What if my baby is breech?

[ParsleyCake]

I'm 35 weeks at the moment and last time I saw the midwife she told my my baby's head was up and bottom down. I think that's normal so I'm not worried. But it got me thinking, what if it gets to the big day and he has still not turned?

First of all, I think I am unusual in that I actually would prefer a C section. I'm prepared to deal with the pain of a vaginal birth, but I would be pretty happy if the opportunity for a C section came up, as I am at the same time eager to avoid putting my body through so much trauma. Why deal with it if you don't have to?

My question is, if the baby is in breech position when the time comes, is that an automatic ticket to C section?

Btw, it seems that giving birth to a baby who is in breech position would be horribly painful and as I am hoping to do this with gas and air only I would be a bit terrified to attempt it. (Epidural side effects nearly killed someone in my family and I don't like the idea of morphine affecting my baby).

I think you can try to get baby turned before you go into labour. Or wait to see if they move theirselves.
Then either attempt a VB or planned section.

If midwife thinks baby is still breech in a few weeks they will probably send you for a presentation scan and then a chat with a consultant - options are usually an attempt to turn the baby manually (unless scan shows a reason not to e.g. size/space, short cord, bottom well engaged) or a c-section. Not many hospitals are keen on a breech vaginal delivery from my experience so very likely you would have the option of a c section. Still plenty of time for baby to turn though - spinning babies is a good website for advice on how to encourage this.

I'm 30 weeks with breech baby. I know I still have plenty of time for baby to turn but family nurse thought I could do with scaring and was like "you'll need to have a section".
I really don't want a section so hoping and praying baby turns

spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/breech/flip-a-breech/

I had a thread on here recently about having a breech baby at 36 weeks.

I was sent by the midwife for a presentation scan, which confirmed breech position. I was then given 3 options: 1. Book in C section to take place at 39 weeks; 2. Try an ECV (the procedure they use to try and manually turn breech babies) and, if that doesn't work, book in C section; 3. Try for breech vaginal birth.

So there is an option for the 'automatic C-section ticket' if your baby's breech at term. When you get there for the operation they will scan you again and, if the baby's turned head down, you have the option to go home and wait for nature to take its course.

I've heard of people going in, finding the baby's turned and saying 'What the hell, let's do it anyway' because they just want to get it over with.

I didn't know my baby was breech till after my waters broke so no option to try to turn the baby. I was offered to try for VB or have a section. The consultant said that breech VB was fairly rare so you don't know how much experience the doctors on duty will have. I wanted a section at this point anyway but did get the feeling they would prefer to do a section. I was very happy to have a section and recovered very quickly afterwards , something about all the extra blood you have in your body helps you heal quickly. If you have a section have a think about if there is anything you can put by your bed to help pull yourself up, it's not that it hurts particularly but they do cut through your tummy muscles so it's just really hard to sit up.

ECV success rate is about 60% if you've had a child before, around 40% if it's your first. Best success rates are with non-white women who have had babies already, and where the baby's bum isn't engaged in the pelvis.

The RCOG guidelines for patients are here

The more detailed bits about success stats can be read
here

Well my DD was breech and it wasn't noticed until I was in theatre mid emcs!

I saw different midwives each appointment from 30 weeks and all were unsure and kept debating it in my notes until last one I saw said she was sure baby was right way up so they decided not to refer me for a scan.

I went into labour, it was stop start and not progressing well then baby was in distress and there was lots of discussions about my notes and if baby was breech or not and eventually consultant recommended an emcs.

We went to theatre and they opened me up and everyone gasped (not what you want to hear at all!) then laughed that DD was breech!

It was all OK in the end, but with hindsight, I wish I'd pushed for a scan and clarity rather than let them all argue about it fir weeks in my notes!

My 2nd baby was breech, and I had an appointment booked to try turning, if they didn't work I was being booked in for a cs.
However my waters broke before the appointment, so I was rushed in for a cs. As I was being prepared I said I felt I needed to push. Nurse checked me and hit the panic button. Breech baby was born very quickly, soon afterwards.

If you have a vaginal breech birth doesn't it result in massive tearing, given that a folded in half baby is going to be of a bigger diameter than its head? Or am I getting the science of it wrong?

SkodatLabia - It didn't for me. It was no worse than my first birth. Just more scary as, I know someone whose baby was brain damaged during a breech birth.