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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Breech baby.........

50 replies

Jaysthird · 15/01/2008 22:07

Am only 34 weeks so i know theres time for a 'flip' but anyone got any stories about their baby being breech at this time, or indeed of any breech births?

I am measuring 3 weeks over my dates and am very big i ,have a growth scan already booked in two weeks time, guess they can tell me then if there has been any movement in the little bugger! ( btw, DD1 was 9 1/2lbs and DD1 was over 11lbs.. so i dont have small ones...)

Also, has anyone had the External Cephalic Version... you know where they move the baby - physically?

Anything at all really!!

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fingerwoman · 15/01/2008 22:17

I know 3 people who had babies that were breech at 34 weeks. all had turned by 36 weeks.
I also know a couple of people who had vaginal breech deliveries and all was fine

ScienceTeacher · 15/01/2008 22:18

I had a vaginal breech birth - no problems with it.

Original poster

Jaysthird · 15/01/2008 22:28

Teacher, was this your first baby? i believe there are different breech positions also?

OP posts:

ScienceTeacher · 15/01/2008 22:31

No, it was my fifth child. It was frank breech, which is the most straightforward.

Denny185 · 15/01/2008 22:33

My first was breech - finally confirmed at 38 weeks, they tried ECV and it didnt work (has 50% success rate apparently), they give you some IV drug to relax the womb - gives sim palpitations - v wierd and then from the outside they push the hips up out your pelvis and literally push one hand one way and one the other to try and push the baby in the direction its facing. They will only try a few times as quite distressing for the LO. Pretty uncomfortable but nothing like labour! I went on to have a section as it was suggested to be safer for me and baby - due to position she was in and experience of staff at the hospital in vaginal deliveries of that position. It was the right decision for me but not 4 everyone.

Different types of breech position can affect ease of natural delivery apparently, ie legs bent/straight/one up one down/cord postion etc.

Hopefully yours will turn on its own and you wont have to worry about it, otherwise just listen to all the information given you and make your own decision re turning/vaginal delivery/c-section.

chipmonkey · 15/01/2008 22:57

ECV was tried with me at 36 weeks. But they gave me no IV drug, Denny mentioning it is the first I've heard of that! I have to say it was very uncomfortable and my uterus seemed to seize up! It was unsuccessful and I went on to have a CS. TBH I wish now that I'd pushed for a natural birth but it was against hospital policy in my hospital.

Original poster

Jaysthird · 16/01/2008 09:17

Thanks for your thoughts and stories, heard that the EVC was very uncomfortable, sorry you didnt get any IV drugs to help you Chipmonkey, TBH i heard that it was given if it was your first baby, otherwise its assumed that as you have had a baby before then you are a bit more supple in that area IYKWIM!

Well will have to wait and see till after my scan!

OP posts:

Tangle · 16/01/2008 09:27

DD (1st) was breech from about 28 weeks and never turned. We were scanned at 37 weeks and she was frank. Had a chat with a registrar, didn't like what we heard (illogical, inconsistent and based on poor research) and booked independent midwives experienced with breech birth. A scan at 40+9 showed she was full breech. I went into labour that night and she was born 7 hours later as a footling breech at home weighing 9lb 12.

One of the IMs used to do ECVs in the days before they decided that doing them next to a prep'd theatre (just in case) was a good idea - she said she wouldn't have attempted one on us and so we declined to try it.

If you want to do some background reading, I found "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites and "Breech Birth - What are my options" by Jane Evans to be very informative and pretty balanced.

If you want to be a bit proactive, find an accupuncturist that does moxibustion, and/or a chiropractor skilled in the Webster Technique (asymetry in the mothers spine/pelvis can tighten the uterus and prevent baby turning - remove asymetry and baby has more room so can turn). Both are completely hands off the baby and won't force it to turn if there's some reason it can't (position of placenta, length of cord...).

