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November 2011 Moms
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Some breech baby info - a bit long

ColoradoAllyColoradoAlly member
in November 2011 Moms

I just got back from my dr's appt. where I did two things I never thought I would have done 8 months ago - get a flu shot and schedule a c-section. I thought I'd share my dr's experience on breech babies in case it helps anyone in a similar situation.

First, my dr. is one of the rare ones who has performed several breech deliveries. She has seen a lot of babies die because they get stuck and then they have only 5 seconds or so to get them out, which usually isn't possible. This is why most hospitals won't even attempt vaginal deliveries of breech babies anymore.

She confirmed what I'd been researching and thinking about external versions. They're very painful, don't usually work on first time moms and can put the baby into a lot of distress. I had already decided against attempting a version, so this info just confirmed my decision.

She also said something that I hadn't even thought about, but that makes a lot of sense. She says that in her experience, breech babies usually put themselves in the breech position for a reason. Meaning for survival. She's seen shortened cords, knotted cords and cords wrapped around the neck, and the breech position allows these babies to survive. If they moved head down (or were forced head down via a version or other manipulation), they wouldn't survive because of something abnormal about the cord.

I had never even thought that my baby might be doing what's best for it by moving breech! I have just assumed that it was stubborn and annoyed that it wouldn't turn. So this is a new perspective for me and makes me second guess my do-anything-to-turn-this-baby approach. (I was VERY anti-c-section before getting pregnant. This is not at all how I anticipated delivering, but, like everyone else here, I'll do what's best for baby).

Just for the record, my dr. and hospital are very pro-natural birth (the hospital's birthing class I've been taking has been entirely devoted to natural birth coping methods and positioning). My dr. even allowed me to schedule the c-section after my due date. So this isn't a c-section heavy practice.

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Re: Some breech baby info - a bit long

  • JnJ_9.22.07JnJ_9.22.07 member
    Thanks for this. At almost 34 weeks, I've been very nervous my LO won't flip (she flipped once, then flipped back to transverse), but I'm trying to just remain calm and roll with the punches. If a c-section is what it takes to get her here safely, then it is what it is!
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  • katie0919katie0919 member

    Thank you for the info!!! I too am in a position where my lo is still breech and has been since week 28. I never thought it could be for the reason of survival either! I have a feeling I will be scheduling a c-section soon as well...but like you, will schedule for after my due date to try and give baby every opportunity to turn and for me to go into labor on my own.

    I am very anti c-section as well, and am getting very depressed that I am nearing the likelihood of needing one. BUT, with that being said, I know if it's best for the baby, then it's what I will do.

    Thx again!

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  • charlsie26charlsie26 member
    It's the same decision we came up with too.  Let nature takes its course. 
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  • TheMrsRNTheMrsRN member

    Your ticker says you are 33 weeks. My baby didn't flip head down until right before then. My doctor said they want to see a head down baby by 36 weeks, but not to be concerned about it before then...

    I read alot about baby positioning on spinningbabies.com and it is really informative too!

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  • varkeyrvarkeyr

    How good of your doctor to reassure you about the breech position.I glad she took the time to explain to you some of the problems with versions and reasons why LOs choose to be breech.

      My doctor has been the same. In fact he is the only doctor in my area that has performed a breech delivery in the last five years. He also is of the mind that many babies will flip when they feel like it.

     

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  • sccallasccalla
    One thing my midwife shared with me is that 2+ time moms tend to have babies that flip flop between head down and breech a lot later into pregnancy.  She said it has more to do with the fact that the uterus having been previously stretched to accommodate a little one previously.  My little one has been flipping in circles for weeks, and the hope is just for baby to finally settle head down.  I am doing exercises to try and help baby get into position, but my midwives believe  that this is a perfectly safe and reasonable thing to do considering my personal situation.
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  • jnealetjnealet member
    That's a good way to think about it.  I still like to say that my pelvis is like a lazy boy recliner, to comfortable to do anything but sit.
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