Frank Breech/C-Section..Advice Needed!

mommykatie_2010

I'm 37w4d and just had an ultrasound this past Tuesday. The ultrasound technician said my baby is in the frank breech position, but it wasn't that big of a shock for me since I could feel the baby's location and knew she has not been in the head down position for some time now.

 I was really hoping to have an external version done, but my doctor told me I am not a candidate for it because my placenta is in the front and it's just too much of a risk. So, she told me I will need a c-section. I was quite upset over this, I mean obviously I would do anything for my baby and would not want to put her life/safety in danger, but I very much wanted to have a vaginal birth.

 The doctor wants to schedule the c-section during my 39th week. I've been trying to accept this whole c-section thing, but it just does not sit well with me. My gut instinct tells me it does not have to be this way. I'm afraid the doctor is just jumping the gun and just throwing me on the c-section list and that is that. She did say the baby has a small chance to still flip to the correct position, but I don't know.

I've been doing research and from what I have read, frank breech is the best kind of breech position and can even be born vaginally.  I guess my purpose of this post is to maybe get advice from anyone who has experience with this....has anyone had a breech baby turn this late in the pregnancy? has anyone given birth vaginally to a frank breech baby? Anything I should know/do? Any advice, suggestions, information, etc. would be greatly appreciated!

 At the end of the day, if a c-section is the right thing to do and the only option for baby's health, then I will go through with it.

AbJams

I don't have any first hand experience, but my brother was frank breech and my mom delivered him that way. That was 22 years ago though.

MCC1010

Do they suggest a c-section because of the babys position or is it because of the placenta? If I remember correctly the placenta being in the front of the baby is a problem and they do not recommend a vaginal delivery.

mhuston

check out spinningbabies.com they have some suggestions for getting breech babies "flipped"

my LO is breech too and I too do not wish for a CS so I understand your concerns

Manderlin923

You are probably too far along to switch to a midwife but I know my midwife delivers breech babies, some doctors do also. You can also look into acupressure/acupunture because I've heard that works and something called the "Webster technique"

GL  

 

NFL_Wife

Also check out this website/blog: https://www.theunnecesarean.com/avoid-an-unnecesarean LOTS of info and resources on how to avoid an unnecessary section.

Hope baby turns for you! GL!

lite-bright

Just a different perspective with a different doc -- I have an anterior placenta as well, and while I've read that it decreases the chance of success, my OB isn't concerned about additional risks to me or the baby, and she is a-okay with attempting one. She gives it a 50-50 chance of working and less than 1% chance of anything going wrong/emergency c/s. 

For a 50% chance to not have a c/s, we're going to try it. We have the version attempt scheduled for 39 weeks, and if it doesn't work, we'll go straight to c/s. I'm nervous about both procedures, and really wanted another vaginal birth, but at this point I've been trying to get this baby to flip since 31 weeks and nothing has worked. I feel like I've done all I can to avoid a c/s, and if that's how she needs to come out, well, that's that.

I, personally, am not comfortable with attempting a breech birth, especially since my LO is complete breech.  

LuLu78

My friend had a frank breech baby. She did have the option of a version (not sure where her placenta was), but the idea freaked her out and she ended up with a c-section. I would probably be very hesitant to try delivering a breech baby- but nothing wrong w/ getting a second opinion. Maybe you could talk to someone else in the practice, and talk about the version?

epona3

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but I was frank breech and born vaginally.  They didn't realize I was breech until I was on my way out, apparently, so they just told my mom to keep pushing me out!  This was about 30 years ago, so she didn't have an epidural, either (she said she had some drugs, but she didn't think they helped at all.) 

The only complications I had were that my legs were sort of "stuck up" for a while, but my mom is pretty sure I had been breech for quite a while.  I would talk to your doctor about at least attempting a vaginal birth, b/c it definitely can be done!

ETA:  I just wanted to add that I wasn't a tiny baby, either.  I was born a little past my EDD, and weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz.

bobbisworld

I had a frank breech baby and c-section two years ago with DD. We had her 2 days before my due date and they did an ultrasound that morning to check her position and she hadn't moved an inch. They did give me the option of waiting until 41 weeks to schedule the c-section, which you could ask about. I originally was with a group of hospital-based midwives who then transferred me to an OB doc at 37 weeks when it was apparent that DD was breech. DH and I also sought advice from our family physician at the time who is also a close friend. We unilaterally were told that no physician will deliver a baby known to be frank breech because of the risks involved. If your doc knew you wanted to do this, it is likely he/she would ask you to seek alternative medical care.

cocadoll

Just lurking and wanted to give you my experience with my DS. ?He was head down almost my entire pregnancy and decided to flip 3 days before induction during my amnio. ?I was going to get an external version, but wanted to prevent it if I could so I looked on the internet for ways to flip a breeched baby. ?I ended up standing on my head (hanging off the couch so I wouldn't fall) for about 15 mins. ?That was all I could take. ?I don't know if it worked or not, but the morning of my external version (induction day) they did an ultrasound and he had flipped back down and I didn't have to do it. ?I was so glad. ?I don't know if it was me standing on my head or not, but you could always try it. ?