Breech at 38 + 1 - What happens next??

[EmmaKateLouise]

Been to midwife this afternoon and she said she can't tell if the baby is breech or head down but feels very "boney" at the top and more like breech and am 38 + 1 weeks.
MW asked if I got lots of movement at top of bump and if it felt uncomfortable, which is definately does. Often feel like baby is trying to push it's way out and have tender spots at top of bump that are painful to the touch!
Am now at hospital on Tuesday for them to try to feel the presentation and then a scan.
What will happen if the baby is breech?? Have heard horror stories of them trying to turn babies, so really don't want that.
Any good ways to turn baby?? On hands & knees (hubby's ears prick up! )? Kneeling facing down steps?

Turning babies is called ECV (external cephalic version) and is much less horrific than loads of people seem to think. I had one with dd2, and it was a great deal less traumatic than having a caesarean, which seems to be what they do for breech babies these days.

There have been loads of threads on ECV in the past -- i've posted under my previous posting name of frogs.

There are other holistic ways of turning babies (acupuncture and chiropractic) but they tend to be used before 37 weeks.

Don't panic!!!!!! ECV is safe now, didn't used to be in the 1970's tho. Most hospitals give you a 'tocolytic' drug which relaxes the muscles of the uterus, this gives a higher success rate, makes the baby easier to feel and then turn. However, not all hospitals do so check with your doc. Even without the drug, ECV has a very good success rate, from 30%-80% so ask your doc what theirs is. Getting into knee chest position can help although research doesn't say anything conclusive. You should get in this position and stay there for approx 15 mins and repeat 3-4 times a day. DO NOT do it if you feel uncomfortable, any pain, breathless, lightheaded etc.

You need to read round breech birth really, your options are go for vaginal delivery or a c-section. New research suggests vaginal birth is safe if everything is normal with you and baby and baby's head is chin on chest. Most importantly, you need a doc or midwife who is confident/experienced at vaginal breech delivery. Old research which has now been more or less discredited, said all breech babies should be delivered by CS which is why midwives/docs experienced in vaginal breech delivery are hard to come by!!

Speak to your doc/midwife, read up on breech and your options and check out what your local hosp can offer you.

Good luck!

Here's a pic of the knee chest position.....

www.moondragon.org/images/enemaposition2.jpg

My dd was breach presentation a few days before she was born (when I announced this as they were about to deliver her they did a scan and she had turned by herself!) I felt a bit of a wally but I had a c-section anyway (due to a previous tear) and it was a fantastic experience. I know that there are risks etc but for me it was great so all is not lost if you do have to have a section.

best of luck xx

EKL - DD was palpated as breech from about 28 weeks and didn't deign to turn. I declined an ECV. She was born at home as a breech baby with Independent Midwives.

If you want to look at breech birth, google for Mary Cronk and/or try and get hold of "Breech Birth" by Benna Waites. I would say there are 3 ways breech babies are born at the moment: CS, medicalised vaginal breech delivery or a hands off vaginal breech birth.

I wouldn't have had the middle one (on your back, in stirrups, probably in theatre, probably with an episiotomy, probably with forceps, probably with a cast of thousands) if you'd paid me, but that tends to be what Drs will talk about if you push the vaginal breech route. Midwives are more likely to do a hands-off birth, but as soon as you're confirmed breech you get packaged off to the consultant... You might need to request a meeting with the Head of Midwifery if you want to find out what their midwifery breech skills are.

Fingers crossed it pans out for you