Breech baby 37 weeks, do I have any chance of them turning?😰

[mamaandthegirls]

I am 37w+1D now and my baby has been breech since 19 weeks!
I am booked in for ELCS in 2 weeks, but can't seem to accept it especially after a failed ECV😫
Is there anything I can do / will baby turn before 39 weeks!?
I am doing excersises from spinning babies, but nothing has happened yet☹️

I am 38 weeks and am in the same boat. I didn’t want an ECV, but did Spinning Babies, acupuncture, chiropractic, handstands at the bottom of a swimming pool, everything. And my baby hasn’t turned. I’ve been really struggling to accept this and hate that it’s called an ‘elective’ section. I had no choice in the matter.

I know this probably isn’t very helpful/what you want to hear, but at least there are some of us in the same boat.

Ohh I understand the sadness about it. Mine was breech for many weeks and then at a scan to check at 37 weeks, she had turned without me knowing. I did moxibustion (acupressure using a heated stick) every other day from 34 weeks, as well as spinning babies stuff. My midwife said best time to do the forward leaning inversion was when you feel baby very active. If you haven’t heard of moxibustion, look it up, it’s the only method with an evidence base (which my consultant reluctantly told me! They don’t like alternative things like that do they). If nothing else it was very relaxing. The other thing I did which probably sounds silly is spend time every night as I was going to sleep stroking my belly in a clockwise direction, talking to baby, telling her everything was going to be ok and that I will be happy to meet her whatever way she comes. This was probably more about reassuring myself but I did find it helpful in trying to accept that if she needed to stay breech, there was probably a reason and I wanted to trust baby to know best. Sorry if that’s all a bit woo for you but I imagine you may feel like you want to consider anything at this stage! I also have a friend who’s both babies were breech until 39 weeks who turned spontaneously, it can happen.

DC1 was breech, despite failed ECV. Think she tried to turn once at 38 weeks but didn’t manage it. I was seriously messed up by it, not helped by having done a hypnobirthing course which had convinced me that everything was going to be absolutely fine. I insisted in going for vaginal breech birth (consultants totally fine, big teaching hospital with loads of experience) and it ended up in a fairly serious EMCS. It would have been safer and easier all round if I had gotten over myself and just gone for an elective. The hypnobirthing totally screwed up my mindset. Did absolutely everything to get baby to turn - spinning babies, acupuncture, moxibustion etc - no dice.

Despite it being a fairly hairy emergency, I do feel I tried everything for a vaginal birth and the section was far and away the best part of the whole birth - very calm, DC was completely fine once she was out and I had skin to skin and a feed in theatre whilst they patched me up. I do think I got away very lightly, and physical recovery was very straightforward.

My second was a VBAC and despite all the hypnobirthing promises, it was meh. Painful and messy and I had nowhere near the euphoria afterwards that I got with my section. With a bit of time I am a bit more at peace with how everything turned out but I still wish I had one of those wonderful births.

Thanks so much for the replies so far, it's great to know that I am not alone in how I feel in regards to my ELCS. I'm annoyed I'm calling it an ELCS because I did not choose this! My consultant just point blank told me after my ECV didn't work "well I'll go and book the C/S then" thanks for that love
DD1 was a natural birth, although induced and had a heavy PPH after I gave birth, I would still rather have my vaginal birth again over a C/S.
I am worried about the bonding experience after my C/S also, as with DD1 I developed PND and struggled to bond with her for a few weeks.

It feels as though my breech baby is trying her hardest to turn! But just won't budge. My consultant doing my ECV told me that baby is "too wedged" into my pelvis to lift her out of it, so maybe if she is too wedged in, perhaps it's just meant to be?

I know I replied earlier, but @NotAnotherJaffaCake I also did hypnobirthing. I think all the talk about trusting your body is what has made me feel so dreadful. I feel like I can’t trust my body as it can’t even help my baby to get in the right position. My mental game is so poor at the moment. My section is on Monday and I just keep feeling all of the emotions.

@Merename My acupuncturist said I had “too much heat” for moxibustion to work, so it isn’t for everyone. I do think that what she tried to do did almost get him to turn, but in the middle of the turning, I started to have contractions and spent 4 hours in triage being monitored. It was hugely stressful.

