If you had a breech baby,

[WinkyWinkola]

what would be the most important things for you to know about in terms of birth?

I've got work to do on this for my course and just wondered what parents-to-be would want to see prioritised in terms of information.

my baby is breech at the moment, I am 34 weeks, so there is still time, but I am starting to think about options.

I would like to go for a natural birth (as my previous 2 were), but I realise that this is unlikely, as far as I am led to believe, that is because that many midwives are inexperienced in breech births. the main thing that would influence my choice would be the level of risk between a natural birth and a c section, as I have absolutely no idea how risky a natural breech birth is. But bearing in mind my mum had me breech in the 70's with no pain relief and I was fine, so it is possible!

I would like to know what the benefits and risks of natural vs c-sec delivery were.

I would have liked to know he was footling breech before he was born. When I went into labour I hadn't a clue he was anything other than in the right position! After 38 weeeks of pg and 6 hours of labour, had a scan because I wasn't progressing normally. and only then was breech diagnosed. Emergency section followed very swiftly! 4 weeks and 2 weeks before he was born MW had palpated and said that she wasn't sure of his position because I had very strong stomach muscles, but 2 days before hand she said his head was engaged. In retrospect, if she wasn't sure, I would have liked a scan then and planned a C Section if necessary, rather than needing an emergency one, which was very traumatic for me and DS.

My baby has just turned breech at 37.5 weeks
It was only spotted on Friday as I mentioned feeling a head or bony bottom under my ribs. The MWs weren't sure and had to arrange a scan. I do wonder if it would have been missed if it had been my first

I had to ask for an ECV and was given a leaflet about it but would have liked someone to discuss

the risks properly with me rather than just tell me that it could result in an emergency c-section.

likelyhood of a VB if baby failed to turn and the risks involved. Rather than we don't like to do breech deliveries

things to try at home to turn baby naturally

What happens after baby is turned in terms of monitoring to make sure she doesn't flip again.

My 1st baby turned into breech position at 35wks. My consultant picked it up (16yrs ago) when consultants saw all 1st time mums. He had to scan me to make sure.

I was not given any options other than elective c-section. He told me I was too short and it was too risky to try a vaginal delivery. I think he had c-section in mind anyway as the 1st question he asked he (before anything else) was how tall was I (5ft 1ins).

I didn't ask any questions because my grandmother had breech home deliveries in the 40's/50's which resulted in my uncle being born with a dislocated shoulder, my mother not responding and left to oneside (midwife didn't think she would survive!) and my aunt being born with cerebal palsy (as a result of her birth). My grandmother was my size. To me the most important thing was a live, healthy baby not how I gave birth.

Not had one, but if I was going to I would like to know very clearly the risks on both sides of the Vaginal vs Csection debate. With different options on both for the different positions. (where it makes a difference.)

All my mother's children were breech and my dad always tells me that in the 80s they were told that the danger with breech babies is that there is less time to do anything should something go wrong. (Although we were all born naturally) I don't know if that's true or not, but it would be nice if there was a section of common word of mouth preconceptions were either backed up or refuted.

I have three children, had two home births and am thirty wks pregnant now; asked the breech question,as baby had been breech for a while (tho still early days) and my midwives said they would happily deliver the baby at home (obviously ready to scoot to hospital in case of emergency), so def don't discount a natural birth in hospital. However, the type of breech makes a difference to ease of delivery: google Mary Cronk, v experienced midwife, see her article 'Hands off the Breech!' Good luck!

My second was an undiagnosed breech and was discovered after my waters broke at home although I think it was suspected they never thought to give me a scan. I had remedies from the homeopath to try and encourage the baby to turn but never got to use them ended up in an ambulance and then a midwife and registrar arguing over the best course of treatment c-section or natural while I'm strapped to a bed in theatre. Registrar started quoting scientific reports and we went with the c-section. Had to go to birth afterthoughts session as birth really upset me and midwife commented that she had'nt seen or knew anyone who had took part in a 'natural' breech delivery in over 8 years. Am currently pregnant with 3rd and will pay if necessary just to be sure this time so we can make some decisions and have some control. We had little info while in theatre and little after although there were three othe breeches on my ward that weekend! I would also be able to find out if hospitals list how many breeches they deliver naturally or via c-section and hopefully speak to midwifes who had been involved. My chiropractor at the time said c-section was best. sorry if I rambled.

Psychomumma - thanks so much for Mary Cronk's web page. It mentions that generalised laxity can lead to breech positions - my son was a flexed breech (bottom and bent knees so would have had to push out bottom and feet) and has hypermobility, so do I. I had always wondered if our hypermobility had something to do with this.

It is helpful to know why your baby is in breech and the options available. I had a Caesarean due to the flexed breech and rising bp. I was told that I could have a natural birth but would have 9 or so medical staff in the room and that there would be risks involved.

Can remember well that feeling of his head by my ribs even tho midwife thought it was his bottom.

Maybe Winky please can I add that the mums to be need tonnes of reassurance - not scary stuff about the risks - you can feel a failure in some ways for your baby not being in the right position - and give advice with all the facts but in a sensitive and positive way. At that point, at the end of the pregnancy journey, you need lots of care and support

Alison

i would have liked to have known that my baby was breech before i got to 10cms dilated!

A quick scan would heave been useful and saved me hours of unecissary agony and anxiety.

His hips were defo not his head down "there"!!