Breech baby - petrified of section. Positive breech stories!

[ShelleyI83]

Currently 33weeks with DC 3. 2 previous quick vaginal births at 35 and 39 weeks. This baby has been breech since before 28 weeks. I know I have time for baby to move. I am utterly petrified at the thought of a section. Please reassume me - either baby will move or c sections aren’t as bad as I fear. I just feel gutted at the thought of not being active soon after giving birth. Thanks so much.

My youngest was breech until the day before my planned section. I went in for pre-op and the midwife felt my tummy and decided to rescan me, she had turned the right way just in time (I hadn’t even noticed !).

Went on to have a water birth a week or so later.

My daughter was breech from 28 weeks. Wedged up right under my ribs and low amniotic fluid. She didn't move and I declined an ecv, a procedure where they manually manipulate the baby. I went for a section with it being my first. There should be specialist breech midwives who you can discuss it with as my understanding is that its the lack of experience with breech presentation that causes the issue with vaginal delivery. If you have had 2 births before and can speak to a specialist midwife they should be able to help. There are several ways the baby can be breech some easier to deliver than others. I wouldnt attempt it with my first but if I had experience with natural delivery I would have considered with specialist support. Good luck!

Oh but my section was absolutely fine very chilled as it was all planned etc.

I've had 2 sections- was walking around the ward the next day following both and out and about around town within a week gradually building up walking distance. Main challenge was not lifting my 2 yo second time round. I was strict on that as most people I knew who had complications had them after lifting too soon. Of course everyone's experience is different but I also know plenty of people who have struggled post vaginal deliveries. Fingers crossed baby turns for you soon though!

I've had two c sections, both were great. Just stay on top of your pain relief - take it to schedule, don't wait for pain. And if the basic painkillers aren't enough, just ask for something stronger. Honestly, you'll be grand.

My planned CS was lovely! Especially in comparison to my first birth which was a 3 day drip induction shit show with a back to back baby ending in 3 sets of forceps, a severe shoulder dystocia, retained placenta, 2L PPH and injuries to me and the baby.

CS on the other hand? I knew exactly when it was coming. I went in, sat about on a bed for the morning, walked myself into theatre, had the spinal (that bits a bit grim but certainly no worse than the epidural especially as you aren't already in pain!) laid down and let them crack on. I saw zero gore, felt a bit of weird rummaging and my baby was born!

I actually had a retained placenta and (smaller) PPH with the CS too but it was all so calm I didn't even realise until they told me afterwards. Stitching up takes a while but you've got your baby so all being well you don't really pay any attention.

Recovery was fine, a bit sore but again nothing in comparison to the rough first birth. I was walking a bit by early evening (had CS at 1pm), they gave me painkillers (the good ones, opiates!) when I asked for them (none of the 'paracetamol only' stuff in my hospital - NHS!) which I only needed for a day anyway and I stayed in two nights. I was up and about at home feeling almost back to normal (bar any heavy lifting and hoovering) in 2/3 weeks.

I imagine an emergency CS is a different matter but I'd do mine 100 times over the first birth!

Try not to worry OP. It's really not that bad, honestly. You do need to listen when they tell you to take it easy afterwards, you do need to keep your wound clean and aired to avoid infection. You need to make sure you don't get constipated (also that with any birth though) because that is not pleasant if that happens and you definitely need massive, massive knickers and a pillow to put over your tummy under the seatbelt on the car on the way home.

Good luck.

If you've had two previous vaginal births, there are some units that would offer you a vaginal breech birth if you wanted to attempt it. It's not available everywhere as it requires specially experienced staff, but it may be an option. If that's not your thing, an ELCS is usually a really calm experience. Good luck!

My friend had a breech baby last year and was able to give birth naturally. Is that not an option? A c-section was on the table as well, but in her case it was certainly a choice that she was able to make (with her doctors). The birth went well - baby needed a little oxygen but all was fine and she was happy with the decision. I am not saying that is what you should aim or hope for! Just thought I would add the story into the mix.

I am in the same boat OP, 3rd DC and breech baby.

My first DC was breech but it was unidentified until I was in labour, and I was too far gone so I delivered him VB.

He was frank breech, and he was ok but I wouldn’t go through it again, he passed his bowels, he didn’t cry when he was born and needed assistance - as I understand it, this is pretty common for breech babies but it’s not something I would like to repeat.

I am very apprehensive about having a section but I really don’t fancy attempting an ECV, or having VB breech again, and having read up on everything and taking into consideration what happened the first time round it’s the only choice for me - unless baby decides to turn of course!

I had an expected c-section when my labour wasn't going to plan and it actually wasn't bad. I was terrified going down to the theatre but the staff were amazing. One nurse in particular who had the job of holding me still while they did the spinal block. I literally couldn't stop shaking.

Recovery wasn't bad. It forces you to stop and relax with the new baby. I have a toddler and it was hard not being as active as normal but by 2/3 weeks I was back taking him to the park.

