breech baby - hip dysplasia?

[ecossegirl91]

i'm almost 37 weeks pregnant & baby has been breech since 34 weeks.
I've just read online that breech babies are more likely to have hip dysplasia and now I'm worried!

Whats the likelihood? does it start from a small baseline so in real terms the risk isn't that much higher than a non-breech baby? e.g. if a non breech baby is 1 in 1000 is a breech baby 3 in 1000 etc?

Anyone had a breech baby and no hip problems?

I did. It doesn't follow through that there will be hip problems. Their legs stayed in a sort of froggy position and they had to have a follow up scan to check the hips.

Oops that should have said their legs rested in a sort of foggy position for a few months.

Two breech babies here. Both were breech from very early on and resolutely stayed that way. Neither has any hip problems. We did have appointments at the hip clinic - but I think that was just a formality and we were dismissed very quickly. I hope that’s reassuring!

My breach baby had hip Dyplasia but she was born at 36 weeks which is another risk factor. However she was also breach for pretty much all my pregnancy x

Most hospital trusts have a breech pathway…..baby will be offered a hip scan a few weeks after birth

@PiratePetespajamas Thank you - that is reassuring to hear! Annoyingly they were head down until 34 weeks and then decided they didn’t like it anymore!

@e323 did your little one need a harness?

My daughter was breech but I had a ECV at 37? weeks. Had a hip scan but all ok. She's 6.

I did. My trust automatically do hip scans on all breach babies, so the first I heard about it was when we were given an appointment for when DD was 2 weeks old. In her case one hip was slightly underdeveloped, so we had to go back at 3 months to see if it had corrected itself, which it had. Not sure if it actually helped but we used a sling a lot, which holds the hips in a good position for healthy hip development (froggy legs).

I had an undetected footling breech at 34 weeks ( didn’t know till I was in labour and they felt toes instead of a head when they did an internal) vaginal birth. She had ‘clicky hips ‘ for a while and uneven creases so was monitored for a while, a cast was mentioned but wasn’t needed. She had a couple of scans and regular checks. She was absolutely battered when she came out and it was a really rough birth . The clicky hips were put down to birth trauma I think, she was covered in bruises. Shes fine now but has had cortisone injections in her hip as an adult . No real lasting problems . Also took a couple of weeks for her to straighten out! Good luck with your baby I’m sure you’ll both be fine .

I had three bottom down breech babies. Three ECS, all three attended regular hip clinics, only one needed anything. Her hips where slightly shallow. Didn’t need a brace just double nappying until she was one year old! Absolutely no long term problems with any of them.
I think as your baby has only just gone into the breech position a lot of the hip development will have happened normally. Try not to let worrying spoil the rest of your pregnancy. What will be will be, and most things can be resolved

Another that was breech and all was well.

Can't give you any advice but wanted to tell you a good news story of someone born with clicky hips.

I had clicky hips. Was in a cast for a few months but have never had long lasting problems. I am a regular runner. The only recent thing was both my kids had to have hip scans but we're both fine.

All the best with the birth

My first was breech (bum down). Had a routine hip scan at 3months, all clear. Never had any problems. I don't know the stats but I think the vast majority of breech babies are fine. Good luck!

Mine was breech - hip clinic at 6 weeks or something, and all well. We used the sling a lot, which I think can help. Also used reusable nappies, which keeps their legs in a slightly more favourable position too.

I know it's hard, but try not to focus on it! Cross that bridge if you come to it, rather than worrying about something that may or may not happen.

For what it's worth, I was fixated during my first pregnancy on my baby being gluten/lactose intolerant. For no apparent reason. (He wasn't...). Pregnancy is a wild ride, and I'm not suggesting you are, but made me think very odd things!

Thanks all - making me feel better 😃

My DD was breech from around same time 32/34 weeks she was born at 38+6 via EMCS. She had to have the hip scans due to being breech but all was fine and no issues.

Yes she had the Pavlik Harness for 7 weeks but is absolutely fine now at 3.5 x

Didn't have a breach baby but had a hip dysplasia baby anyway! It was diagnosed and treated at 1 week and was really not the end of the world now I can look back. I'd say ask about getting a scan to ease your mind but don't stress too much, the pavlik harness is pretty successful if you do end up down that road

My daughter was breech we had a routine hip scan shortly after the birth - one hip totally fine, one hip slightly on the cusp so we had a follow up scan a month or two later and it had self corrected. Would also recommend using a sling.

thank you!
so sounds like a scan at the hip clinic around 6 weeks after birth and will either be no issues, mild issues that self correct or perhaps the harness!