks. It was uncomfortable, but not unbearable, and it did the job. I would have one again.

Ds (my first) turned just before my 38-week appt - they agreed at the 36-week one to give it two weeks to see, as it didn't look like I was going into labour any time soon.
Was most relieved, esp as had first thought I was going into labour 100 miles from home!

Those that had late turning babies could you feel it happening?
Due a elcs section for breach on Thursday and actually don't want baby to turn as an in so much pain with SPd (can't stand sit or do anything) I am not up to a natural labour (managed fine with dd1 but I had none of these issues then).

I felt it happening - was already using a wheelchair for SPD but it was more like kicking the crap out of me/period pains, rather than making the SPD worse.

I'm now 35 weeks with dc2 and have SPD again and hoping to stay in the birthing pool this time (last time problems only started when I got out, but managed epidural and ventouse in the end - suspect may need epidural again. I'd prefer no cs as lying on back is worst for my SPD and don't want to deal with abdominal healing if I can avoid it, but we shall see) I highly recommend water for SPD even if getting in/out is most inelegant!

Lol at the inelegant bit - there is nothing elegant as I hobble around with a swollen backside.
And can only get to hospital if lie slumped
On seat of car. But thanks for tip- hadnt thought of water birth if do end up not having an elc

I felt it ALOT! I was driving the car and had to stop & get out. I almost thought I was going into labour, it was so uncomfortable. My bump immediately sank down lower after she turned too. It was very obvious.

AKP79 wow I never knew that they would try twice with the ECV, and also never knew they would let you go to 40weeks if you had a breech baby. My midwife keeps telling me that they'll go to 39 weeks at the latest!? I shell have to ask about that! Tbh I've not been impressed with my midwife I think she thinks because I'm young im not interested in all the little details, I asked her about what I'm supposed to do about a birth plan and she told me to go on the boots website and there SHOULD be some info on there about it. Grrrrr!!

Thank you everyone I feel like I no a lot more about the whole situation!!! Xx

My DS (first baby) turned at 36weeks and I felt it happen. He was born 2 days later, as I have a slightly bicornuate womb and him turning was enough reduction in space for him to rupture the waters, apparently.

I did do some of the stuff from Spinning Babies, but the research (if I recall correctly) is that it is actually most effective in early labour.

I really hope baby turns naturally, baby has been in the wrong position from day one I had to have 4 scans for my 20 week scan because he was the wrong way and they couldn't see his face!

Does anyone no if bouncing on my birthing ball could help him turn??

I had a successful ECV at 39 weeks. It was uncomfortable but I'm glad I did it as I went on to have a straightforward natural birth at 41 weeks. They scan you first to check the position of the baby, monitor you throughout and you stay in for most of the day being monitored. So you're in the right place if eg. you go into labour. I was never aware of any major risks and none were explained to me (other than bringing on labour).

I think anything that tilts the pelvis forward rather than backward is helpful so, yes to birthing ball.

ECv was rejected by consultant for me as had bleeding in early pregnancy . Also I think there's certain positions of either baby/cord where they think it's unlikely to work but not sure what those are.

DD was breech, but I didn't have a chance to try ECV because I went spontaneously into labour at 36 weeks.

Once the hospital had ascertained I was in labour and that DD was still breech, I was instantly prepped for a EMCS, no question of trying for a natural birth.

Mind you, this was in Spain where they tend to perform CSs much more readily than in the UK (and I believe Spain has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in Europe, but the two facts may not be linked!)

I had been planning and practicing for a fully natural, vaginal birth, so this was as opposite as could be possible from what I had envisaged. But in fact, it was fine. I didn't fret about my "dream birth" going out the window, I remember just accepting that this was how it was going to be (not that I had a choice, anyway) and the main thing was that me and DD came out of the whole experience healthily.

We did. It was fine.

So if you do end up having a section, it's not the end of the world by any means. I recovered quickly, no problems and it all looks very neat down there. DD and I bonded just fine (although we spent the first 10 hours apart - but that was to do with the policy of the particular Spanish hospital rather than any other reason. In the UK, unless there's a medical reason not to, they give the baby to you straight away and you can try for a feed etc.)

I tried all the Spinning Babies stuff, btw. Nope, DD was determined to stay where she was.

hi there well i have had two reflexology clients who were reportedly breach and i twiddled what we learnt in the maternity reflex class for breach babies and both ladies had a turn and normal birth. I have no idea if it was caused by treatment, but it may be worth a go. Look for someone who has done the Suzane Enzer course or drop me a line and i can help you look...