Anyone with experience of a breech baby?

[mollysmum82]

I'm just approaching 34 weeks now and my baby has been breech since last our 28 week scan. The midwife says that I will need to go into hospital to see if the baby can be externally turned. I just wondered if anyone has had this done and if it was successful? Are there any risks with this procedure do you know? She says if it doesn't work I'll be given a date for a caesarian. I would love to know anyone's experiences with planned caesarians, particularly how you recovered after. I have a two year old already and the thought of not being able to pick up her and play with her breaks my heart. Many thanks in advance.

My DS was breech and they did an external version which didn't work and hurt like all hell

You have still got a few weeks to go - your baby may well turn at the last moment. My DS turned head down at about 37 weeks

I was going to try for a breech birth if he didn't turn, and my doctor agreed we could try as it was my second birth

Hi mollysmum. My son was breech from at least 28 weeks until I had him turned by ECV at 37 weeks. It was uncomfortable but really worth it for us because he stayed turned and I had an uneventful birth at 40+9. If he hadn't turned I would have been looking at vaginal breech birth before agreeing to ELCS.

Its not for everyone and they wont go ahead with it if it doesn't look favourable on the scan before they start the procedure. It doesn't work every time. My SIL had ECV and they watched her son turn straight back around on screen the moment they let go.

I would try it again. This is my experience on this thread (nn at the time was ethelina)

DD1 was breech, and I opted for an elcs which was lovely- planned, I was up and walking around going out after about a week IIRC.

Am 34weeks with DD2 and found out yesterday that she is also breech- have opted for an elcs again. I think recovery time can be quicker than emcs as no labour beforehand, but TBH I haven't anything to compare it to...

I was very happy with the elcs the first time round, so happy to be having another.

My dd was breach until 38 weeks then turned. I was booked in to see if they cold turn her and I ampretty sure she did it herself just the day before I went, got scanned and she was the correct way up.
I was seen by a Consultant who explained the procedure to me and risks versus risks of an CS. I decided to opt for them to at least try and turn her. In the end i didnt need it but If I had gone in to get her turned and If it had'nt have worked then I would have been booked in for a CS, but if I had arrived that day and she had turned by then I would have been sent home from the planned CS! it's not cut and dry wether you will def get a CS right up to the last min.

I would ask to see a consultant about the turning procedure before making any decisions if I was you.

good luck, you still have plenty of time for your baby to turn!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, I really appreciate it.

My ds1 was breech and ECG wasn't possible. I tried for a vaginal delivery but had no progression so ended with cs. It wasn't that bad and I could care for him fine. If you've had 2 normal deliveries there's no reason why you shouldn't try for a vaginal. Maybe at least look into it?

Hello - I am 36w at the mo, and baby was in breech position up until 35 weeks. Then he turned. We are seeing the MW next week to see if he has turned back to breech and if he has I'm going to try Moxibustion which is a type of accupuncture - it apparently has about an 80% success rate and one of the Mat units near here has set up a clinic as that method has a better success rate than the ECV, which apparently turns about 50% of breech babies, and of that 50%, 50% will turn back, so only really a 25% success rate.

I also did the exercises at 34/35 weeks which seemed to do the trick - There is one website called spinning babies (I think) although i found some exercises elsewhere.

I am hoping to god he's not still in breech as i to have a 2yo, and it would be a nightmare having a CS and having to crack on as normal!

Good luck

I'm 40+ weeks and still waiting ! DS no 2 was breech for about 6 weeks wk28-34 when midwife suggested I went for moxibustion (alternative therapy) - its sort of accupressure type thingy , she said it had a high success rate but that the consultant would say it was utter nonsense. I read about it on the internet and I could not believe that putting heat on my little toes would work. But I was desperate , so DH and I found a local practitioner and she did the moxibustion . I sat there feeling a right pillock. We went home and four hours later DS no 2 fidgeted and wriggled more than ever before for about 50 mins. I phoned midwife next morning, she sent me for a scan and he had moved to transverse lie ( so halfway there !) Midwife said to wait a couple of days until she next saw me and checked, he was still transverse so my husband did the moxibustion just before bedtime ( the therapist had shown him what to do) at 1 am the intense wriggle /fidgeting started and continued for 2-3 hours on and off. Saw midwife who thought she could feel head downwards so sent me for another scan and he has remained head down since then ! So I was sceptical and don't ask me to explain how it works but I have since learnt it is done in Chinese hospitals all the time and I prefered to try it than go in for ECV.

Hi Adivic can I ask which town the moxibustion clinic is in ? My midwife would love to give the research details to my consultant as he thinks its all mumbo jumbo !

Hi - My DS didnt turn til 36 weeks, but for different reasons ended up with emcs which is supposed to be worse than an Ecs for recovery time. However i was out within 48 hours and hoovering (sad and naughty) the next day, although i didnt lift it up the stairs. What i am trying to say is that if everything goes to plan you will be able to keep active and do stuff within reason so dont think you wont be able to move for weeks. Just found out i am expecting dc2 and will be electing for CS with 2 and a half year old.

