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3rd Trimester
For those of you that have delivered or are at the end....
am 35w5d and found out 2 days ago our lil booger is frank breach. Doc has tentatively scheduled me for a cesarean on July 9, but I am soooo upset at this possibility and likelyhood. He has offered to perform a version on Monday (36w2d) but I am scared of the risks. I wanted to know 1. did any of you have a baby in breach position that turned spontaneously on his/her own? and 2. If any of you had to have a unplanned cesarean whether emergency or otherwise how did you cope with the change in plan. I am scared to death of the cesarean and the recovery. Thanks in advance ladies!!
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Re: For those of you that have delivered or are at the end....
I know how you feel...I was and sort of am still going through it. My docs scheduled me for a Caesarian on June 29 and I was inconsolable for 4 days--it felt like I went postpartum without having the baby first. I was just not comfortable with the automatic change to major abdominal surgery without any major discussion.
I marched into my doctor's office on Monday to have a consult and asked him to transfer my care to a doctor who is trained to do breech births. You can't do this at all unless the baby is frank, but I live in a major metro area and there are people here who are still trained. Unfortunately, the real reason they don't do it anymore is that medical personnel aren't trained in breech deliveries any more. The study that made them go directly to surgery has been repudiated in parts, but that hasn't changed the practice.
My girl was frank breech at 34 weeks--well, she was beforehand as well, but they don't diagnose breech until 34 weeks.
I opted for the version yesterday (my post is just above) and it was successful. The risks are rare but it is not a pleasant procedure. I have my reasons for avoiding a Caesarian but you might not feel that way so strongly. I've known people who have them and are great, fine, heal quickly. And then I've known the other side of women who struggled or had serious complications. The women in my family have super easy labors, very quick, going back about 5 generations. Chances are I would be the same and so I opted for the version because that likelihood beats a Caesarian especially since I live on a 3rd floor walkup.
I am surprised he is willing to do a version at 36 weeks. Mine refused until the baby was full term, minimum 37 weeks, since there is a chance you can go into labor. Babies can also turn on their own and so if its done too soon, you might end up back to square one. I did Webster technique with a chiropractor, moxibustion, and headstands in a pool. I got her to move from frank breech to transverse all on her own before the version, but she's measuring big and ended up needing the hands to move her.
Ask a lot of questions, and if you go for the Caesarian it is probably better to have it planned. There is some evidence it is less traumatic and there are less likely to be complications. You can insist though on giving your baby the most time possible before one is scheduled. I said if I go that route, I am insisting on 41 weeks. Babies can turn until the last minute!
You sound a lot like me. We just don't have surgical births in my family--they pop them out at rabbits and I assumed I would be the same. What a shock, eh? I also prepped as such with natural childbirth and breastfeeding classes.
I don't feel particularly invested in the choices that others make--I feel its the patient's choice (but unfortunately I've been emotionally bullied lately by a quite a few people, even my in-laws, who say "you are lucky they are offering you a Caesarian, its less work!" and "its not so bad" and "all that matters is a healthy baby." Of course a healthy baby matters! Its insulting to suggest to me otherwise.
Its the reality of living in a world where surgery is the first option when there's the least bit of anything different--1/3 babies are born surgically these days. I am not thinking just of the birth but my ability to care and cope from the experience AFTER the birth. I already have depression and a Caesarian elevates the chance of PPD considerably among other concerns in future pregnancies. It IS major abdominal surgery.
I personally have a hard time believing that the jump in risk from 0.4% in risk of a cord prolapse in a head's down infant versus 0.5% in risk of a cord prolapse in a frank breech infant necessitates the other risks that come with a Caesarian--I don't want to overload you with numbers, but if you are interested, you should look at Caesarian risks versus risks of delivering a frank breech baby (this is the only position you should try this--footling or complete is too risky IMO) and see if you can locate a trained provider if you feel strongly against the surgical route. You aren't crazy for feeling that way although many might dismiss your concerns.
If the baby flips back, I convinced my doctor to transfer my care to the high risk group so that the baby can be delivered vaginally provided she is frank breech. If not, its a Caesarian. Short term her APGAR scores might be lower, but I've seen little to no evidence of long-term problems. My great-grandmother delivered a breech baby in 1947 and she is fine and the baby (now a grandfather) is fine. Its sad that apparently we can't accomplish what we were able to do 60+ years ago with any level of confidence because its easier just to teach residents the Caesarian.
Consult the ICAN website for local contacts and information to carefully consider your options. In the meantime, consider visiting a trained chiropractor who can do the Webster and/or try moxibustion with a acupuncturist as well as visiting a pool!