I’m just hoping that all of this anxiety, worry and negative emotion goes when I have my baby. I think the fact that he had been down from 31 weeks and turned at 36 weeks has made this even harder. It made it too late for anything to really be an option.

@jubbablub sorry it didnt work for you. I was the opposite, not enough heat and was advised to eat lots of broths and warm foods, I hadn’t realised that it would only work with certain conditions.

I also found what you said helpful NotAnotherJaffaCake. Hypnobirthing does have this way of making you feel it’s all under your control if you just get your mind right, and so consequently when that’s too hard to do we feel that we or our bodies have failed.

But jubbablub/OP, it does sound like perhaps your body/ baby knows a reason that they should remain breech and this may be the smartest thing your body could do, given the conditions inside. Have you done much reading of positive cs stories? I found that helpful when I was trying to get my head around the prospect. But equally I just had to acknowledge the loss of the vaginal birth I imagined. Not many people get the birth they imagined, if that’s any consolation. Wishing you both the best whatever happens.

@Merename I have been reading positive CS stories and that has helped a bit. I am nervous about the op, but I know that it has to be done and that recovery will be tricky, but I have good family support in place.

My feelings are mostly just being upset that in this pregnancy, I’ll never get to feel my waters break or feel what contractions are like or know what an engaged head is like. I like to know why things happen, and I don’t know why he is breech. I feel like I need to know why everything I have tried hasn’t worked. I just need to have my baby now.

I had an emergency c section after everyone missed that baby reet was breech (literally every medical professional I saw! And he’d been like that for a good while too, had legs up at right angles and a flattish head from being against my ribs.)

They did actually give me the option to continue, but I was knackered and opted for c-section. It was great, the surgeon who did it left me with such a small incision, baby was good. They were keen to do skin to skin in theatre, he latched on beautifully in recovery room, I had great support in maternity ward. Obviously I’ve got nothing to compare it to, but I would say c section is not a bad thing. I started off with a home birth, but had intention to be ok with whatever happened. Recovery took a while - it was 10 days before I took a walk that was more than round the block.

It is possible to have a vaginal breech baby, there are some risks and you need a midwife experienced and willing to work with you. You’d need to advocate for it though and depends whether you have the energy/ feel strongly enough about a section? My baby was big so I’m pretty glad I made the call I did.

Hi! I'm 37+5 with my first baby. It was head-down from 30 weeks, then transverse two weeks ago and breech last week. I had an ECV today which didn't work. The consultant was quite clear that in my situation a caesarean was much safer for the baby than a vaginal breech delivery (big baby, firm uterus, first baby, footling breech, lack of expertise in hospital etc). Like others on here I am sad I won't get to experience waters breaking or contractions. I also did hypnobirthing bit annoyed about spending the money only for the baby to have other plans. I did it with the positive birth company, which isn't fluffy, so I don't feel like I failed - it never gave me the impression that vaginal deliveries are always possible, they say to follow medical advice. Yes, it is annoying that there is a focus on your body being able to give birth, but there is a lot on there about empowerment and I'm just being selective in what I take from it - I like the affirmation "I make decisions that feel right for me and my baby". I also really like the relaxation and breathing exercises, the consultant commented on my breathing during the ECV today. I am also using positive language: I am having a caesarean (not a section), it is planned, because the baby couldn't be turned (rather than the ECV failing). I should really be calling it a caesarean birth I suppose. I am trying to focus on the fact that I did everything I could, but this was out of my control entirely (I have really struggled with anxiety and accepting I needed help - often worried I was being dramatic). I was just unlucky that my baby is one of the 3-4% that are breech at term. I think we should all remember that we did what we could (not a lot) to change things, but ultimately it's out of our hands. Time to read positive stories - if you search for ECV on here there is a thread full of lovely caesarean stories from a few years ago. My caesarean is planned for Tuesday - what about yours?

