Anyone had a breech baby?

shellbug79

Found out on Friday that Oliver is breech. ?The Dr said that we can try to "flip" him or schedule a C-Section for when I'm 39 weeks, which is in 2 weeks. ?I'm just wondering if anyone has had their child "flipped" or tried to & what you thought of it. ?Also anyone whose had a C-Section tell me why I should not be terrified to have one! ?I'm leaning to trying to "flip" him b/c I really don't want a C-Section.

Michelle?

curlypie1

Nora was breech. My doc said she preferred not to do the external versions because they can be dangerous. I know many women succesfully have this done though. I decided to go with my docs opinion and we scheduled a c-section. I did try the various things to get her to flip. I sat indian style whenever possible. We even had DH with a flashlight and a bag of ice. Yup, we tried everything!

Whatever you decide, just know a c-section isn't as bad as it may seem. Yes, I do wish I could have avoided it, but the baby had other plans. If you end up having one, I would recommend having someone around to help with your older child for a few weeks. I thing it would be hard taking care of a toddler while recovering and taking care of a newborn.

I would be happy to answer any questions you have. Good luck with your decision!

alisonada

I totally understand what you're going through, because I was in your exact position about 7 months ago! I had Piper vaginally, but found out that Kady was breech the day before my due date. My doc did offer me the option of trying a version, but cautioned that that late in the game she didn't have much room to move around in there, and it was unlikely to be succesful. They also explained that it does put stress on the baby and if she showed any signs of distress during it they would do an emergency c/s immediately. I was VERY freaked out and terrified at the thought of a c/s but decided pretty quickly to go ahead with scheduling a c/s. It wasn't bad AT ALL! Everybody's experience is obviously different, but I had a great c/s experience, all in all I ended up preferring it to my vaginal birth. PP is right that you may need a little more help those first few weeks at home, but I was on my own with the baby and an 18 month old 3 weeks out and was fine. If I were you, I'd probably still try all of the at-home methods to get him to flip (google "spinning babies") but if you do end up with a c/s don't stress it, I know it's not what you want, but it's really not bad at all! Good luck!

teacherjess

I have read about some sort of acupuncture where you put heat near your pinky fingers and toes...but I know nothing about it (obviously!!). I wanted to wish you luck in whatever happens, though!

escape1st

::::Raises hand::::

DS was breech and they were estimating that he was 10 1/2 lbs. so I had a scheduled c-section.  My OB said that there was very little possiblity of turning him and they thought that his shoulders may dislocate or he may get stuck during a vaginal birth.

My c/s was great, all in all.  I had it at 6pm and they had me get up the next morning.  Truthfully I was ready to move!  Just take your pain meds when they tell you to and move around as much as you can.  I think that this helped me tremendously.  By the time I left the hospital I was only taking 3 ibuprofen every 4-6 hours and then weaned myself down. 

Here's the weird thing, though, about my c/s:  I will still from time to time feel numbness around the scar, esp. after exercising or walking for a while.  It's weird, but normal my OB said. 

Whatever you decide, good luck! 

Klmorgan83

DS wasn't breech, but I had a c-section because he wouldn't descend.  My advice is definitely make sure you have someone around to help with the older one...you're not supposed to lift anything heavier than the baby. 

The biggest thing I wish I had prepared for was having the right clothes to be comfortable with my incision.  You'll want plenty of pants/underwear that go up and over your incision. (That means granny panties!)  I wore the mesh underwear for much longer than I really needed to because they were the most comfortable.  Make sure they aren't too tight and go up to your belly button!  I needed these for a good 8-10 weeks at least after my c-section.

Don't be terrified of it, the surgery itself wasn't bad...didn't feel anything, just some tugging.  If you end up with one, make sure you get up and out of bed and moving around as much as possible, and take any meds they offer you!

Good luck...I hope he flips for you!

june10-06

Ds was breech and our ob mentioned flipping him (version), but said the way he was sitting and bc he was measuring big it would be tough. We opted for a c-section and now I wish we would have tried a little harder to get him to flip. I didn't think having a c-section was terrible, but I had never had surgery before and really found it kind of tough to recover and care for my newborn. I haven't heard of too many moms who have had versions lately...I'm wondering if any are out there? Anyway, c-section is nothing to be afraid of, but I think on top of the pain, that people prepare you for, you are also more tired and run-down bc your body is trying to repair itself. GL, either way things will work out just fine!

kel716

I had a friend who did attempt a version.  She wound up with an emergency c/s.  She knew going in she would probably have a c/s that day, and because of her high bp they attempted the version at 38 weeks.  FWIW, of all of my friends, I was the first to deliver vaginally.  I know a lot of women who have had breech babies and gone with the c/s (or wound up there). 

If you do wind up with a c/s, take your pain meds and get a mini fridge for the upstairs of your house if you don't already have one.  That way you don't have to climb the stairs for a cold glass of water.  (We kept a pitcher and plastic cups with ours).  It was SUPER helpful at first even with my vag delivery. 

hav2run

Brenna was transverse (side to side) until 38 weeks, then she flipped to vertex on her own sometime that week.  I knew when it happened because the new pressure from her head in my pelvis was very uncomfortable.  You do still have some time for things to happen by itself. 

FWIW, I never even thought about letting the doc try a version.  I have been present for some in L&D, they usually want to give a spinal for those because they can be painful and they need your muscles to be relaxed.  Of those I have done the spinals for, I have yet to see one work, but they would not do them if they didn't think there was a chance it might work. 

If you really want to try for a vaginal birth, I would go for it, but as the pp said, be prepared that you might have your baby that day.  I had resigned myself that DD was not going to turn when I was 37 weeks, but she did.  I still ended up with a C, but the recovery for me was easier than the vag birth with my son.  I took the pain meds and gas pills around the clock and walked constantly the second they let me.  It really was not as bad as I thought it would be, and I had no problem caring for DD right afterward.  Wishing you luck and turn baby turn!