So disappointed my baby is breech

[SparklyMember]

Hi all, hoping to get some reassurance/guidance here. My baby was head down at 28 weeks, found out he flipped back up at 34. I tried all the inversions and bridges etc daily, just had my 36 + 3 appointment earlier and he is still breech. They are recommending an Ecv tomorrow, otherwise a planned c section.

I am trying hard to come to terms with my new reality but I am struggling to keep spirits up. I feel like a complete failure and that I did something wrong to need this kind of intervention, like my body has failed at the thing it was designed to do. It’s been a difficult pregnancy with a lot of random nerve disorders and infections that have made the journey suboptimal. I was really hoping that I was coming to the light at the end of the tunnel. What’s worse is I feel angry at my baby that he isn’t in the right position and seems to have no interest in working with me to get head down. I know it’s stupid because of course he doesn’t understand, but I can’t help feeling resentful. Would love some advice or tips if anyone else felt similar and how you made it through.

I'm in the same boat, though in my case baby flipped very late after being head down throughout, and it was picked up at 38 weeks. I went for an ECV yesterday (at 39 weeks) and it was excruciating and didn't work, so I'm having a section tomorrow. Personally I wouldn't recommend the ECV. I don't know anyone who's had success from it, and I found it pretty distressing. Baby's heart rate also dropped during the procedure. I was upset at first at the prospect of a CS, but I've made my peace with it now, and I'm currently trying to relax and enjoy my evening knowing I get to meet my baby tomorrow. I haven't told anyone about the section so I still get to enjoy uninterrupted time with baby tomorrow and announce the arrival to family as normal.

I did ask the midwife what can cause it, and one thing she said which I'm clinging on to is that some babies just feel more comfortable head up. In my ECV she managed to turn baby head down, and within seconds they span themselves back. So I'm thinking baby just likes where they're sitting and doesn't want to leave the cosy space I've created. There's nothing that you will have done to cause this. The most important thing is that baby comes out safely and that you're well at the end - how they come out is irrelevant. However I fully sympathise with you, as I took was upset when I realised I wouldn't get to experience a vaginal birth. That said, after how wimpy I was in the ECV, I might have been a wreck in labour anyway 😂

Please don’t be sad - your little one doesn’t know the medical world has deemed there to be a right way up for birth!

I had a successful ECV (and then induction) - I didn’t find it too bad but I might have been lucky

I know it can be a shock to find out about a breech baby. DD2 was breech, transverse, oblique and then finally breech again at 36w. I declined ECV and just booked a c section for 39+5. I was checked at 39+1 and she was still breech, but i went into spontaneous labour at 39+3 and she was head down! So i had a vaginal delivery after all. Keep doing the spinning babies techniques. It might be too late for moxibustion but if not, give it a try and keep bouncing on a ball. Fingers crossed baby turns for you!

My baby was breech until some point between 37 and 38 weeks when she decided to go head down after all. However, on the final positioning scan to check if she was still breech and book my c section we saw instead that while head down she had stopped growing so I was induced two days later. What I'm saying is, I'd got my head around a natural labour or a c section and hadn't considered an urgent induction. It can all change and we can't plan for it.

I had a successful ecv.
I found the meds I had to take to lossen the muscles the worst part as it made me feel jittery like a panic attack was coming on ( the anxiety of the unknown and hearing horror stories of ecvs beforehand didn't help either)
Then baby flipping time, it was uncomfortable but in no way painful for me. Also no indication baby was under any stress
Baby stayed head down and came naturally 4 weeks later.
If I needed one again I would happily do it.

If you feel comfortable taking an ecv choice then by all means do, but if not, remember at the end of the day, so long as baby is healthy I don't think any mothers really mind how they get into the world when all is said and done x