Fingers crossed for you

pinkbaby27 · 16/01/2008 13:21

My dd was breech had her feet either side if her head thought out the whole pregnancy. I have 21 week scan photo showing her feet up in her face guess she liked that position!

I didn't have an EVC as dd had less than 5% amniotic fluid and didn't have room to turn. I ended up having a c-section as went into labour at 37 1/2 weeks and consultant was concerned that the low fluid could cause a cord prolapse. So decided that a section would be safer for both of us.

I agree with Denny just get all the info you can about lo's position and have the birth that you feel most comfortable with and is safest for you and your lo.

Hope all goes ok

dizzyheather · 16/01/2008 22:44

hi guys, just joining in on this thread....hope you dont mind....

i am 32 weeks and baby is breach at the mo, i am going for a scan next week...

just wondered what the chances of the babe turning were...

also, had heard that if you kneel on all fours with your bum in the air and propping yourself up with your elbows, this can work.... anyone tried this?

TabithaTwitchett · 16/01/2008 22:51

My baby was breech all the way through. As she was my first, the consultant didn't think ECV would necessariy work and I did not want to try it to be honest. Ended up with an elcs which I don't regret at all. Hope everything works out for the best for you both.

mairseydotes · 16/01/2008 23:04

my baby was breech all the way through. I tried the exercises, ECV (never again even if I could have it) and moxibustion but baby didnt turn and I had an elective section at 39 weeks. I am now 30 weeks pregnant with my second breech baby. This time I am thinking about the Webster technique and am meeting a chiropracter skilled in this on this Friday for a chat. I'll let you know how I get on if you like.

Looby34 · 17/01/2008 16:38

I have a mate who tried moxibustion and it worked, despite being told by midwives that it was a load of old nonsense ! If you can afford it, surely it's worth a go ??

Original poster

Jaysthird · 18/01/2008 11:41

Hi Dizzy, sorry to hear you are in the same boat as me, maybe we can moan about it together! When is your scan? Mine isn't till the 30th Jan when i will be 36 weeks.

tried/going to try other technique's...

Question to those who have tried/going to try other technique's...
do you think it would be prudent to give them a whirl now or wait till after scan- but if i wait , will there be enough time to embark on something?

am going to look up the moxibustion and webster technique now -

mairseydotes it would be good to know how you get on, what it was like etc etc! good luck

OP posts:

Tangle · 18/01/2008 16:25

Jay - if it were me I would do them now. None of the optimal foetal positioning stuff should encourage a cephalic baby to turn breech, and the longer you leave it the less room bubs has to get it's act together...

Good luck

PinkElephant · 18/01/2008 18:51

Mine has been breech all along and I got to the 36wks scan and it turned the night before....I could feel its head down!!! I was so relieved only to feel it then move back into breech position 2wks later!!! It then did another miraculous turn around just before my midwife appoint that week and she reckoned it would now be too big to turn back but was told if it did go back to breech position to phone the Featal Assessment Unit and be scanned and they would make a decision whether to do a c.section. They certainly don't seem to be too kean on natural deliveries with breech babies down here. I'm now 40wks + 6days and fingers crossed it still head down.

ScienceTeacher · 18/01/2008 19:05

My baby was frank breech, so not much different from a cephalic presentation. However, I did not know the nature of the breech, only that the head was in my ribs. I did not consent to any exams late in pregnancy, so my midwife was unaware of the breech.

I did a lot of reading up in those last weeks - the most reassuring stuff was from retired (?) midwife, Mary Cronk. She specialised in high risk homebirths, such as VBAC and breech. Her advice was wonderful.

