Breech baby.........

[Jaysthird]

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!!

my first was breech and turned at 39 weeks -even though she was large (nearly 11lb). I was induced at 40+5. However, after trying for a long time to deliver naturally I had an elective - talking about it afterwards the consultant said that turning that late they think her head was not quite down in the right place so my cervix did not dilate as well/quickly as someone whose baby had been down for several weeks. I was exhausted and baby started to show signs of distress.

Same thing second time so i went straight to c-section and it honestly was a piece of cake and exciting.

So get lots of info - everyone is different - and just remember to be excited about baby is nearly here - however she/he decides to come out!!

DD was footling breech - undiagnosed by 3 community midwives and a GP.

I was 9cm dialated when the midwife examined me on arrival at hospital and could feel a little foot bidding for freedom (it was my second labour and progressed extremely quickly).

Within a few minutes I was in theatre and under a general anaesthetic for an emergency section as footling breech is one position contraindicated for a vaginal birth.

They apparently had quite a job wrenching DD out as well - all 10lb 5 of her. To be perfectly honest she did me a favour by being breech as I'm only 5ft 2 and know I wouldn't have got her out. DS was 8lb 7.5 and was a struggle...

Meant to say, I found the C-section absolutely fine - bit sore afterwards but other than that and not being able to drive for a while or take any exercise, it was no bother at all.

Hope it all works out the way you want it to...

Just thought I would add my tuppence.
My daughter was footling breech - discovered at 36/40 growth scan 'cos I was measuring >40 weeks. Tried ECV - very painful and didn't work but was told it was a long shot given her position. Had elective section at 39/40, weighed in at 9lb 8.5oz. I was distraught at having to have the section but was told by my consultant that really didn't have a choice as footling breech v. dangerous to deliver vaginally due to risk of cord prolapse.
Personally, I don't think i would risk a vaginal breech birth unless I knew the midwives were very experienced at delivering them.

Jaysthird I'm in the same position as you, 34 weeks and breech. In my case it might be my low placenta preventing him turning. Like you I have a scan in my 36th week to see what's going on. If the placenta is covering the cervix then it'll be an automatic section anyway.
The funny thing is that for the last couple of months I have been instinctively on my hands and knees, without knowing baby is breech. I'm not sure I want to deliver a breech baby vaginally though, as historically I take a long time to progress (and that was with a head down baby).

Let us know the results of your 36th week scan.

My DS1 was breech - head jammed under my ribs and would not budge. I found the ECV exceptionally painful but although I am glad I tried I would not have it again - a very personal decision.

I did lots of research on the internet about how to turn baby without the hands on approach and nothing was successful for me. Good fun trying some of them though!

I read lots on breech in general and my interpretation of it all is that if you have a supportive and experienced midwife / consultant then a natural breech birth is fine. BUT I could not guarantee that when I went into labour there would be a midwife / consultant at the hospital who would have the confidence / experience to deliver the baby safely and naturally. I therefore decided that for me personally I would have an elective C-section.

If the baby stays breech and you decide on a c-section then read up (or ask on mumsnet) things to take to hospital (it is a very different hospital bag you need), how to make the experience personal and positive and how it might affect you afterwards. I wish I had found mumsnet before my c-section but as both me and DS1 are very happy and healthy it was the best decision for us.

Hi - joining thread late. My DS was a surprise breech, only found out when in labour. Hospital were great and gave me a choice of CS or NB.

MW later told me that breech birth was considered safer in third world countries where MWs had lots of experience of this. Skills have been lost a little here as CS rate is so high. I guess it depends how experienced the staff at your hospital are.

Never had a breech baby but thought I'd share this link of a home footling breech birth Just so you know that it isn't all bad. Good luck.

DD flipped to breech at 37 weeks - the little monkey - and then flipped back again at 37+4. It really really hurt when she settled top down.

I did go for acupuncture though because I was terrified of her coming out bum first!

NB she never did properly settle before birth and was finally ejected through the catflap when it became clear there was no way she was heading out of me the normal way!

Wow, some good messages and info!

