Breach at 36 weeks. Any one had this?

[TeaPleaseX]

Really worried found out at the growth scan today. I am 36 weeks.
She is foot down. Will I have to have a c section? They have offered ECV but I'm hesitant to try this sounds very painful. Just don't know what to expect.

Had an ecv 37 weeks
all went very smoothly
baby born at 40+2 no complications
prior to this she was firmly breeches both feet down head rammed under my ribs/boobs and c section was being planned.

My first two were breech. They tried ecv with first but he flipped right back. Not enough fluid to try with second. Both ended up being delivered by c section and 3rd also came by section in spite of being head down. Ecv was pretty uncomfortable and verged on painful. I think they have a 50/50 success rate.

You should have had a discussion with the doctor after the breech was identified to talk through the options. Did they offer you this? My understanding is that foot down is the most dangerous and so you are told exactly what needs to happen, but my consultant said i would not be allowed to try for a vaginal delivery if she was foot first, it would be either c section or successful ECV.

My breech baby was bum down - i declined the ECV and booked a c section for 39+5 (i had a vaginal birth with my first and so i was fairly relaxed about not having another one). On 39+2 DD2 turned herself in utero and i went into labour on 39+3 so was able to have a vaginal delivery. I was told that this is very unusual as usually babies run out of space to turn that late, but DD2 was quite small. She had been breech since 28w so i was really surprised she turned, but when she was born, the midwives said she had an unusually long cord so my theory is that maybe she had got herself caught up in it?

C-section is the sensible way to go. I was awake through the whole procedure and I don't feel like I missed out on the birth. No regrets.

I've got a meeting on Monday to talk about it all. They've given me some leaflets now about the ECV and c section risks.
But I do feel they are pushing me into an ECV and to deliver footlong! The woman said oh you don't want a c section you've had 4 other kids so baby will come out foot first and we don't touch you at all, we let your body do it. BUT this hospital is the same hospital who ignored me on baby 3 in labour and refused to listen to me. When I said I needed to push and I ended up doing it on my own, at the end of the bed holding my baby's head in place as we both nearly came of the bed. As they'd made me sit right at the end of the baby as baby was back to back .
They then said only a highly experienced midwife could deliver a footline? Baby. Very stressed tbh.

36 weeks is still early. My third was breach at 37 weeks and I was showing low amniotic fluid so they all were adamant baby wouldn't turn. I drank lots of water and walked everywhere for a week and when I went back at 38 weeks he had turned and my amniotic fluid was normal. Babies can turn any time and I think there's always a reason if they don't, in my case it was because I was very dehydrated after a holiday abroad drinking coke on the beach when I should have been drinking water.

@TeaPleaseX my mw said they're much happier to try and birth breech babies vaginally if you've had previous successful/uncomplicated deliveries but this was 16 years ago so I don't know if that thinking has changed!

I would opt for an elective C-section. Both of my babies were breech. I was offered an ECV with the first which I refused. Apparently, it would have been unsuccessful and potentially dangerous. They found out after delivering my baby by emergency c section under general anaesthetic that I have a uterine abnormality. Anyhow, my first baby I delivered feet in triage because they didn't believe I was labour and then was rushed in for an emergency C-section. It was very scary. The second was a planned section and it was lovely and stress free.

Also, if you don't have confidence in your hospital or midwife team it might be better for you to go to a different hospital id that's an option for you.

There's still time for things to change, get onto Spinning Babies and try out the positions they recommend.

That said, if you don't fancy attempting an ECV, don't do it. I gave it a go for my breech baby and they gave me gas and air for it! It was really unpleasant, two people had a go at turning her, it took ages, and she just was not for turning. I'm glad I tried it, and it wasn't traumatic or anything, but I really really hated the experience - I think if I were in the same position in future I wouldn't bother with it and go straight for scheduled C-section. No harm booking a date for one and if baby turns in the meantime you can just cancel.

Hi @TeaPleaseX I am in a similar position - found out last week at a growth scan that baby is breech (38 weeks tomorrow) I have been for an appointment with a Dr today to discuss ECV vs ELCS but did a lot of research over the weekend. We have made the decision that for various reasons we are not going to try the ECV and a section is going to be booked. I am going to try tips from spinning babies to turn her naturally and if she has moved by the day of my c section then we will leave things to happen naturally.

Do your research and stick to your guns. The Dr wasn't pushy today but did suggest I should try ECV.

Good luck :)

Just wanted to say that I had this at 36 weeks and had the ECV. I was thinking it was going to be really painful but I didn't feel a thing. Just felt they were moving my belly around. The dr said that it feels different for everyone so it might not be so bad. I have to have gas and air for sweeps though as I find them so painful.

Im very pleased you will be having a meeting. Thats interesting about the footling. The obstetrician we spoke to said that they could attempt a vaginal delivery with a skilled midwife for a bum breech, but they would not advise it for a footling breech. I asked for a meeting with the consultant midwife as a second opinion and talked through all - she sent me this link, which i found really helpful https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/breech-baby-at-the-end-of-pregnancy/

So crazy. Had midwife appointment this morning confirmed as breach again so sent to hospital to make a birth plan on c section dates etc.

Whilst there they've scanned me and she's gone head down! I didn't feel her flip in the last 2 hours. But they said I have excess waters so could be cushioning the movement? But hopefully she stays head down now. I'm 37 weeks now so hoping she just arrives any time soon!.

Fingers crossed 🤞

Aah that’s a good update - as you probably know the closer you get to due date the less space for them to do any turns or somersaults so she may stay in position now. All the best for the birth - these last few weeks seem very long I recall.