HELP! Breech at 38 weeks - could baby still turn in time?

[xMsXhX]

FTM here, 38 weeks pregnant. I was sent for a presentation scan today by my community midwife, which has confirmed my baby is breech. I was presented with two options - ECV or ELCS next week - and I was asked to make a decision before I left the hospital. CS has always been my last resort option, so I told the hospital midwife that I would go for the ECV, but the reality is I'm not fully comfortable with that procedure either. However, saying yes to ECV seemed the easier option to backtrack on later - essentially I said it as a delay tactic to buy myself more time to think things through.

Anyway, here I am, wishing and hoping that some kind of miracle will take place in the next 7 days, that baby could turn and I can try for a vaginal birth. Is this still possible, or am I deluding myself? Some questions for MNetters who've experienced a breech:

Did you have an ECV that worked/failed?
Did you have a CS (EL or EM)? How did you find the surgery and recovery?
Did your baby eventually turn in time, and if so, did you do anything to encourage this (I've already been doing many of the "right" things for weeks, including birthing ball exercises and walking daily)?

Please share your experiences, whatever the outcome, to help me make a more informed choice! TIA.

I had an elective. It was absolutely amazing!!! The best experience of my life. It wasn’t a proper elcs as I went into labour a few days before the booked date, but I didn’t have to wait long, only a couple of hours.

It was so calm, so relaxed, my husband held my hand, we listened to music, our baby was placed on my chest, he cut the cord, and I breastfed immediately. Had skin to skin for as long as I wanted. I was discharged about 15hrs later, I took the paracetamol they recommended for about 4 days. We had a walk around the local park on day 3, stroll along the canal and pub lunch on day 5.

It was honestly perfect and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I would do it again tomorrow!!

DS2 was breach - and turned himself.
Recommended excerises can be found on the Spinning Babies website.
I declined ECV, and was against a c-section. I asked the midwives about a breach delivery - and they said it would depend on who was on shift on the day. BUT, this was number 2 - and that probably makes a big difference. That said, a friend had a suprise breach baby which she delivered naturally.
Hopefully Baby will turn soon.

I was offered an elective CS as my daughter was breech and was booked in to deliver at 39 rather than 40 weeks. I had lost two (very early) before this and although it was a surprise to hear that a CS was on the cards, I was happy to go with advice from the professionals. A very healthy baby girl was the result.
Booked in at 8.30am and delivered by 10.52!
Afterwards I had to be careful, but by then she had been born and I just had to get on with it. Good Luck

My daughter was breech for the whole pregnancy and was still breech at 38 weeks. Like you, I arranged an ECV more to buy time than anything. I did some of the exercises on spinning babies. Lived on the birth ball, crab walked etc. Slept on left side. All the things they said. Got to 38+5 and was asleep in bed and got woken up, wasn't sure why. Next morning went to the ECV appt at 38+6 to find she had turned of her own accord! Midwife couldn't believe it and got another midwife to check and then a scan to check 😄 keeping everything crossed for you. Apparently smaller babies are more likely to turn.

I had an elective section (not really elective, just no other choice) at 37 weeks due to placenta praevia. I literally told my midwife from day 1 that I will absolutely not have a c section 😂. I was absolutely petrified and tbh I did cry every single day from the day we found out it was necessary, up to the section itself. However, it was AMAZING. I had no pain whatsoever, never went into labour either. Everyone was really chilled and took their time with the spinal so it didn't hurt at all (seriously, at all). My husband held my hand throughout and our beautiful daughter was born to All My Love by Coldplay 💖.

Recovery wise I needed my husband's help getting up and showered etc for about a week. By the 3rd week I did a 5km walk. I'm now 5 months PP and absolutely fine, back to running and weights. I don't have a section pouch and my scar is lovely. We want another baby and whilst I wouldn't pick a section again as I want to experience a vaginal birth, I wouldn't mind one.

I had 4 breech babies, they tried to turn the first two, but they didn’t turn. So I had elective sections. The next two we didn’t even bother to try, just went straight for the section.
All four of mine were bottom down, rather than feet down.

