Breech at 35+2

[CoffeeMonkey]

Hi Ladies,

Baby has been breech & well snuggled up under my ribs for over 3 weeks now (was head down at 32 wk scan) & showing no sign of budging... I have a consultant appointment on Weds (I receive a mix of consultant & midwifery led care due to being 38 & with high bmi), has anyone had similar experience please & can share what options were discussed with them at this stage of pregnancy if baby doesn’t turn, or also how your story ended up?

Trying not to worry as I know there is still time for baby to turn & if not then there are options, but just trying to find out as much info as possible before Weds appointment.

They tried to turn mine manually at 37 weeks, didn't work. He was breech the whole time though. Had a c-section on my due date.

All fine, healthy baby.

They did hip scans when he was a couple of weeks old to see why he was breech but nothing showed up. He was just a big baby,10lbs when born.

Thanks @MrsTumbletap, glad all was fine & healthy baby, that’s all that matters!

How did you find them trying to manually turn baby? Have heard it’s pretty uncomfortable
for Mum, but I would more so be worried about risks to baby/ cord/ placenta.

I’m consultant led, have been having regular scans, my little madam was breech on every scan from 12 weeks up until my scan this week at 36+5. I hadn’t felt her flip at all. There is still time for them to turn back. While she was breech I’d researched the ecv and had already informed my consultant I didn’t want to have that procedure done. Had she still have been breech then I would have been booked in for a section.

Get as much information as you can. We thought my second was breech and I'd decided I wasn't going to have an ECV as success rate not great, it can be painful and go wrong / reverse again. But it's a personal choice

Midwife spotted mine was upside down at 35 weeks so sent for a scan which confirmed it

I was offered to try manually turning which I took as had a toddler so wanted to avoid c section if possible

I went along to the hospital at 37 weeks where they injected muscle relxant in my thigh then 3 consultants popped baby out my pelvis and tried to turn whilst I lay on a table with my feet higher than my head. As not many people do it I also had a team of medical students watching taking notes

It was more uncomfortable than I was expecting but not painful, took about 15 minutes with lead consultant barking orders at the others to co-ordinate the turn whilst moving the placenta out the way (think Ross Gellar shouting pivot moving the sofa). They offered me lots of breaks but I just told them to crack on and utilised hypnobirthing breathing techniques to distract myself

It worked and she never flipped back and had a straight forward birth, I was paranoid though and made them scan me before I would start pushing just in case

After it was done it was funny seeing the face of shock on the medical students faces of what they'd just witnessed

Hi @CoffeeMonkey I've got a breech baby at 38+3 so am currently going through the options process! He's tried a few wiggles himself over the last few days but hasn't been able to turn himself round.

Midwife referred me at 36+5 for a presentation scan which happened on 36+6 when they confirmed he was breech. I was offered an ECV which I accepted as he is all up in my ribs rather than settled down in my pelvis. ECV was on 37+4 and wasn't successful.

I had another more in depth scan where they checked how much amniotic fluid there was, his size, placental position etc. They confirmed I had enough amniotic fluid to try. The hospital I used only did an ECV if one of the c section suites was free as a precaution so I had to wait a bit for the planned to finish and then got delayed for an emergency. I had another scan, and muscle relaxant injected into my arm which made me feel faint and sick but it passed in about 5 minutes, the loads of lubricant on my stomach. They did the attempt at turning him three times but he wouldn't go. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't pleasant! Some places offer gas and air I believe so you could try asking for that. After each attempt they scanned him and checked his position and that the cord was getting adequate flow. After, I was taken to a bay and had a monitor for an hour to check his heart rate and for movements. I felt entirely safe throughout and at least now I know I've tried!

He's "Frank breech" where his feet are near his head, I believe this gives me more options than if he's "footling breech" where his feet are lower than his bottom as it adds extra complications. My options are attempt a breech vaginal birth which may end up an emergency c section or go for a planned c section. The midwives gave me all the information and were happy for me to go away and think about it. That hospital had done 2 breech vaginal births that week, it's worth asking how experienced they are if you are really not keen on a section. Vaginal birth wouldn't be in a birthing centre anyway, it would be on a ward so no birthing pool as it's too risky.

I'm actually now booked in for a planned section shortly after my due date, they will scan me first and if he flips I can get sent home to wait for my natural birthing pool birth I was hoping for! 🤞

I had two breech and one transverse.

