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C-sections
stacee55j
member
Anyone have a c-section because of breech/transverse baby?
stacee55j
member
in C-sections
I'm pretty sure my baby is not head down and I'm 33 1/2 weeks. I see my doctor this afternoon because my husband made an appointment for me after I had a meltdown last night. I just thought a breech baby was pretty normal/standard and if he didn't flip by 36 weeks they'd try to turn him and/or schedule a c-section. I'm not so much worried about the c-section (though I wouldn't prefer it) but I've read breech babies are at a slightly higher risk for birth defects. Stupid internet. Well the nurse said that all of my ultrasounds have looked perfect and anything they'd be looking for they would have looked for there but I'm just stressed. Anyone have experience with breech/transverse babies? What was the outcome? Thank you. 
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Re: Anyone have a c-section because of breech/transverse baby?
We found out my DS was breech at 30 weeks, and he didn't move AT ALL until I had a c-section at 39 weeks. I opted out of a version because I heard they're painful and have a low success rate. I also did not want to put me or my DS at risk for any complications - which versions sometimes can do.
I never heard anything about breech babies having birth defects? My DS is fine. His doctor has been checking his hips though, because they can be prone to hip dysplasia, but so far his checks have shown no problems with his hips! They monitored him with bi-weekly ultrasounds the last couple weeks before I had him, but that was more because I had shown signs of Pre-E (which I never actually had). His ultrasounds always turned out fine!
DD was breech my entire pregnancy - from the time she showed as a baby on US, very early on. Due to other complications, I had a ton of US - always breech.
We opted not to do a version due to pre-e. I had a c/s, and while they do monitor their hips just in case (as they can sometimes need a bit of help with their hips) we had zero problems. She is an uber healthy soon to be 3 year old.
I haven't had my LO yet, but he has been frank breech since 29 weeks and the c-section is scheduled for Jan 4th unless he flips or comes earlier. I too was concerned about birth defects - my ACOG book on pg indicates that full-term babies that are breech "may have birth defects" but that most breech babies are normal. I have had a million scans and they all look good so I didn't even pose that specific question to my OB. Sounds like you're in the same boat! Of course we're going to worry until we see that beautiful, perfect little baby right?! Good luck with the rest of your pg and delivery.
Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).
Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!
Joseph was frank breech and was in that position throughout my last trimester. I tried getting him to change position, turned down an external version, too, but he stubbornly stayed breech, so I was planning on a c-section at week 39.
He was born 2 weeks earier than planned due to lack of movement and low amniotic fluid levels. Joseph didn't have any birth defects and was healthy. However, at 3 months of age, he was diagnosed with torticollis (weak/short neck muscle), so that could have been attributed to his birth or his position towards the end of pregnancy.
5lbs 9 oz, 18.5 inches long
6 months: 16lbs 15 oz, 27 inches long
I had a c-section due to DD being breech. We found out at my 39 week appointment, though I suspected it earlier. I went into labor that weekend and they confirmed she was still breech at the hospital, so I had a section.
You should know, that it can be perfectly safe to have a vaginal delivery with a breech baby, IF there is an experienced OB or MW present, and if the breech presentation is favorable (usually frank breech vs footling). The reason breech babies get c-sections is because they simply don't train practicioners on breech delivery anymore because they are uncommon.
But, as far as health problems, I don't know of any. C-sections can cause certain types of respiratory complications in general, but that's not caused due to fetal position. There was a chance DD may have had hip displaysia, and we double diapered her for a few weeks, but she out grew it, and hasn't had any issues since. Hip displaysia is most common in breech female babies.
I know this thread has probably already lost everybody's interest, but I just got here and wanted to chime in about the birth defects thing, based on the research I've been doing.
It's not that being breech puts a baby at higher risk of birth defects. Babies are "built" to inherently want to be in the head-down position by the time they are born, so if they are not, something could be wrong. While many of these problems are related to the uterus (placenta previa or other deformations for example), there may also be something "wrong" with the baby that is causing it not to turn. Hence, a baby that doesn't turn when it's supposed to is more likely to have a birth defect (provided the mother doesn't have a condition that increases the risk of breech birth). Anyways, that's my two cents.