Vaginal Breech Birth experiences please!

[Hatepickinganame]

As the title says, anyone able to share their experience of vaginally delivering a breech baby? I will research the risks and fully prepare myself for my appointment tomorrow, just looking for some real life stories if possible. Thanks in advance!

Anyone?

Are the medical team comfortable with you giving birth naturally if the baby is breach??

@CMAYF11 according to my midwife today, my consultant is pro-breech birth. The only thing that might be of concern is my fluid levels. I've been reading RCOG guidelines and NHS info, I'm aware of the risks involved and just looking for some real-life experiences now.

I would personally have a c section. My baby was back to back and that was complicated enough. Four days of labour and messing about before a c section anyway. Would have been much better for everyone if one was booked in the first place

My son was born breech vaginally. It was fairly traumatic- they ended up giving me a spinal injection as they were worried they might have to do an emergency c section but he was too far down so ended up with forceps and brute force pulling from the doctor! I don't think I would do it again- but if your doctor feels positive then hopefully it can be a better experience for you.

@idontevenknowanyonecalledblurb this is exactly what I needed to hear i think, thank you! I'm terrified of having a section but I do think I'd rather a planned one than have any kind of emergency. I'm definitely leaning towards the CS after everything I've read so far.

@clearbluebastards my 2nd was back to back, I was very lucky with a 7 hour labour and very quick delivery! I've been lucky with all 3, even my induction, although crazy intense, was quick. The whole breech/csection feels like a curve ball for me!

My DD had an unexpected breech birth, not detected until the final minutes of the pushing stage. It was scary to watch to be honest and it was in a midwife led unit with no surgical options. I could tell the midwives were nervous as well.

DD managed the birth through using hypo birth techniques. I was so proud of her. She gave birth kneeling up and sort of swaying. Midwives took a hands off approach which was worrying at the time but it was somehow like her body knew what to do. Luckily the baby was quite small and my DD was sitting up in bed cross legged a few hours later!

I think a c section would have been advised if the midwives had known beforehand. I think it would be advisable to check that the midwives attending had previous breech experiences. My DD midwife had supervised one breech birth before and her colleague had attended a couple! I think that in some countries ( maybe France) it is more common to try vaginal breech birth. My main worry would be that midwives do not have enough practise with a breech birth in case there are problems. Also my DD baby was a frank breech presentation which I think is the least problematic. You may need to know what type of breech you have.

My ds was undiagnosed vaginal breech. V straightforward delivery with no pain control. Quick recovery. I realise this is unusual

My brother was born breech. They ran into difficulties and he suffered brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Was subsequently disabled. I would avoid at all costs if I’m honest.

I know your first post doesn't ask this but your other ones mention it. I loved my c-section (breech). It really wasn't scary and the recovery was fine. It felt really controlled. I know an op can be a scary thought but I had a really positive experience.

This is a while ago now but my baby was breech but was successfully “turned” the day before I was due for an induction. While I was being monitored pre-induction, the baby’s heart rate dipped and I ended up being whisked off for a c section (they had time for an epidural though so I was awake). It turned out that the baby was a cord presentation which was causing the problem with the heart rate monitor.

Anyway, having been through a bit of a roller coaster of whether or not it was going to be a c-section, it was all absolutely fine. This was my second baby - the first had been an entirely “normal” delivery (though I had an epidural as this was an induction too). And while I had been a bit nervous of having a c-section, it was fine. I recovered well - it was no better or worse than the first delivery really.

Good luck!

A colleague lost her baby through a breech birth where the baby got stuck and suffered oxygen starvation. They knew it was breech whole she was pregnant. I know these things are rare but I wouldn’t risk it.

I had twins, twin one was born head first no issues. Twin 2 was known to be breech, his heart rate dropped following twin 1’s birth and they rushed me in to do an emergency section. As they prepared the doctor examined me and could feel his feet so delivered him breech as that was the quickest option at that point. She pretty much pulled him out and a quick push for his head. He had some issue breathing initially and was taken to the NICU but this was more to do with the rest of the birth and being 5 weeks early rather than being breech. He was technically my third child so the midwives and consultants at the hospital weren’t too concerned about a vaginal breech delivery, if the twins had both been breech or my first they would have done a section.

My baby was a frank breech (bum down, feet up). I did all the research and was keen to have a natural delivery. In the end my waters broke but labour never started. After 3 days of trying everything to get contractions started (as you probs know, they won't induce a breach baby) i gave in and agreed to a CS. It was still a brilliant birth. The nurse even took a polaroid of my baby as he was being lifted out of my body! I thought i'd be really disappointed not to have had the birthing experience but tbh i was just relieved to have a healthy baby. I'd say listen to your gut instinct and go with what makes you feel safest. Good luck with whatever way your baby ends up coming out :)

My son was an undiagnosed breech. I didn't know until too late. So he was born naturally. Would that have been my choice? No, it was horrific, I was alone (DH came separately I was in an ambulance) I had so many people in the room. My son wasn't breathing and was in distress. I would have preferred a section as much as it wasn't a choice I would had liked it would have been calmer and I wouldn't had been alone.

My baby was undiagnosed breech, we only found out when I was 4cm and at a midwife led unit. By the time I was taken by ambulance to the hospital I was 9cm and thankfully there was just enough time to deliver by emergency c section. It was frightening and if I were in the same situation again I would definitely opt for a planned c section. The section came as a relief as I finally felt that me and baby were safe and everything would be ok. Having now read up on breech vaginal births I am confident I made the right decision.

Thanks for all the responses! I think I'm going to go with planned section after reading all of your experiences and the risks etc. Hopefully it won't be as scary as I imagine!

My c section was lovely and relaxing, honestly.

I had a vaginal breech- please pm me if you want more info

I had a planned c-section as my DD was breech. I declined them trying to turn her, which was glad as the cord was short and turned out I had a slight heart shaped uterus. My DD was foot-down breech so could have been dangerous to deliver vaginally so I am really glad I didn't go into labour early! My planned section was really calm and absolutely fine

@clopper a hands off approach is how mw are taught to facilitate a breech delivery, unless manoeuvres are actually needed. Basically Less stimulation to baby the better.

Good luck with your appointment, do try and find out how experienced the consultants are at breech deliveries at your hospital as well.

I had a vaginal breech to my baby who was small.

My DS1 was an undiagnosed breech. Eventually born by CS. He'd suffered catastrophic brain damage due to lack of oxygen and sadly died aged 7.

A CS earlier would have saved a tragedy.

How come an "undiagnosed breech" is possible? Don't they check with ultrasound? Was it a long time ago?