Breech at 36 weeks - experiences please

[Tinadecember]

Hi all,

Been for a private scan today at 36+3 following my midwife being unsure of the babys position. Turns out that the baby is extended breech (bum down and feet in front of face) and he is measuring 2 weeks ahead

I guess I am looking for personal experiences if you have been breech at this stage. I am terrified of having a section, happy to try all methods to try to turn him before reverting to that. Has an ECV worked for you? Did your baby turn naturally after 36 weeks?

All experiences welcome please 🙂

I’m 2 weeks behind you and baby is breech also, has been for weeks. Really need some tips to help him move 😬

Hi. My baby was breech at 36 weeks. My midwife gave me some exercises to do, can't remember them now but Google may help? She also told me to bounce up and down (gently!) on my birthing ball. I then had an ECV but unfortunately nothing worked, she was a stubborn little madam! In the end they told me a planned c-section would be the safest option for delivering my baby, so I went with the advice and had one. I was scared too but honestly it was fine, very calm and controlled and I felt like we were both in safe hands. Try not to worry, it will all be fine.

I just had an elcs at 37 weeks due to baby being breech. My last labour was a very quick natural delivery so I was a bit disappointed this one didn’t do the same. I had very low fluid so I knew from week 32 he was unlikely to turn, and the doctors didn’t try to make him. But, the c section was calm, quick, safe and I’d really recommend it. I’m 2.5 weeks into recovery and I’ve felt very normal since the end of the first week.

Hi there! I found out I was breech at 36 weeks also. I was sent away from my midwife appointment with exercises like the forward leaving inversion and roaring my hips on my birth ball.

I'm sorry to say none of the above worked after 2 weeks. I went for a scan at 38 weeks exactly and they found my DD was still breech after trying everything I could.

I was then immediately refereed for an ECV procedure- it was extremely painful but has a 50% chance only working. I would only recommend this for people who are desperate for a vaginal birth.

Mine didn't work unfortunately .... 10 minutes later hospital gave me a date for my planned c section and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! I had no birth trauma and myself and DD have the best bond.

@Samthenanny sometimes baby is just too comfortable in their position to move! That's sometimes a good thing rather than making them stressed and uncomfortable.

My second was breech at 37 weeks. Told he couldn't possibly turn etc during the scan, although I felt I'd been experiencing 'turning' movements throughout the previous weeks. Had more of these over the next week and by 38 weeks he was head down. (Admittedly pregnancy seemed to me to be misdated -- brought forward by 8 days at 12 week scan, so 37 weeks was probably 36.)

I had acupressure as baby was breech that I paid for privately as I was desperate! I'd had a section with my first baby and wanted a vaginal delivery this time (absolutely nothing wrong with the section and was willing to have another, I just wanted to give a vbac a try due to shorter recovery time). Baby did turn but obviously I can't be sure why.

I know it feels very stressful right now but honestly, a section isn't anywhere near as bad as you think it will be and afterwards you'll have your baby and not care at all how they arrived.

My daughter was breech at 36weeks, I was scheduled for an ELCS at 39 weeks but my waters broke before that and I had a EMCS at 38 weeks. I was terrified going in for my EMCS but it really was the most amazing experience, the team were fantastic, I have no trauma following it and I was in recovery holding my daughter within an hour. It was such an amazing experience that I have opted for another CS this time, I am currently 16weeks pregnant. I recovered well from my CS. Good luck with your birth, I asked lots of questions in advance of my CS and that helped me prepare for what to expect.

I’m in the same position OP. 36 weeks and baby is breech and has moved from breech to transverse throughout the whole pregnancy. I’ve had loads of growth scans and they were only head down for one of them. I’m seeing the midwife again in a couple of days and if no change then I’m being referred back to the consultant where I assume I’ll be offered an ECV from what she’s told me but I’m not sure if I want that yet or just to request an ELCS. Baby’s movements are all up in my ribs and I’m in so much pain!

All of my DC have been breech late on. First would not turn for love nor money- I have a womb abnormality and she was wedged right in. ECV failed. I didn't find it that bad to be honest and it didn't put me off requesting one when I found out Second was breech. Second went breech at 36 weeks. Booked an ECV for 38 weeks. In the meantime I did all of the exercises on spinning babies and contacted a local doula who did a lot of rebozo work. The spinning babies stuff didn't shift second though may have made some room in my pelvis- the rebozo flipped her the same night. Bloody amazing. She stayed head down then. Third also went breech at 36 weeks. Didn't even bother with booking ECV- rang the magic doula again and exactly the same thing happened, except he flipped during the session. I'm a scientist- I don't do woo but I'm a proper convert to rebozo!

Lots of lovely big and small hula hoop/ figure of eight motions in different directions and different speeds on your birth ball. Make sure the birth ball is the right size- you want your knees below your hips. Please don't bounce! Bouncing will just put baby lower into your pelvic inlet. The whole rationale of turning a breech (even with ECV) is to lift them out of the pelvic inlet to give them the space to go head down. Lots of forward inversions off your couch (look at the spinning babies website) to help encourage baby out of the pelvis then straight onto the ball to rotate hips. Make sure you have someone around when you're doing forward inversions to support you and watch you if you go light headed.

Breech is a variation of normal. You can always try for a breech birth too. X