Experience with breech C-section ?

Vegasbb · September 2012

I'm pretty devastated about my scheduled C-section for breech presentation. I know I'm *only* 36 weeks and he can still turn, but he's been breech since 17 weeks so I'm thinking it's a cord issue, uterus issue, or he REALLY likes being breech. I've tried everything (spinning babies, acupuncture, chiropractor, etc) with no avail. So at this point, I need to start mentally preparing for a C-section and I'd love some help!

*If you had a breech C-section - when did you schedule it for? Did you wait for your due date or schedule it for 39 or so weeks?

*What are the advantages of trying to schedule the C-section before I go into labor? Does this matter that much?

*What kind of incision did you get for a breech baby? I'm worried they will have to do a vertical incision and I won't be a good VBAC candidate.

*My placenta is anterior. I'm guess this doesn't matter at all? Anyone with experience with this?

Any other tips, advice, etc related to breech presentation C-sections? Thanks in advance!

HarrietNJMommy · September 2012

I guess I'm the perfect person to answer your questions. I've had 2 c-sections for breech presentation, and ALL 4 of my PG have been anterior placenta.

First 2 kids were breech. First c-section was scheduled for 39w5d. Second was 39w3d (just what DH and I chose).

They don't want you going into labor with a breech baby because they don't want the cord out first (this is bad) or the feet out and they have a tougher time getting the baby out once in the birth canal. So, it's easier if you have it "scheduled".

Incision has been the same for all of my c-sections. They cut into the same incision each time. You don't need a vertical incision because of breech presentation.

As for the anterior placenta, if your OB knows about it, they are prepared for it. It can be a bit tougher to cut into you depending on where the placenta is. I've never had an issue.

There aren't really any "tips" that make a breech presentation c-section any different. It's a c-section nonetheless.

GL!

honkytonk_kid · September 2012

Vegasbb:
*If you had a breech C-section - when did you schedule it for? Did you wait for your due date or schedule it for 39 or so weeks?
My OB was ok with letting me go into (very early) labor on my own instead of scheduling, until the day before my due date when she felt feet coming out of my cervix
*What are the advantages of trying to schedule the C-section before I go into labor? Does this matter that much?
Like Harriet said, the issue of cord, getting into the birth canal, etc. For a FTM I think getting too far into the birth canal is an overblown risk, but depending on the position of your breech baby (ie footling vs frank) the cord issue might be a bigger concern.
As far as "does it matter?" I was concerned about taking him too early, as I was a FTM (who statistically go longer than 40 weeks) to a boy (who statistically fare poorer in the NICU). If I HAD to schedule it, I would feel comfortable toward the end of the 39th week.
*What kind of incision did you get for a breech baby? I'm worried they will have to do a vertical incision and I won't be a good VBAC candidate.
Almost no one gets/does a vertical incision anymore- generally only breech preemies in a major emergency. Low horizontal is the standard.
BTW, prior c/s for breech presentation have among the highest VBAC success rates.
*My placenta is anterior. I'm guess this doesn't matter at all? Anyone with experience with this?
Not a problem. I had an anterior placenta. Your doc will know where your placenta is and cut below it. (I'm a sensing a trend with anterior placentas and breech babies... hmm, I wonder if there is a correlation...)
Any other tips, advice, etc related to breech presentation C-sections? Thanks in advance!
Hang in there, mama. I know this is not what you want, and you are allowed to be disappointed, angry, sad. I was where you are, and now I'm on the other side with a scar I won't tell you I'd choose another c/s, but... it gets better.

Vegasbb · September 2012

Thanks for the 2 responses so far - very helpful!!!

If either of you (or others) are still around - did you try a version or skip it? I'm on the fence!

HarrietNJMommy · September 2012

Vegasbb:
Thanks for the 2 responses so far - very helpful!!!
If either of you (or others) are still around - did you try a version or skip it? I'm on the fence!

I never had an ECV. I carry small and had very tight abdominal muscles and my girls were both head up, feet down (basically hardest position to move).......

valkyriemama · September 2012

They wouldn't attempt a version for me when my second child was transverse breech(sideways). I now wish I'd run screaming for the hills to an OB who did, but it is what it is. They made me do a c section at 38.5 weeks and my son's lungs weren't ready and he ended up in the NICU with Respiratory Distress on a ventilator. He's fine now, but I wish they'd have given him more time. My next two c sections were at 39 weeks and both were fine. My incision from him is horizontal like the others, it's just it was a little wider than usual, but he was sideways. They didn't cut into the same incision each time. I actually have 3 incision scars.

