breech baby at 39 weeks / ECV / elective section / breech birth please help

[El13]

Hi everyone - I am hoping for advice from anyone who has had a similar experience to me.
I am currently 39weeks pregnant with my first baby.
following a growth scan yesterday I was told that baby has gone from fully engaged to breech (his head is under my ribs).
I was mortified and felt so disappointed in myself. I have been offered a ECV on Tuesday but looking in to it it doesn’t seem like the most comfortable / safest thing and has a low success rate.
I have also been told an elective C section or having a breech birth is my only other option.

I think as I have always been set in having a vaginal birth it has come at such a shock a section may be my safest route. I just can’t really get my head around it all and am hoping someone can relate or has had a positive experience.

Thankyou 😊🤍

Don't be mortified or disappointed. It's not something you've done.

I had an undiagnosed footling breech delivery. As they didn’t know DS was breech no ECV was offered. It wasn’t very ‘managed’ as it was all reactive to him being out to his thighs by the time the medics arrived, but all was well. No spinal block or epidural, just a local anaesthetic and small episiotomy.

Subsequent baby was also breech but delivery was going to be more managed, with an epidural and planned episiotomy in theatre etc, so we had a planned c/s in the end.

Both methods were ok - I’m told that the vaginal delivery was riskier though.

Dont feel disappointed - this is absolutely something you haven’t ‘caused’ - all will work out fine, and a healthy happy baby and mum is your end goal, irrespective of how it’s achieved.

I would opt for the section. I went on to have two successful VBACs after mine.

Thankyou for your responses.
i have booked a pre opp assessment tomorrow 😊

@El13 my mums a neonatal nurse and she always says to me not to do the ecv, she said if the baby is breech there's a reason, so go for the section

I'd say to look at spinning babies website but I think this late on probably won't be any help! But worth a look anyway!

I had a failed ecv a few years ago for breech ds. We opted for a planned cesarean instead of going to a bigger hospital with more breech delivery experience. He was cross legged so they weren't confident. I've had a successful vbac since then.

This isn't on you, put that straight out of your mind. I wouldn't recommend an ecv, my research said the same about there usually being a reason. My midwife said all her breech babies that year had turned with ecv though and I trusted her. It was pretty horrible tbh.

I had one and it was painful and felt unnatural. Baby turned halfway twice and went back. The doctor then panicked that our bloods were mixed and I got a c section a few days later…. In the end the cord was too short to support a vaginal delivery so all was for the best. I didn’t bother trying with baby number 2….

I had an ECV. It hurt and failed.

Had an ELCS. It was stress free, a lovely birth experience, I was well rested (no labour) and loved everything about the birth and after birth hours. Yes the recovery is annoying but I just wanted to sit and cuddle my baby anyway!

I then attempted a VBAC for my second, went into labour and didn’t progress after 2 days so had an EMCS. I was shattered, miserable and the post birth hours were a blur.

If you do go for the ELCS enjoy the night before! We had an early date night, and I had a fantastic sleep. Was brilliant to walk into hospital fresh and rested then have a baby in my arms a few hrs later!

I am a retired midwife. I would go for c section without hesitation.

C section every time - my ELCS was my easiest birth, recovery, and early days with the baby.

I had undiagnosed breech at 41+3! So they barely even mentioned ECV to be honest, I think he was too massive at that point. I had an ELCS. I felt the same as you as it was my first and I’d been doing hypnobirthing so was picturing a birth centre / low intervention birth as I’m terrified of hospitals/ surgery - however honestly the C Section was fine. Please don’t blame yourself! There is nothing you have done. I would personally get in the mindset for the C section- keep doing your breathing, read up on recovery (keep on top of the painkillers). I know it’s a shock though at the end of your first pregnancy- don’t worry there are always spanners in the works and at least with a ELCS a lot of the “unknowns” are somewhat removed. Good luck!x

Go to the swimming pool and do somersaults. It works!