Breech baby experiences?

[salimali28]

Okay I'm definitely getting ahead of myself here but currently 33 weeks and baby is definitely still breech, all baby's kicks are very low down and at my last appointment, my midwife said we'd check at the next appointment and have more of a discussion about it then. Though from what I've seen online, it's more of an issue by the 36 week appointment.

I know if she's still breech at 36 weeks then I'll be offered an ECV, has anyone had any experience of this? From what I've read online it has a 50% success rate and runs the risk of causing early labour, is this worth considering?

What about trying for a vaginal birth with a breech baby or is it safer to have a c-section? (I will have a toddler to run around after so a bit concerned about recovery time though I know any labour could end in an emcs)

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated, I'm hoping baby will turn by herself by then but would just like to know what I'm facing if she remains stubborn!

Hi OP. I opted for a c section with my breech baby.

I was offered ECV but nurses and the sonographer told me if it were their baby they would not do it and it really put me off.
The baby can move back and this is very likely, you need to be monitored after to ensure the cord doesn’t (I’m going to use the incorrect terminology here, sorry) come loose/get pulled off/out. It’s painful. I’m glad I didn’t do it as the c section was planned, calm and over quickly.

I had a vaginal birth with a breech baby . Would perhaps have opted for c section if I’d have been left to make my own mind up but the consultant was amazing and reassured me that it was possible and that it was fine and that I could try for a vaginal birth if I wanted to. So I did . Ended up being very quick, bum first . Consultant was present as it was pre term. Without her talking me through every step I don’t think I would have wanted to as it was pre term labour and quite panicky.

@Suzi888 thank you so much for responding. Very interesting to hear that medical professionals wouldn't choose an ECV for themselves, it does make you think! I had read about some of the risks but thought maybe I was overreacting as the midwife mentioned it as though it was such a standard and simple procedure. I was hoping for a natural birth but I don't want to put the baby at any risk so would rather have a planned section in that case. I'm keeping everything crossed that baby will turn on her own before it becomes an issue but I have a feeling she's happy as she is.

Everyone was adamant mine was not breech, sliced me open to be greeted with a bum 🙂 so I don’t have pregnancy-related breech stories I’m afraid, but post-birth you’ll get a hip scan if still breech at 36 weeks (I think) and my baby had DDH so had to wear a pavlik harness for 8 weeks. Was fine after the initial shock! DC2 was breech and scanned to and all fine so definitely not a given!

@MrsTeaShore oh my goodness you are so brave! I'm so glad you were able to have that reassurance and feel happy with having a natural breech birth, that's amazing! The thought of a natural breech birth terrified me, I'm not going to lie. I had difficulties with my first labour and needing interventions and that was with baby in the right position so I think that clouds my judgement.

@salimali28 I also googled it and just didn’t feel comfortable. I’m also a worrier so would worry they pulled something out/baby would move back anyway. I had two consultations with consultants who told me it was fine and tried to persuade me in to an ECV but nurses etc all said they wouldn’t do it and yes it did sway me.
It’s a personal choice, good luck with whatever you decide.

@MassiveSalad22 I had no idea about the scans, how scary that must be for you. So glad your DC1 was okay afterwards and that DC2 didn't need the harness. Just another thing to worry about I suppose! Maybe I'll start doing cartwheels to get her to turn 😂

Thank you @Suzi888 and well done on standing your ground, I think the main thing I need to do is figure out what I'm comfortable with and then stick to my guns! The thought of an ECV really does scare me.

I think a vaginal delivery with a breech baby can depend on the type of breech.

My first was footling breech (feet first) and I was told they wouldn't attempt to deliver him naturally. They suggested to me that, as c-sections have become the more popular option for breech babies now, staff have become deskilled in vaginally breech deliveries so it can be harder to find someone willing to do it.

I was encouraged to have an ECV by a consultant, but declined it.

My baby was breach - I'd heard they could try to turn the baby but that the cord could wrap round the babies neck.
I asked my consultant about it expecting him to say it was super rare - instead he was pretty nonchalant and said "oh yes that can happen"
I opted for a C section and I'm SO glad I did - as it was she came out not breathing and a crash team ran in and got her breathing.
She's now 17 and happy and healthy.
(I was also terrified of the pain of giving birth so it was absolutely the right decision for me)
Recovery from the C section was really easy too - at the time I was a maker trader and within the week I was back at my suppliers choosing stock!
Good luck whatever you decide xxxx

My first went Breech between by 32week and 36 week scan and didn’t move back. I was offered ECV but declined it as I didn’t want to put the baby at risk or any complications and was also told it is rarely successful. A friend had it and found it very painful.