I think baby here has turned and is now in a transverse position, i went swimming today and since then it has felt very 'tight' and almost bruised, not sure if this is what it means but i feel certain baby's head isnt rammed under my ribs at the moment.

Thanks asur for the link, i have watched a few breech birth videos, and while its perhaps not ideal, the ones i have seen have all been good.

Scan is on Wednesday of next week so i will know more than, seems to be taking an age to come round!

Glammama, i had a low placenta ( no breech though) with second baby, it moved though and i was able to have VB, hope yours has moved for you, and that baby can turn, likewise, let us know!

Claire68962 i too suffer with SPD, have had physio , belts, painkillers, exercises the lot. With my first pregnancy i ended up on crutchs, but did deliver naturally. It can be done, as long as everyone is aware of your situation, ie NO STIRRUPS and leg supports by MW should you need it, not letting your legs fall out and if you can deliver on all fours. If you still feel uncomfortable about it all i would stick your foot down and demand you get your section, this is your body, your baby and your decision! Good luck!!!

Right off to sit on my ball!

Had two breeches - and two cses. All the doctors went on and on about how the possibility of two breeches was one in a million but it's also happened to a friend of mine so I doubt it's that rare - my chiropractor told me before I got pregnant the second time that the shape of my pelvis made it very likely I'd always have breeches and she was right, though the docs I asked about this claimed there was no link. But then they also continually misdiagnosed the second one even though you could actually see the head poking out of my bump. I had to insist every time I went to hosptial on a scan to confirm it was breech and every time I was right and they were wrong. First time round I was booked in much against my will for an ecv but the baby was already engaged so the consultant who was doing it said there was no point even trying as it wouldn't work and I was mightily relieved as I really didn't like the idea, though I have to say I didn't much enjoy two cses either. Hope your baby turns! x

My second pregnancy was twins, the first born head first, second breach. It was fine because the fantastic registrar sort of manipulated each part of the baby out so all I had to do was push when told and listen to his instructions. So if it can be done with twins then it must be possible with a singleton baby. But I suppose the first baby had really opened up the way for the breach one which must have made it easier. Anyway no ill effects for us all- two lively two year olds !

my ds was born by emerg c/s at 33 weeks due to early labour and he was breech/transverse which seemed to be worst position so i had no option re the section.

however my sister turned her own breech baby at 38 weeks after m/w said it was too late for baby to turn and she was to have a c/s! how i hear you all ask??

right a bit off the wall but it worked for her - go into a completely dark room naked with a torch (just regular torch but brightest you have) and kneel on all fours bum in the air and shine the torch where you want the baby's head to end up.

she wasnt 100% sure it had worked though she had felt movements until her scan where she took great delight in seeing the m/w's face!!

Mummy - hubby's already got out the torch!!!!

oh i hope it works for you! i was planning to try it but baby wasn't going to wait.
i dont know where my sis heard it but it worked for her! makes sense though i guess as babies can see bright lights at that stage.

i can just picture the 2 of you and even if it doesnt work at least you will have a laugh!!!

Both my babies were breech from about 18 weeks, and stayed that way (ECV not an option due to fibroids). Had an ELSCS with both, and no problems with that.

I thought I must be really rare to have two breech babies, but the hospital said it's very common after you've had one to have another.

can i say a massive thank you to all your responses!
whats so crazy is i keep asking for a c-section, its what i want this time. my first baby was a 3.5 day labour, vontose with assisted cut and i was preped for c-section!
my boss who is 17 weeks pregnant went for 1st consultant meeting and was told "so your going to have a c-section this time?" she was mortified and told him so - she has an emergancy c section 1st time and wants to try natural this time
now why couldnt i get him???
anyway i guess wednesday i found out but enough is enough i want outtttttttttt

i have my scan on Wed Claire, so will find out also! Let me know how u get on, we can compare notes

I had a sucessful ECV at 39 weeks with DD1 - had the drug (I recall someone saying it was salbutamol - like asthmatics have, not sure if that's true) makes your heart race like you've just done the 100m, made my arm feel cold and odd, then a little pushing - not at all uncomfortable - but quite firm, one big 'slurping' feeling and all was done.

