Breech baby

[Lily189]

Hi everyone

I'm pregnant with my second baby first ended in emergency c section due to fetal distress and cord round his neck
The hopsital is happy for me to have a vbac
But my baby has been breech at my last 2 appointments

My next appointment is 3rd december when I'll be 36 weeks
I'm getting really worried as I'm scared I'll go and of shes breech they'll schedule a c section my first one really scared me and the problems I had healing had me really depressed and took away from enjoying the first month with my son

I've been walking loads cleaning skirting boards I dont think shes changed position

Can I refuse and evc and a c section to see of she turns on her own
I'd rather wait and see how things go
Has anyone been through this
What happened at your 36 week appointment did you have an evc
Love hear everyones experiences so I have some idea what to expect really stressing me out atm

Any help turning this baby would be good too
Tia

Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in in case helpful! My daughter was determinedly breech from about 28 weeks - my midwife kept telling me it was more likely she'd turn as only 2% of babies are breech but despite lots of effort from me to get her to turn she would not budge! There's a website called spinning babies with exercises you can do - this mostly consists of kneeling on the edge of the bed/sofa and inverting yourself so your head is on the floor....which isn't the easiest thing to do when you're 8 months pregnant! That and lots of bouncing on a pregnancy ball. Didn't work for me but may be worth a go? I initially really didn't want a c-section either but once I realised she wasn't going to move and got my head around it I actually didn't mind. I didn't have a previous bad experience to contend with.

At the 36 week scan they basically look to see if the baby is still breech (the midwife felt my bump first and said I'm pretty sure she's head down, I knew she wasn't and...she wasn't!) Once it's established that they're still breech they discuss your options which in my case was either an ECV which I really didn't like the sound of and refused or a planned c-section which I went for. Some hospitals will let you have a breech delivery if they have a specialist team so that could be an option if your hospital do them. It wasn't an option for me as she was my first baby and they weren't sure how I'd labour.

I don't think they'd let you leave it until you labour spontaneously as there is the risk of cord prolapse. My waters actually broke 2 days before my planned c-section and I had to get in fairly quickly.

Hope that helps!?

Hi OP- my baby has recently moved from head down to breech (grrrr) and I’m 35 wks so have been frantically looking at things to try. I echo the PP about the spinning babies website exercises and birthing ball- I’m giving these a go and I’ve also read on some NHS trust websites about moxibustion. It’s sort of a combo of Chinese medicine and reflexology- have a look on YouTube. You can DIY if you get hold of some moxa sticks and the Chelsea and Westminster nhs trust doc I read said to do it for 10 days consecutively. It all sounds a bit mad and woo but apparently there is now an evidence base for it helping.
I’m like you and not keen on either ECV or c section, however I have a friend who had an emergency C with her first and a planned C with her second and she said the planned C was a million miles away from her first C sec- so much calmer and much more positive an experience. Hope that makes you feel a bit better about prospect of a planned section if that is the route you go. I am not sure what the policy will be at your hospital about waiting until labour to see if she turns. I think it depends on what type of breech position baby is in- some are better than others from what I’ve read anyway. Cord prolapse is a real risk for transverse babies once in labour I’ve read- hope I’m remembering that correctly! Good luck getting baby to turn- hope they do for you 😊

ALso worth having a google of gentle caesarean and discussing with your midwife/ breech team how they would/ could support that. Might help alleviate your worries more around that route

You can refuse ECV (I didn't actually think they were recommending if you've had a previous c section) and schedule in a c section sometime during week 39. I was prepared to vaginally deliver my breech baby but the hospital had no one prepared to do it. If they're the same they won't want to wait beyond 40 weeks I don't think to do the c section.

To pick up on what op said they wouldn't allow you to labour if baby went transverse - mine never did, only head down and breech.

I had an emergency section with my first followed by an elective with second who moved between breach and transverse. The two sections were very different experience, the electives actually ended up being a really positive experience, despite not being what I would have chosen. It was very calm and relaxed, and healed much quicker, so even if you do end up needing a section, it won't be as bad a you think.

My electives section was booked at 36 weeks for during week 39, but I was given the option to have a scan on the morning, and cancel the section if baby had turned.

My baby was breach for most of my pregnancy. I tried the exercises to move her, acupuncture, this other Chinese medicine of smoking near certain toes. In the end I gave up as I thought she was happy where she is. I declined an ECV after quite a bit of reading and understanding a lot of them go into emergency c sections anyway. I had a planned c section and honestly it was perfect. I kept mobile, gentle short walks building myself up. Best of luck x

I had a planned c section with my first and it was amazing I read so much about them and it seems like emergency c sections and planned ones are like two totally different things! Anyone I know and so many stories online say there planned c section was amazing and the recovery isn't as bad, the day after I had mine I was out of the hospital and within a week was able to do pretty much everything on my own ( apart from carry baby on the stairs ) , so if it ends up you have to get a planned c section don't let your last experience scare you