Footling Breech??? Help!

[AnneH656]

Morning!

I am new to this site but i have been reading posts throughout my pregnancy and really enjoy the attitude on here.

Just looking for some help/advice/support really.

I am 35 weeks pregnant and found out yesterday that not only is my baby breech but he has one foot stuck down in my cervix and one up and he has also managed to 'drop'. yes, he is that stupid.

I keep reading awful stuff on the internet (silly - yes i am) about feet hanging out of my loolie and all sorts. just wondered if anyone had any experience of it? the idea of a csection doesnt bother me too much (i had 48 hours at 10cm dilation with my daughter 9 years ago...fun fun fun) but its all the 'risks' to the baby.

i must also add that bl00dy hell i have been in dioscomfort!! constant bladder infections coming and going, stamping in my internal appendix scarring and really bad heartburn from his head.

sorry for my first post to be mean moan moan. i am just feeling fed up, uncomfortable and pooing my pants about the whole thing in general. i def didnt see this one coming!! :-(

Anne xx

Is an ecv an option? I had DS1 turned at about 36 weeks and it worked. (he then decided to go back to back and generally caused a right bother on the way out, but that's another story :). )

My DD was in this position. I remember having some odd sensations in my cervix but she was my first so I didn't really know what was normal.

I tried ECV and found it quite painful. It didn't work - I wonder if it can when they are in that position? It's worth discussing but don't feel you have to try it.

I had a straightforward ELC at 38 weeks and DD was absolutely fine. In fact, she looked perfect within mins of birth and we had lots of comments that C sections must be a less stressful way to enter the world. I breastfed in recovery.

I'm very glad that my breech was picked up as otherwise I would probably have had a long labour which led to EMC which sounds much harder than ELC.

Good luck!

hi OP i had exactly the same thing - even down to the recurrent UTIs, heatburn etc. DD was also footling. Had an unsuccessful ECV - cons later told me that it was very rare for a footling to turn (have to get foot out first before you can turn baby). Anyway I eventually had her by ELCS @ 38wks and she was completely fine, had a really good APGAR, skin to skin as soon as she had been weighed, BF her while i was being stitched up (my CMW came with me and made sure this happened due to previous birth). She is now nearly 2.5 and full of beans (and still happily BF).

So try not to worry - they may give you a section a little early to aviod going into spontaneous labour and having the foot come first issue you describe. I was terrified. But as someone who came out hte other side honestly it was not as bad as I imagined it to be.

Good luck!

Ooh sounds really uncomfortable and annoying. DS2 was breech for a while and I researched my options and chose ELCS. In the end he turned naturally by himself and I had a home birth.

ah thank you so much for your replies - i actually feel better already.

i was told that ECV isnt an option if the baby is footling (perhaps just in my hospital)- apparently it hass to be standard bottom down for it to work. i have to admit i dont really like the sound of it. not really sure why although prob cos i keep visualising his blinkin feet stuck!

shelley72 that was an incredible post to read and just what i needed to hear. good to know that someone has the same experience. i have to admit that when the MW told me and clarified that was why i had so many troubles late pregnancy i was almost relieved as i thought i was going bonkers. then of course the reality of what it could mean set in.

i guess will have to see if he can turn by the 36th week. i am 34 plus 4 at the mo but measured 35 yesterday. my next MW appointment is a week on monday at 36 plus 3. if she still thinks its breech then i get booked it that week for scan to confirm and csection at 39 weeks. i suppose part of the worry is not actually knowing what to focus on. maybe i would find it easier to deal with if i knew he wouldnt turn and csection was a def, i really dont know. hormones are not helping!

of course i also keep imagining him in distress feet down in my womb. again i know its silly as his movement and heartbeat are ok.

worry worry worry....and i know it doesnt stop....always something else to worry about... the pain is disturbing sleep at night though so deffo not helping. looking forward to sleepless nights being for feeds and not being whacked in the ladybits. at least then OH can take some flack!!

...sigh......