Any breech babies that turned at the last minute?

valeivegas · January 2011

My LO is footling breech - I think he's always been in this position since I always felt his kicks way down low. We decided not to try an external version - I just wasn't comfortable w/ the risks. I have a c/s scheduled for next Tues, but I know there is still a small chance the little guy could still turn - he's been very active & yesterday it really felt like he was trying to do something down there.. Anyone have any experience like this, where your baby turned at the last minute, or even once labor started?

luvdv8 · January 2011

A friend of mine had her LO flip at 38 weeks (3 days before her scheduled section). It can happen, though not often.

jayellekay · January 2011

I'm currently dealing with this. LO is frank breech and hasn't changed position in 6 weeks. Dr. and chiropractor are afraid that she's content to stay. We're working on alternative turning methods, but a version may be in my future at around 36-37 weeks.

Can you tell me what the risks are or what you researched about the version? My doctor, who is very natural-minded, low-intervention, etc., didn't seem concerned at all about possible risks, so I have kind of followed her lead. I'd be curious to know more!!

valeivegas · January 2011

My Dr said either a version works quickly (the baby is easy to turn) & pretty painless, or takes a long time, can be painful & not successful. You can find a lot more information online, but some risks include the cord being wrapped around the baby (they would most likely find this if the heartbeat started to drop), & the placenta can become detached. They would do the version on the labor & delivery floor where you'd be monitored. My Dr. told me if the version were to work they would probably induce me right away (which I really didn't want) & if my cervix was 'unfavorable' (ie not dilated) it could end up in a c/s anyways - which could be a good chance for me since my baby is larger than average (over 8.5 lbs at least). Dh & I really thought about it, and we decided the baby is in the position he is for a reason, he's comfortable & why mess with it - for us a c/s seemed the safer route even though it is surgery. It took me a while to come to terms with it - I really wanted an all natural birth, had a doula lined up & everything - but the main thing is that both me & baby are healthy in the end. GL - I hope it goes well for you - try some of the turning techniques too! I did, but they didn't work for me..

needanustart · January 2011

I'm in the same boat. Since I have mentioned to a few people that the baby is breech and we'll eventually schedule a c-section if it doesn't flip, people have come out of the woodwork with their "flip at the last minute" stories. My one friend's baby flipped the day before her due date and a co-worker's baby flipped while she was in labor at the hospital (after trying some of those hang upside down positions which I'm sure you've been trying!). Also, the co-worker's baby was almost 9 lbs- so it doesn't necessarily need to be a small baby to make that turn if that's what nature wants! The one thing I also won't try is version because we kind of decided the baby might know what is going on in there better than me right now and 2 of my friends who have tried this ended up having their water break within a few hours and then got rushed in for an emergency section. I know others have had success, but it freaks me out a little. I figure I will just wait and let the baby make the call because I don't want that to happen at like 38 weeks if it plans on making a final flip at 40 or something! Just stay positive and think flip! They definitely still can pretty late in the game!

schoolsoutbride · January 2011

Not until we did an external version (which was pretty easy, actually, and I preferred the risk of it over the risk of a c-section for that and all future pregnancies.) If you search external version in my blog, you can read about it, if you want to see a first hand account.