I had an “elective” section due to breech with first baby, I totally understand what you mean when you say about it being called that. All midwives I had seen had said baby head down till I started questioning this at about 37 weeks as I only felt baby kicking very low and large head shape in my ribs (!)- confirmed breech at a scan and I had mine at 39+2, the surgeon said the baby wouldn’t have ever turned anyway the position she was in so sometimes I think there is nothing you can do! I was so upset when told this would be my birth (after wanting as natural as possible a birth at local MLU) but in reality the ELCS was a positive experience, all really calm and organised - I didnt even feel the spinal going in! And skin to skin for 1hr in recovery afterwards and baby almost immediately latched on and fed too!
I am pregnant with my 2nd now, and hoping for a VBAC, I haven’t experienced any part of labour no contractions, waters going etc either and want to at least get the chance to try this time, because I get the disappointment of not ever having that - but if it turned out baby breech again/something else happened and section was what was going to happen it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Just wanted to add my experience. My daughter was breech, only spotted at 36 weeks by a student midwife after my usual midwife had missed it several times. DD was so wedged under my ribs that she had tiger stripes on her back from them. There was no way she was turning or could have got out on her own (I chose not to have EVC)
The op was lovely and calm, the staff were excited for me and I felt safe and happy. It was honestly the best day of my life. No issues bonding and I held her within moments of her being born.
Good luck

I think many mums get far too hung up on the method of birth. This is just a tiny part of your baby’s life - all that matters is that they arrive safely and you survive undamaged.
It’s the next 18 years of mothering that count!
If you look at the kids in the local school playground, can you tell which of them were Caesarians?
Do you think their mums somehow failed the natural birth exam?
No, of course not!
Personally I’d just be thankful you live in the U.K. with free health care and very low maternal mortality rates. Women with breech babies in the 3rd world risk obstructed labour and brain damaged babies, with the nearest hospital unaffordable and miles away with no transport. You’ve got a consultant obstetrician making safe decisions for you, in a fully equipped hospital. Relax, and look forward to meeting your baby however she/he arrives! Good luck.

Hi OP,

I have a 13 week old DD who was breech. The midwife found out at 38+6 weeks so last minute panic and failed ECV. She was too wedged in my pelvis to turn her. However I had a very positive c section. My DS was vaginal and I genuinely felt better physically after my planned c section than I did with my Vb.

I was worried about bonding as everything happened so last minute and I wasn't able to get my head around needing a c section but if anything I felt/feel better mentally too. She latched on immediately in the recovery room and the midwives and surgeons were so lovely and accommodating. I recovered well from the op and was walking in 8 hours and back to normal in approx 3 weeks.

I hope the baby does turn for you as I know this is what you want however please don't be afraid or put off by the thought of a elective c section. They can be a calm and special experience.

If the baby is average size it's unlikely they will turn at 37+ weeks as they are big with little space to turn.

I had breech babies turning at 28 weeks and transverse turning at 30 weeks a x that was difficult and painful!

Honestly, labour and delivery is a very short part of the parenting process. The most important thing is that baby gets here safely.

A c-section is not the end of the world, and can be preferable to a difficult vaginal birth.

Get baby out safely and concentrate on being a parent to a healthy baby xx

Like @reetgood I had a breech baby that everyone missed - examined 5 times in week 40! - until I'd been fruitlessly contracting for nearly 3 days, when the doctor about to induce me thought he'd have one last feel.... What everyone thought was a head was a bum. She came out with a ridge where my ribs had been on her head the whole time! I had an 'emergency' section 4 hours later, and honestly the section was the best part. I was horribly horribly tired and it's since affected me mentally that the breech was missed and thinking of the what ifs. Also, the consultant leaned over the curtain and said 'baby's done you a favour!' because she was big. Obviously this is a particular circumstance but I would say try to look at the positives - it is safer to know, there are no guarantees a vaginal delivery would have been better, and you can prepare for a calm birth - you can still do a birth plan for an elective. I recovered really well and breastfed. Oddly enough, it bothers be that my section was called an emergency because it reminds me that I was somehow 'in danger' because of the failure to spot the lie. It will always say breech in your notes and you will always know, so try not to let the word elective get to you (I know this is easier said than done when we spend so long preparing for the ideal birth!).

And I know two mums who had elcs booked for breech (my group of friends seriously did not reflect the breech baby statistics!) and went into labour early so you may still get to feel waters going!!! Just be prepared that it will then be an 'emergency' (mine was still very chilled) and you need to get to the hospital to get on the c section list. But if you've prepared for a section, it'll be fine. I hope it all goes well for you!