My DN had a breech baby born by C-section - she was very happy about it all. My DS who had her first baby by C section and second vaginally said with the benefit of hindsight, she’d have had C-sections for both….

My third was breech until beyond 38 weeks. I had what I thought were some contractions and went in for a check, to find that he had turned. My sister's second was breech, she had a failed ECV and then an elective section. She was quite badly bruised by the ECV and I think that contributed to a post-up infection. Personally I'd go for the elective section every time!

My sister is currently in the same position and after a lot of research decided against having baby turned as apparently there is now research which suggests it can cause long term damage to baby as well as distress, then of course it is very uncomfortable for you. Despite really wanting a vaginal birth she has decided to have the section as the best option for hers and babies outcomes.

There is still plenty of chance for your baby to turn, but even if it doesn't (mine didn't) it will still be fine. Elective sections can be really calm and relaxed. Mine was a really positive experience and not that bad recovery wise.

I decided against the ECV, as I was afraid of the baby being distressed by the procedure, and needing an emergency section, which would be far worse then the elective one (I've had both). I also read there is a small chance of a ECV leading to still birth. It is a low chance and all births have risks, but for me I'd prefer a worse time for me over any increased risk for baby.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. You're all very much affirming my view that the ECV isn't desirable (I've repeatedly told DH long before today that I really don't like the sound of it). My next steps are to spend the next few days doing some of the exercises to encourage a natural turn, then I'll attend the ECV appointment as it will start with a scan to check positioning. If baby is still the wrong way round at that stage, I think I'll tell them I've changed my mind about the procedure and go for the ELCS. Alongside my exercises, I'll also take some time to prepare for CS. I've been so focused on preparation for vaginal birth, it didn't even occur to me that I might be in a situation where I would know in advance that I'd be birthing abdominally!

Yes, with about two days to spare before caesarean! Not my first child though. I was told to crawl around on all fours as much of the day as possible.

I had an ecv. It was sort of very much pushed that I didn't have it as baby was measuring too small. But I refused Cs. Fast forward a few papers to sign and it actually wasn't horrible. The worst was the wait and the not knowing especially after reading so many horror stories about ecv.

My ecv was successful even with a heart shaped uterus ( which is why she didn't turn on her own) she also stayed that way until birth. It wasn't painful just felt a bit uncomfortable, baby was fine and now a sassy 9 year old.

Would happily have it again if needed.

I had my first baby vaginally but the second was breech.

i tried an ECV. It wasn’t painful in any way but it didn’t work in the slightest. Baby didn’t seem bothered by it at all.

so I asked for a breech delivery and was told I’d need a scan to measure the baby. She was large with an even larger head so I was advised c section.

it all went very smoothly and I wish I’d had one for the first! This is coming from someone who was very against c section and did Hypnobirthing, pool etc for first!

That's interesting to hear, as I've been so invested in Hypno and water birthing, so useful to get an insight from someone who's done both. If you don't mind my asking, what is it you preferred about the section to the birthing pool?

DS2 was breech, we declined ECV and booked for elective caesarean as the midwife said it would be unlikely at this stage for them to turn themselves. I ended up in labour 38+5 and had an emergency section but it went perfect, that well that for DS3 I booked for another elective. That never worked out as again I went into labour and he came to quickly so I never got the chance to have another caesarean

I couldn’t get in the pool in the end due to some concerns around bleeding- although I very easily got to 7cm or so with the Hypno breathing techniques etc. my problems mainly came afterwards as I ended up with quite a bad tear which caused a lot of ongoing pain afterwards. The c section felt like a more controlled procedure and I healed quickly and easily. I can barely find the scar now (8 year on).

Update - I'm having an ELCS today as the ECV failed. And I wish I hadn't done the ECV in all honesty, as it was quite traumatic. In theatre later today and feeling calm, if a little tired and hungry!

Good luck!!

At least you know you tried the ECV and that an ELCS is absolutely the best decision for you and baby.

I’m sorry, put it behind you.
Enjoy your beautiful baby