Help me oh wise Mumsnetters!!!....my first lady who I'm 'doula-ing' for is carrying breach.

[3Dmincepie]

She's seeing the midwife on Thursday with a view to turning the baby, my questions are: what to expect with turning, is it likely to be successful? What are the chances of her delivering without a section if baby stays put? Any advice for me to give her / reassure her???

Thankyou!!!

how many weeks is she?

I know, I should just know this, but she's around 33 weeks.

I think there is still a bit of time for the baby to turn naturally. You probably need to swap up on Jean Sutton, Optimal foetal positioning.

Thankyou, off to find it now!

I take it that's a book?

No luck with Amazon

Found this on the homebirth site about OFP www.homebirth.org.uk/ofp.htm

Basically I think things like hands and knees positions are good, slouching back on the sofa not so good... sorry, in a hurry, HTH

I was turned twice in the womb and just jumped back the right/wrong way up. I didn't know they did turning any more.

They do offer it - 2 women in my antenatal group were breech, tried manual turning but no joy, both ended up having elective cs.

I'd be surprised it they tried to turn the baby at 33 weeks gestation, it's usually done later as at 33 weeks there's still plenty of time for the baby to turn. Clearly if they turn the baby now it could quite easily go back. Definitely recommend the optimal feotal positioning. ECV have risks as well as the baby can get distressed, waters can break etc.

Sorry Jodie, just so I'm clear ECV? and thanks everyone, will check that link at work tonight, while I'm working hard....

try this site, agree that at 33w theres still time. good luck!

EVC is external cephalic version, turning the baby basically Google that and you should get loads of info too.

Oops meant ECV.

33 weeks really early.

Pulsatilla in week 37 turned dd2.

Moxibustion is also meant to be very good, a moxa stick is burned on the little toenail.

sorry but as a doula shouldn't you know that 33 weeks is far too early to worry about positioning of baby?

Just had same situation!
OFP, definitely, as something to try.
33 weeks is way too early to worry, though. This one turned over the course of a week at 35 weeks. Was transverse for a wee while. They are surely not going to try external version at 33 weeks?

Is it her first baby?

I had no problems delivering a breech naturally, but I knew that everything would fit through having had children previously.

i think that is a little bit harsh curmudgeonlett, especially if this is the first client... in theory, the lady could deliver anytime from 37 weeks onwards, so does no harm to get prepared.. also if the client is worried and asking the question then the doula needs to find things out!

best things i know of are:

moxibusiton

pulsatilla

asking the baby to turn !!

also if she has ECV, she should check the success rate for her particular hospital as rates can vary quite widely

if the baby stays put she can ask for a vaginal delivery.. mary cronk has some excellent words of wisdom about breech delivery

www.gentlebirth.org has good tips as does Active birth by Janet Balaskas re turning a breech

sometimes, they cannot be turned as the baby needs to be breech.. eg due to shape of the uterus

I just thought there was a long training to be a doula that's all

still surprised but would far rather the question was asked than not

Have a look at "Breech Birth - what are my options" by Jane Evans and "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites.

DD was breech, and was born at home at 41+3 with independent midwives. From my experience I really wish my CMW (I went independent late) had suggested things I could do earlier to help her turn, especially as she'd mentioned moxi,etc, in the antenatal classes. I can see its catch 22 though - most babies will turn, so why make mothers fret? But how about those that didn't? By the time they were prepared to suggest I start doing, there was much less chance the baby would turn whatever I did.

If baby stays breech and she doesn't want a CS just make sure she's very clear on the difference between a vaginal breech birth (hands off) and a vaginal breech delivery (very medicalised), and her care providers are also aware of the distinction and have experience. When I talked to the registrar they grudgingly talked about "letting" me attempt a vaginal delivery in theatre, in lithotomy and with a cast of thousands... Didn't mention a breech birth at all

good luck to your client

i had a doula and my baby was lying breech for a while. she focussed her advice and info to me around that time on the optimal foetal positioning stuff. I found that really helpful cos i got all the medically stuff from the midwife anyway. WE never got into the 'what if', cos the reality is, with the right info, there is plenty of time for the baby to turn still (as mine did)

You aren't by any chance in London are you? If so you could request a visit to the famous baby-turner at St Thomas's. Terrible bedside manner but the results are amazing.

Good for you, tangle.
I think the problem is that not enough midwives are experienced in breech birth and ask an obstetrician and you'll always get the answer they are most comfortable with, which is not one the Madwives would necessarily agree with...