I was booked for an elective section at 39 weeks but went into labour at 38+5 so ended up with an emergency section. Best experience ever, so calm, quick and positive. I’m currently pregnant with my second and have a 16month old toddler and I will definately be requesting a section again as it was such a positive experience and recovery was great.

Hopefully your experience will be like mine! Baby was found to be breech at 36 week scan, which was unexpected as at each appointment everyone had said cephalic. I chose to have the ECV, but luckily baby had turned by 36+6 (incidental scan found out, I sure as hell didn't feel it happen), 3 days before I was due to have it.

I was happy to have the ECV, as the consultant who would have attempted the procedure literally wrote the NHS guidelines for it. So nobody better. That, and I hated the idea of having a caesarean section without having tried everything to have a regular vaginal birth first. But that's me.

However, a vaginal breech birth was out of the question. Even if it had been offered (it wouldn't have been, but still), I would have declined. While my trust still has staff skilled in vaginal breech delivery, and baby was frank breech (bum first) even I'm not that desperate for a vaginal birth.

Everything crossed for you that baby turns soon!

I had a breech baby (I though bum first was called double breech....), She was a bit early, and no-one had spotted that she was in that position (scan due the week she arrived); they thought the head was engaged (ho hum).
I had an epidural to prevent pushing too soon - so labour did not seem too hard, and she was helped out with forceps. She has a perfectly round head, due to no compression at birth. She weighed 6lbs 4oz, so that "helped", but even so, I had quite a lot of stitches. She did very well on her Apgar score, and I recovered very quickly on the day - waters broke at 4am (ambulance to hospital due to this), born at 9:10am, and I was painting my toenails at 2:00pm. We only stayed in for 5 days due to her being a bit jaundiced.
The worst part was the encouragement to students to come and observe an unusual birth. Too many people in the room, and I don't think it would happen now.

Ok, so I was in a similar position and came across a website called Spinningbabies.com (or v similar).
and some reflexology practitioners know some key areas to work on…

so I would recommend trying to get baby to move into a good position by these methods…

My second DD was born breech (bottom first). It wasn't picked up until I was nearly ready to deliver as I left it late to go in to hospital so was a bit of a shock. It was missed on the earlier examination. They attempted an emergency CS but were too late and she came naturally. All was fine apart from a small tear for me. She is now a strapping, football-mad 11 year old!

I had an ECV. (was 38 weeks when they finally believed me he was breech) my consultant was very confident that because I'd already had children there would be enough room to turn baby successfully, she did manage to turn him and I stayed to be induced straight after. Really didn't want a C-section with children to look after and not much home help. (DH self employed so no paternity)
Good luck with whatever you decide OP. xx

I think it's really quite sad that we have become so unskilled delivering breech babies.

You'd have to discuss with the consultant if she's still breech at 36 weeks. I think I'd go for a breech vaginal delivery, personally. Especially with a toddler at home. It's such a personal decision though.

I had a 22 month toddler and her little brother was breech / unstable lie ! I had ELCS and I was absolutely fine and was up and about the next day ! I had a third with same problem and did it again!! Can honestly say the caesarean births a million times better than my original vaginal birth !

following... 34 weeks and the same as you. Baby's head is literally under my right rib and super uncomfortable. I don't like the idea of an ECV so if things don't change I'd be absolutely fine with a c-section. It is my first and I have lots of support to help me whilst I recover which is good.

I did with my youngest, now 8 months. I was desperate to avoid a section as we have a boisterous almost 4 year old now.

I tried yoga, accupuncture and eventually had an ECV, but nothing worked. It's funny about the 50% success rate, as there was another woman in having one and hers worked!! Obvs it might not have a few says later, but it was,still funny.

I found the ECV quite unpleasant tbh, the top consultant and another dr both had a go but o was booked in for a section at 40+1. They strongly recommend a section because DS was measuring big and my previous baby was big too.

DS decided to come earlier than his planned section, waters broke at home and he was delivered a few hours later at hospital st 38+4. He was 10lb 6, so yes, quite big!!