No advice for turning the baby as my transverse breech baby refused to turn too! But just wanted to add another positive ‘elective’ caesarean story. I had a lovely, calm birth with so much positivity from the doctors and midwives, immediate skin to skin and latching, and recovery was fine - just accept it will take a bit longer than a vaginal birth - I can barely even see the scar now 2.5 years on. As a pp says, i look back on that birth as one of the happiest moments of my life

Ps my breech was also missed too until spotted by a keen GP at 38+6. This seems to be very common - makes me think we should really be offered scans later in pregnancy!

I had an average sized baby turn himself at 38 weeks from transverse to head down. Then a very unpleasant induced labour and instrumental vaginal delivery at 42 weeks.

And my next baby was turned by an ECV at 38 weeks and stayed turned but then I ended up with a c section anyway at 42 weeks.

I have to say I’m surprised at those of you who feel sad at not having experienced a contraction or waters breaking. These are not fun experiences, you are honestly not missing anything .

I'm under no impression they'd be fun! They're such a key part of how most of us visualise labour to be and I for one have often wondered what they'd feel like and how I'd cope. I don't have that curiosity about having a caesarean (although I do hope it's less uncomfortable than the last time I had major abdominal surgery!), as it's not a bodily function I've never experienced before. Hope that makes sense!

It makes no sense to me at all but I accept that’s how you feel. For me, small contactions felt like very bad period Pains and big contractions were agony. I was busy vomiting a lot so didn’t want to move but I’ve hear other women who wanted to throw themselves out the window to make the pain stop.i had a lot of stiches and found recovery from them long and difficulty.

So I have no desire to have a single contraction again, not have my fanny stitched up thank you.

To me, it’s like wanting to have a tooth abscess with no pain relief or a gall stones, just to know how it feels. Both of these are “ natural “, ( although I understand that labour is not pathological).

So I think you are slightly bonkers, although in a nice way I’m sure .

However I know that not everyone feels like this. My SIL ( a big woman who had a small baby at 38 weeks ) had Two hour labours and said she loved them and found them spiritual experiences.

I have another two friends who had very short labours ( less than an hour, didn’t make it to hospital ) also found it fine. Both had just a couple of large contractions .

So I get that if you were hoping for a spiritual experience of your womanhood etc etc in labour and birth, you might feel that you had missed out.

I think a good natural delivery is definitely the best option. But my second best would be a good c section, followed by a bad c section and last, a bad vaginal delivery.

Just my opinion.

Wholeheartedly agree with your last paragraph! It sounds like we have different views about the other stuff I wouldn't go as far as saying I wanted a spiritual experience of my womanhood (that can easily sound extremely hurtful to others as well), but I do think it's something special that I am curious to experience (and I'd have taken all the drugs if it hurt too much despite using my hypnobirthing techniques).

WRT to gall stones: they fucking hurt like hell! I had zero pain relief during my episodes as the clueless GPs insisted I had noro and neither me nor my parents (who were looking after me) thought to challenge how bloody ridiculous the lack of care and obvious misdiagnosis was! So then I had the aforementioned op which went wrong. I fully agree I would never want to experience anything like that again, but as you say, the gall bladder pain was pathological and served no purpose. Incidentally, I've been told it was comparable to labour pains...

Anyway, I think we've detailed the thread enough now

My baby is breech also and looks unlikely to turn. Seriously, none of this matters. All that matters is that your baby is okay and that you are okay. Everything else is irrelevant and will be forgotten. You have grown a human! There are no medals for vaginal births. Medical assistance is great, otherwise a huge % of us would be dead. Nature is not always conducive to life and medicine was invented to preserve life where nature cannot. C sections are fantastic as they save babies and mothers lives. Seriously, celebrate your baby. Celebrate your body that has grown him/her. All else will fall away

My first was breach that couldn’t be turned and so I had a planned section. I completely understand the feelings of disappointment that this wasn’t the ‘natural ‘ experience which were enhanced for me by a dreadful pregnancy yoga teacher who made me feel like a lesser human being for having to have a section ( oddly I never returned to her classes 😀). That said it was a lovely calm experience and I bonded well with my beautiful baby with no problem! The consultant let me drop the screen so I could see the moment she entered the world ( much to my squeamish husbands horror!) and I was able to make lots of positive choices ( like they say in hypnobirthing- I found the two quite complementary). I have since had vaginal deliveries and 2 ECV’s ( funny shaped pelvis in all likelihood) I have to be honest, the c section was the calmest and least traumatic! Good luck to you all and I hope you enjoy the births for what they are - a means to a very exciting ends!