Lie back down on a monitor for a while pressing a button when you feel a movement -to check that all is still well, then off home.

DD1 arrived a week late in a midwife led centre with only gas and air.

DD2 was breech to 38 weeks as well, but turned in week 39. Home birth.

Spend lots of time watching TV with your backside higher than your head (somewhat tricky), those 'birth balls' featured a lot in later weeks for both of my pregnancies - good for positioning, the old wives tale of 'scrub the floor a lot' is the same kind of thing, try to minimise the amount of driving you do (the angle of pelvis isn't good apparently - and likely to be why mine were both breech for so long - I had a long drive to and from work).

I'd say - try it, it either works and all is well, or it doesn't and you revert to plan no. 2 - whatever that might be for you....

Hi there, DS was breech, had an ECV at 38 weeks - awful awful, would not recommend. I also tried acupuncture and burning chinese herbs near my toes (I was desperate!) but to no avail. DS didn't budge, he was big 9lbs, I am small and he was packed in tightly, so tighty that the doctors nicked his bum with the knife when I was having the elective CS at 39 weeks + 2. DS was fine! 2nd baby (not breech) born assisted ventouse and third good old vaginal delivery with no pain relief as he was in a hurry and 2 weeks early . Good luck in your appt

ok...haven't managed the chiropracter as my DH has been in an accident and I have to do all the running about picking up DS and trying to get to work.
Had a doctors appointment today, not my experienced midwife, and she wasn't convinced of a breech...but couldn't really tell because of the large amount of fluid (same as last time)
I am measuring big for dates as well...
Last week, I burst into tears at a group midwife-led class - she told me that people like me, my sister and mum (we have all had breech babies) would have probably died in childbirth in previous centuries and the pelvis disorder would have been bred out of the gene pool....

what an insensitive thing to say

why does carrying breech mean there is anything wrong with you ?

it is only in the last few years as c.s has been used to deliver majority of breeches, that the skill of vaginal breech birth has been lost

if what your MW said was true, surely no-one would carry breech anymore as would all have died out?? so she is talking insensitive rubbish

sorry you were upset

Mairseydotes, sorry to hear about your DH's accident, hope hes ok, and in turn, sorry you couldn't get to the chiropracter's today have you got a scan booked to see for sure if you are breech?
Nice comments from the class you went tO...NOT! i would complain at the insensitivity of it. Dont take any notice of them, some people just engage mouth before brain!

Well i went for my scan this afternoon, and after waiting for an hour and a half i found out baby is NOT breech, and VERY much head down. So i am relieved that i dont have to make any further decisions about how to deal with it. ALTHOUGH.. it is measuring big. as in off the scales in fact the sonographer did actually laugh at its current size and predicted weight! (Currently an estimated 9.2 lbs @almost 36 weeks) had to see the consultant after as DS was 11.2 but had complications with Shoulder dystopia, they wanted to chat about if i wanted a section or natural. ( i feel another thread coming on for me now)
Anywayfor me, its no longer breech so i hope and pray for all others in the breech situation tha it resolves itself, one way or another! Keep us informed!

hi all

ok had my consultant chat - babies still breech at 35 weeks
want me to have a scan at 37 weeks and see consultant
if still breech then c-section at 38 weeks
if not......then back to basics as its a whooper of a baby!

Had to LOL at the torch suggestion. I tried that with DS1 and also using something cold where you don't want them to be. Apparently babies gravitate towards the light and move away from the cold. I did all of this with my feet up against a wall and my bottom lifted by pillows. I am so glad no one saw me and I was also giving 'instructions' to the baby. Mad as a hatter but the baby still did not budge. Also tried DH telling the baby in a firm voice to move and looking at pictures of babies with heads engaged to visualise what I wanted. I actually believe that some babies are breech for a very good reasons so if they don't move then that is how it is meant to be. I've got my appointment to discuss a VBAC etc in a couple of weeks time so we will see what the consultant says.