Breech boys wouldn't budge but 3rd one did. I tried moxibustion and lying daily with my head elevated above my head. No idea if they were effective but she did turn. I ended up with a c section regardless as she got into distress. There are never any guarantees unfortunately- best of luck

I found them trying to turn him more uncomfortable than contractions.

(I laboured to 9cm before my c section). But the turning was so weird and uncomfortable, it felt like she was trying to twist my organs around. I swore a lot, they kept scanning and turning, scanning and turning and he didn't budge.

I actually wish I hadn't bothered, it hurt, was uncomfortable laying slightly tipped upside down, gave me raging heartburn, and was a whole faff which was painful and could have wrapped the cord around his neck. I didn't realise at the time that it could happen.

DC2 was breech all the way along. I declined ECV as I wasn't happy with the risks and was very happy with a c section (I wanted a c section regardless). I got them to agree to a c section even if she turned. I had a c section, ended up with an emergency section as I went in to labour earlier than my date. it was great.

My first was breech the whole time. I wasn't actually offered the option to turn her as they expected her to be big. They couldn't get proper measurements because of her being in such a weird position, but said they had to go with the estimate of her being over 11lbs and treat everything as such.
I was advised I could try a vaginal birth, and they would support me with that, but it would not be what they would recommend.
I opted for a planned c section and had her at 39 weeks.
As pp said they scan all breech babies for hip dysplasia as being breech and having a c section can cause problems. I think she was about 8 weeks by then.
She was only 8lb in the end.

Yeah the ECV was pretty uncomfortable- didn't bother with my 2nd and 3rd

Thanks all for your responses, I really appreciate them & it gives me good food for thought before appointment on Weds

My boy turned at 38 weeks and 4 days , it
Might not be the same for you but Christ it wasn’t the best feeling !, a full size baby inside you switching sides all the staff though I was in labour and when things calmed down a little they send me for a scan low and behold the baby was head down I had been scanned 2 days earlier for a sizing can a baby was still 100% breach so it turned out I wasn’t in labour I still had a c section due to other health issue but it can 100 % happen up until very last minute I mean I was due in for my c section 3 days after x

Ps the baby was breach near enough the whole time as well he wasn’t one for really changing so they even told me I doubt he will turn now I was 36 weeks pregnant x

Just re: sizes and foetal weight guestimates are (ime) always wildly out and I've never heard anyone whose baby was born at the weight they guestimated when baby was in utero.

Obviously this is only anecdotal but I have never spoken to anyone, or seen anyone in here whose baby came out at the weight suggested by foetal measuring.

Don't know if that's just me, or relevant in any way but thought I'd throw it into the ring!

@Babyjune21

My boy turned at 38 weeks and 4 days , it Might not be the same for you but Christ it wasn’t the best feeling !, a full size baby inside you switching sides all the staff though I was in labour and when things calmed down a little they send me for a scan low and behold the baby was head down I had been scanned 2 days earlier for a sizing can a baby was still 100% breach so it turned out I wasn’t in labour I still had a c section due to other health issue but it can 100 % happen up until very last minute I mean I was due in for my c section 3 days after x

I remember that feeling - but in reverse! My first turned breech at around 34 weeks whilst I was having dinner in a restaurant and it made me stand up and swear really loudly!

He stayed breech from that point on in spite of external efforts to persuade him otherwise!

Just wanted to send a quick update for everyone who was kind enough to reply or anyone else who may be searching for same info.

Scan yesterday confirmed baby is still in same breech position but thankfully everything else ok, strong heartbeat, fluid ok & blood flow from cord to placenta looks good.

Dr was very helpful with discussion re next options & I wasn’t put under any pressure as to what to do - I am booked for an ECV next Thursday but don’t have to go ahead when I get there if I have decided by then it’s not something I want to try, but should go to appointment anyway so they can get me booked in for a section at 39 weeks.

Felt very emotional yesterday but think that’s mainly as I had to go to appointment without my husband (current Covid restrictions still in place here in N Ireland that you can only have someone with you for 12 & 20 wk scans) & just felt a bit overwhelmed & lonely at having to take in everything by myself without his support.

So we have a week of reading & decision making ahead of us before the appointment to see if we want to go ahead with ECV or not, & keep hoping & praying in meantime that little one may still turn!