Breech csection

[ajja2021]

Hi,

I'm having an ELCS this coming week, I've had a section before due to my son being stuck and his size along with other concerns. I found the whole experience to be okay, recovery was hard.

However, DS2 is breech and he's going between transverse and footling, head high in my ribs.

Will this make the ELCS process harder? I'm worried there will be more complications, Will they struggle to get him out?

For some reason I'm seriously anxious about this csection compared to my first one, which you'd think this time around I'd be more relaxed.

does anyone have any experience of a breech csection? I'm hoping it goes as smooth as my first one, we were hoping for a "gentle csection" but I don't know if that's an option as he's breech

My baby was a breech ELCS, I've not had a non-breech c-section so can't compare but it seemed straightforward. LO's legs were 'Froggy' and needed a scan a few weeks later to check hips but all good.

@Potatoy I didn't think about the hips! Hoping they'll be okay, I'm hoping it's straightforward but the thought of them pulling him out of my ribs is worrying me. Completely irrational I know, can't seem to shake the anxiety

I haven't had a breech, but:

DD1, very relaxed EMCS after a failed induction. She was 9lb 7oz and I'm quite small so they had to use forceps to get her out, we were both absolutely fine.

DD2, transverse, ELCS, 9lb 12oz. Again, she was very crammed in there so when they opened me she had her back down and they couldn't get her out. So they did an additional small vertical incision in my uterus (nothing external), rotated her and got her out. She needed a few puffs of air to get going and I had a big blood loss, 2L.

I had no idea of any of that (apart from DD needing a bit of help obviously), wouldn't have had a clue if they hadn't told me. Recovery no different. DD was also absolutely fine, DH had to wait a few minutes to hold her until the pediatrician had signed her off, but literally about 5 minutes. Breastfed her in recovery same as DD1, she was actually my calmer happier baby from day 1.

I'm telling you this just so you know that even if the baby's size or position does make things a little more complicated, that absolutely doesn't mean it will be an unpleasant experience for either of you or a tough recovery.

[quote ajja2021]@Potatoy I didn't think about the hips! Hoping they'll be okay, I'm hoping it's straightforward but the thought of them pulling him out of my ribs is worrying me. Completely irrational I know, can't seem to shake the anxiety [/quote]
Understandable, it's a nervous enough time as it is. They do this all the time though so will know exactly what to do. Was your first one an emergency csection? If so you might find the ELCS more relaxing, you can choose music etc.

I've had an EMCS - never want to repeat it and a breech ELCS which was hundreds of times better - so much more relaxed and far fewer complications. They were done much faster than they expected so DD was born the day before we anticipated. (I went into spontaneous labour one night so technically it was an EMCS but it was nothing like the first one)

They'll manage it.

Our twins were breech and transverse, they had no trouble getting either out.

Not had a section myself, but I work in theatres and seen lots of breech sections. As you suspect, gentle is unfortunately not going to happen. Gentle sections get the head out first and then let the rest of the body follow on its own. The head is the hardest (and most important!) bit to get out, so they want to do that as quick as they can. There's usually a bit more pushing and pulling on the part of the surgeons, which might be uncomfortable. Otherwise there's very little difference between a breech C-section and a regular one. Should still be able to have things like delayed cord clamping and skin to skin (baby permitting).

Good luck @ajja2021

Good luck! Mine is tomorrow 😬 no experience to help you with but my friend had an EMCS and the baby was almost making its way out by that point so she had to be pulled back. They will get babies from all sorts of positions I’m sure! The main thing for me is knowing my placenta isn’t in the way. To them it’s just another day at the office to find a baby and pull it out 😂