My attitude going into labour was that it had to be totally natural - no accelaration or pain relief. As long as labour was progressing, then fine. If labour did not progress, then I would come clean about the breech and request a C-section. An in-between was a poor option, IMO, based on the statistics.

foodfiend · 18/01/2008 21:40

My baby had her head rammed up against my ribs from what seemed like about 5 months onwards. She turned herself about 36 weeks, to my relief, though it was a rather uncomfortable night while she did it - felt like there was some kind of wrestling match going on in there. Fingers crossed yours fancies some late wriggling too.

mairseydotes · 18/01/2008 23:21

I had a free chiropracter consultation today. Apparently my pelvis is twisted (not uncommon apparently). My pelvic bone is twisting too (explains the pain I am in down there I suppose)
Manipulation of my spine and neck will effect my posture and pelvis and give me more room in my pelvis for the baby to turn naturally - she doesn't touch the baby.
It was a bit more new age than I expected and I am a sceptic, but she seems to have very successful results from breech baby patients.
The woman ahead of me had chiropracty on her second breech baby and then an easy vaginal birth after having a c-section for her first breech baby.
I need 4 sessions and an introductory session over two weeks asap and it will cost £125.
Nothing to lose but the cash I suppose

Original poster

Jaysthird · 21/01/2008 20:55

Mairseydotes, thanks for getting back to me/us and giving us the details, sorry to hear about your twisted pelvis hopefully they can do something to help that, and in turn help the position of the baby!
I am going to try and find one here to go and see, might see if the private health covers it!

please let me/us know how you get on

OP posts:

claire68962 · 23/01/2008 19:00

Hi I am new to all this so wanted so advice

I have severe SPD, am 34 weeks pregnant and went to clinic this morning was told come back at 36 weeks for midwife checks then 38 weeks for strech and sweep then if that doesnt work 39 weeks for induction (biiiiigggggg 2nd baby for me) I was then asked to go for a growth scan to confirm everythings fine....hahaha
went for a scan at 2pm and everythings changed
was sent back down to clinic to have scans reviewed and...

baby is 6lb 8oz approx at 34 weeks
now breech (first time in all 8 pregnancy scans that its gone breech)
abdo measurements is off the measurement chart (average 110th centile)

whats going to happen - any advice?????
I keep asking for an elective C-Section but they want to try for a normal delivery despite the fact I cant go to the loo without pain in my hips and pelvis

Help me please!!! its been a crazy day!

LOVEMYMUM · 23/01/2008 21:42

Hi Claire.
There may still be time for LO to move. I am 35 weeks and LO is still breech. However, she may still move.

Am not medical so i don't know if SPD makes a c-section necessary. However, a c-section may be necessary depending on position of the baby. Its possible that a decision can't be made until later in your pregnancy. I would go back to the midwife and/or Dr and ask when and why a decision to have a c-section will be made.

cyanarasamba · 23/01/2008 21:49

I had a successful ECV at 37 weeks. Was given a jab to "soften" the uterus, felt a bit shaky but not sure this was from the drug or not. Although it was it was uncomfortable and felt very strange it was all over very quickly. Everyone was very chuffed it was successful and had a lovely lunch out to celebrate.

I remember saying "Bet I end up having a c-section anyway" - well 5 weeks later after induction and a failed epidural that's exactly what happened!

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 24/01/2008 20:20

have a look at the breech watch thread I started last yr, I found it quite helpful and supportive, it might be worth resurrecting it. My DD was breech at 34 wk scan, she turned on the operating table when I was having my ceasarian!! Something to do wiht the epidural relaxing my uterus. Here's a link to the thread, hope that's helpful. Good luck to you and if you end up having a c-section, it really is fine, if not incredibly surreal!

peachygirl · 24/01/2008 20:32

I had a breech baby. I had an unsuccessful ECV, I was also offered no drugs.
DD turned out to be very small and I'm quite petite so she was firmly ensconced in there.
I had a C section and in my experience it was fine. I was booked in for an elective but actually went into labour two days before so it all happened quickly without the waiting around.

I have a brother with severe learning difficulties and I was happy to have the section as in my mind it took away any risk of complications.

If you do end up having a section look for Lulmama she can send you a document with details of how you can make your sections more personal. I however didn't have time to write this down .. I didn't even have chance to tidy up my lady garden and had to suffer the indignity of the nurse and the dry pink razor

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