DC2 was a breech baby for me. I ended up getting pretty annoyed with everyone recommending spinning babies exercises and things like that - it just made me feel like a failure that I couldn't get the baby to spin. Anyway, I tried an ECV - it didn't work but it also wasn't too uncomfortable so I am glad I tried. My baby was a 'complete' breech (legs low and crossed) which is a bit more risky to try for a vaginal birth than a 'frank' breech (baby bent double with bum down). I'm afraid I totally hated my ELCS - I lost a lot of blood, vomited a lot and was pretty out of it for most of a day. With my next baby, I had decided that if it was a frank breech then I would try for a vaginal birth (he wasn't breech, but he was huge and late and I suspect dr would have preferred if I opted for a c-section instead of induction but I had an induction and loved it). Having said that, I know plenty of people who have had simple and very positive ELCSs. Good luck!

I was at my 39 week check when the GP noted that DS's heart was not where it should be for an engaged head... We looked at each other, said 'Breech?' and she got straight on the phone to the hospital. Appt following day for US scan, where they found DS was an extended breech, so he was basically folded in two with legs straight out... and ECV would be very unlikely to work (and was an hour's drive away). ELCS was the quickest decision I've ever made. The day after the scan I was having checks with the anaesthetist and 3 days later I was in theatre. Recovery was uneventful and long term effects have just been the CS 'overhang' and no sensation between navel and the scar.

I also had the knowledge that my Nana took 72h to give birth to my breech mother... I didn't fancy that! And my mum in turn had a prolapsed uterus and subsequent lifelong incontinence despite me being premature, tiny and induced (I suspect she had pre-eclampsia but she didn't really know) with a very short labour... let's just say I remain glad I had an elective!

Good luck all of you with breech babies!

Very interesting to hear that medical professionals wouldn't choose an ECV for themselves, it does make you think!

No, it was just those medical professionals that felt that way.

ECV has risks - as does every procedure or intervention in labour. That's why you are monitored after. There's no need to particularly worry.

The more pertinent issue is that they often don't work, especially if the baby has been breech for a while. My second was breech, was basically 'sitting up' in my tummy so I had a small round bump & while my consultant was able to rotate him to the side, he just popped back anyway. I didn't really feel my consultant tried too hard!

I'm in Ireland where opting for private care is quite usual (not everyone does - you can opt for public care, semi-private or private - most people have health insurance that covers part of the cost) & consultants are usually v risk averse. Mine pushed for a c-section so I agreed, reluctantly. (I'd had a very straightforward SVD with DC1).

In the end I went into labour myself, the day before my section, labour progressed rapidly & the hospital was v busy so I ended up with a section at nearly 10cm. 🤦🏻‍♀️ In pure statistical terms, this is safer than a breech delivery but I think I would have been fine to deliver breech - they wouldn't let me! I wished after I'd been more insistent but all was fine with the section, I actually recovered the best of my 3 labours (the other 2 being SVD)

Ultimately it's your own preference and what you feel happiest with.

Yes, like others mine was breech by 32 weeks and stayed that way. I did not want to risk ECV, so refused it, and was told afterwards by the midwife that she would do the same thing. Had an elective c section which was a really positive experience. Got told during the operation she would never have turned as had a short umbilical cord. So I'm very glad I didn't try! I got the shakes but they did not last long. Recovery was quick. Baby was fine.

I had a c section 8 weeks ago with a breech baby. It wasn’t much of a surprise as I’d had extra scans for various reasons, so I had time to do lots of research. I was offered an ECV but declined it. I’ve heard it can be very painful and it’s not got a brilliant success rate, however 50% is an average. It’s actually 60% successful if it’s not your first pregnancy, but only 40% if it’s your first. In my telephone appointment to discuss options the consultant was a bit grumpy when I said about that but she didn’t argue! Anecdotally I know 8 people who have had it done and it didn’t work for any of them.

I think the odds of your baby becoming stressed or turning back again are small, but obviously they do exist as risks. I’m almost certain I read (in an NHS document) that giving birth to a baby turned by ECV makes you more at risk of needing forceps too, but I haven’t been able to find where I read that!

My consultant did mention a vaginal breech birth, but that wasn’t something I even considered and she didn’t try and talk me out of it when I said no.