Both my babies were breech until 37 weeks. My first turned overnight with one session of moxibustion and my second turned when I was on the bed waiting for the ECV. I had had the injection to relax the womb, though - and I think that's what moxibustion claims to do - so I think I have a very tightly gripping womb or something!

Anyway I would highly recommend moxibustion as, apart from anything else, it's a very relaxing procedure!

My friend has just had her first - the baby had been breech for a while, and they weren't able to turn as she'd has some bleeding previously so it was too risky.

She opted for an ELCS rather than attempt VB breech for her first - baby was born early on a Tuesday morning, and she was sent home late Wednesday afternoon.

Most people I know that had had ELCS said that recovery time is a lot quicker than EMCS, but that's obviously just anecdotal from a fairly small sample size!

Gah I just wrote a big bit and then MN crashed when I pressed sent!
In summary, give ecv a try, but be prepared for labour and/or c-section that day,Moxibustion is as useful as praying to fairies for your baby to turn so save your pennies to spend on cute outfits for your baby or some lovely hot milk nursing bras.

Moxibustion can be beneficial MrsJamin here.

Of course it may not work, in which case, yes, be prepared for an ECV that doesn't work either and a c-section (I have heard planned C-sections are lovely and calm).

My little monkey was only spotted as being possibly breech at 38 weeks! Scan the following day showed that not only was this correct, but he was extended breech, which means that the legs are straight out and up near the chin! This type of breech is not recommended for ECV (as hip displacements are likely) so I went straight for ELCS. Had a really pleasant experience and sometimes feel like I got away with the easy option.

Do ask what type of breech you have. It makes the world of difference as to how well an ECV might work. There's one where the feet and legs are curled up as if the baby has crossed legs under the bum, there's one where one foot is stuck downwards, with the other crossed (footling breech) and then my type (extended, or frank breech).

My mother was breech way back in the days when it was the only option to go for vaginal delivery and the clinical experience was there (which it isn't these days). My poor gran was in labour for 48 hours. Oddly I didn't fancy that!

Ah that's interesting moonbells - I'm 36 weeks with my first DC and midwife and consultant both think it's extended breech. I'm having a scan on weds but have already been pencilled in for ELCS. Wondered why they hadn't mentioned trying to turn the baby. Vaginal breech delivery not mentioned either but wouldn't fancy that anyway to be honest, especially seeing as my maternity unit is currently the subject of a police investigation for negligence...... :(

Thanks everyone, its been really interesting reading about your experiences. I'm especially relieved to hear everyone's positive caesarian and recovery stories.

I've had wonderful experiences with acupuncture in the past so I might give moxibustion a go! Thanks again x

Oh @molly ... I did the burning toe thing for ages and it made not a scrap if difference. I had DS2 turned at the hospital with ECV. It REALLY hurts, but well worth it as at least it means you get a shot at the VB.

Go for the moxibustion if you feel it may help though. I may have just been unlucky!

There's an 80% chance that a baby who is breech at 35wks will be head down at full term. Moxibustion succeed rates aren't any better! It's hocus pocus, and I feel like a mug for paying out £40 for it.

Take a look at www.spinningbabies.com I am now under the care of a chiropractor who specialises in the technique so that if I need to, they can do websters technique on me

You can refuse the ECV as apparently it does carry some risks - my sister did refuse and had an ELCS (if that's what you want of course).

I also had an ELCS and both my sister and I recovered really well. I think everyone is different but I felt much better a week after the ELCS than a week before the birth IYSWIM. Much more spritely.

I'll be doing it this time with a three year old in tow, so can't really say how it is with an older child, but at the moment I am not lifting her that much as don't want to put strain on myself whilst pregnant.

Hi ds1 was breech, only picked up at 37 weeks! He was totally stuck and the consultant refused to try and turn him because he said it would hurt and achieve nothing.

I had an elective at 39+1. It was actually fine, I was so nervous and due to low blood pressure kept drifting but they topped me up with adrenaline and it was all fine.

Recovery was great! I was up and about the day after and driving at 4 weeks. I was pushing the buggy at four days. I had an emcs with ds2 and it didn't really impact my life too much at all.

Good luck!

Ds2 was breech - not picked up until well established labour & too late for cs - had vaginal birth which was fine - not really different to other 2 'head first' births - although I did have a room full of medical staff who wanted to witness a vaginal breech delivery as it is pretty rare these days as all cs.

Middle DC was the wrong way round and the wrong way up - They booked me in for maniplation but at the checkup before this a student midwife was having a feel so she knew what to feel for and DC decided to turn round and face the right way, still the wrong way up but facing the right way.The poor student was a bit put off as you saw the ripple as she turned round.Was quite painful, then she was persuded to have another go as she was still breech.I swear DC stood up and stretched, once they peeled me off the ceiling as I have a low pain threshold it was pronounced that she was in a perfect birthing position.

Poor student refused to touch me after that.

I'm watching this thread with interest as I am 33 weeks with DC2 who is breech and I has EMCS with DS just over 2 years ago as he was undiagnosed breech. Having had a c-section I know I do not want another especially with a toddler to look after so I am looking into all methods of getting this baby to turn - you may find me sitting in the bath with a pack of frozen peas on the top of my belly soon!!