The hardest part for me was driving. I really missed the independence of just getting in the car and having to ask for lifts. But that is no biggie

I was desperate to avoid a cs with my twins. The lower had a low lying placenta but was head down from 20wk, 32wk the placenta had moved enough so it was all joy. Returned at 36wk and she'd turned breech, I was devastated as I'd only heard horror stories of cs. I was born via emcs and my mother said it was so painful and she ended up with postnatal depression because of it. They booked me in for 9 days later to give her chance to turn again, they wouldn't attempt an ECV. Scanned me on the day and she was still breech.
All the ideas I had in my head about it were completely wrong!! It was a really calm procedure, I did have heavy blood loss but not uncommon with 2 placenta sites to bleed (I felt fine tbh, it was the midwives that noticed it). They were born at 10:30&31am and I was up on the ward around 10pm, I could get up and walk but felt like a lead weight so stayed in bed for the night. Had my catheter taken out in the morning and felt pretty normal with no need for pain relief. I was discharged within 36 hours of arriving at hospital and got back to most things straight away no problems carrying both girls around together or pushing the double pram. I did get an infection as my stitches didn't dissolve as they should but it was painless and sorted with removal of the stitches and antibiotics. I only notice my scar at the start of af and after heavy deadlifts now. 30wk atm and will be happy to have another elcs if I need to or they want to bring her early (better than induction imo). I had vb's with my 1st 3. Induction of the 1st was my least favourite and althoigh she was an average size she was over 2 & 3lb lighter than the other 2 vb's.

I'm your woman! I've had a natural breech birth and a section!!! Both were ok - don't panic!!!

Thank you all so much. I’m just not used to having to ask for help and dread the thought of being bed bound for a few days. Although I absolutely appreciate it might be best for the baby and that’s the main aim!

I also feel sad about having a scar. I don’t feel superficial and I’m shocked I feel like this to some degree but I do feel quite sad about that thought. Must be hormonal! Thank you for offering some reassurance.

I have booked the chiropractor and am currently on all fours!

I had a section with my twins following a difficult birth with ds1 and twin 1 being breech. Absolutely fantastic experience, we were offered discharge 24 hours later but stayed an extra night to establish feeding a bit better. It really was a wonderful birth.

I had a section with DC2, natural with DC1.

I can honestly say the section was way easier, less painful and I got over it a lot faster.

Good luck 💐

Do you do workouts? My baby was breech and I’m pretty sure it’s the RWL workouts that have moved him (31 weeks).. seems to be all the squats! There’s plenty of time for baby to move

At 33 weeks there's still a bit of chance you can get the baby to turn naturally. There's quite a few videos about this on YouTube you might want to take a look at.

My baby was breech all the way through (and still at 32 week scan), turned naturally at 35 weeks, you've still got time xx

@ShelleyI83 I have scars from all my births not just the elcs. You never know if they will suggest an episiotomy or if you will tear. My 3rd gave me a bad tear and that scar is more troublesome than my cs one as the tissue is quite thin and easily irritated.

I've had an EMCS after failed induction and then an ELCS with twins. Both lovely, easy ops, a faint 10cm scar that's hard to see now, and in both cases up and walking in 3-4 hours.

Do look into vaginal births for breech babies. The risks depend a lot on what type of breech position. If it's Frank breech with the bottom down and bent double so feet are up by it's head then vaginal births aren't all that much more risky than normal births (but check this with a doctor) whereas if the feet are down then the risks are much higher.
I had a C-section for my breech baby was his feet were down - it was all fine.
Lots of babies will turn on their own. And some (like mine) won't turn no matter what spinning babies you do and time on all fours. I spent a long time feeling like a failure that I hadn't done everything all the time to get DS spun, even though I did actually do a lot. So I don't think it's always helpful to hear other people saying "do this, it worked for me" because almost all of those babies probably would have turned by themselves.

Oh, and I have to look quite hard to see my scar 3 years on.

You absolutely won't be bed bound! Within 12 hours (less in some hospitals) you'll be mobile, if a bit slow, and even before that I was able to pick the baby out of the cot from my bed. And the hospital staff were wonderful when I felt the need of a little extra help. And once your catheter is out (24 hours in my hospital) you'll feel much much more human.

Again thank you all so much. I did HIIT work outs with my previous pregnancies and I have ran until 31 weeks this time with very little strength work. Probably my own fault running so much! 🤦🏽‍♀️

If baby hasn’t moved in the next couple of weeks I assume I’ll see the consultant and ask about risks at that point. Although I had an episiotomy with DC1 as they came so quickly at 35 weeks so I really don’t think they’ll recommend a breech vaginal delivery.

Mine turned at 34.5 weeks having been breech since 27ish weeks (not sure they check before then).

Check out the spinning babies website - it worked for me.

Also, when baby is born please ask for a hip scan. Hip dysplasia is much more common in babies that have been breech and it's not always picked up with the basic newborn check (my DC had it in both hips - one hip was detected with the check up, the other hip was only noticed when they did the scan).