Nemesis3112 · September 2012

DItto to pretty much everything mentioned above.

I have also had two breach c/s.For me it is a uterus issue.I tried a version with ODS with no luck at all.You could actually see him flip right back where he started,lol.For YDS I didn't even bother.ODS was 39w4d and YDS was 39w1d.With ODS my water broke in the hospital room while I was waiting to go down for surgery,lol. They just laughed and said it was excellant timing.

Good Luck and don't be so hard on yourself.

Winomama · September 2012

If your placenta is anterior, an external version is too risky. The placenta could tear away from the uterus wall. My son was head down and engaged, then flipped to breech at 36 weeks. I was planning on an unmedicated birth with a midwife in a hospital, so I completely understand how you are feeling right now. I also tried everything to get him to flip without any luck. In the end, we are both happy and healthy, so it really doesn't get any better than that.

FWIW, I am leaning towards a scheduled c section when I get pregnant again, it really was quite easy and I know what to expect!

LuckyClover13 · September 2012

My baby was breech the whole time we chose not to turn her and thank god we didnt bc when doc pulled her out her cord broke in half bc it was so weak. My doc said he had never seen that happen and said we made a good choice not to rotate her and had a c section at 39 wks. good luck

SoldiersGreenBean · September 2012

Baby A was breech, which was the determining factor. Because I was pg with twins, my c-section was scheduled for 36w6d.

With twins + 1 anterior placenta, I still got the horizontal incision at my bikini line.

Don't overthink it.

DLo13 · September 2012

My daughter was breech for a majority of my pregnancy. I had a c-section scheduled for 39 weeks but ended up going into labor at 37 1/2 weeks.

My prenatal yoga instructor wanted me to try all these things to turn the baby and when I asked my OB he said NO! Do not mess with things, there is a reason for everything.

Well, thank god we didn't as the cord was wrapped around her neck 3 times!

I was VERY nervous and extremely anxious - mostly about the spinal/epidural but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. I have a major anxiety about needles, etc. so as much as everyone was telling me it really wasn't a big deal I was still freaking.

Regular c-section incision.

Good luck!!

giraffe54 · September 2012

Vegasbb:
I'm pretty devastated about my scheduled C-section for breech presentation. I know I'm *only* 36 weeks and he can still turn, but he's been breech since 17 weeks so I'm thinking it's a cord issue, uterus issue, or he REALLY likes being breech. I've tried everything (spinning babies, acupuncture, chiropractor, etc) with no avail. So at this point, I need to start mentally preparing for a C-section and I'd love some help!
*If you had a breech C-section - when did you schedule it for? Did you wait for your due date or schedule it for 39 or so weeks? Mine was at 38w6d. LO is fine and healthy but I do wish I had waiting a few more days. She hits all her growth spurts a week late now.
*What are the advantages of trying to schedule the C-section before I go into labor? Does this matter that much? The advantages are huge, IMO, especially when I compare with those who labored first. Much easier recovery, and you only have one element of recovery to deal with (surgery), not both (surgery and vaginal issues). You will be more physically and mentally prepared, less exhausted, and the surgery will be smoother since there's no rush. Conversely, I have emotional angst over not going into labor and getting to experience that side of it. I still don't feel like I gave birth - if that makes any sense.
*What kind of incision did you get for a breech baby? I'm worried they will have to do a vertical incision and I won't be a good VBAC candidate. Your Dr. should be able to tell you what kind of incision you need. If it's just a breech baby, the incision should be small and horizontal. Verticals are only for more complicated issues, I believe. My scar is small and unnoticeable, but I was told by the surgeon I'm one of the lucky 'exceptionally good healers'.
*My placenta is anterior. I'm guess this doesn't matter at all? Anyone with experience with this? Can't help you there
Any other tips, advice, etc related to breech presentation C-sections? Thanks in advance!
I did do the ECV and kind of regret it. Not for any real reason. It was seriously uncomfortable but not overly painful. I just felt like it was an extra stress to put on the baby that would more than likely be coming out via C-section anyway. My motherly instinct was telling me that she was in breech presentation for a reason and I needed to accept it. I only went through with it because I really wanted a natural vaginal delivery. I wouldn't do it again even though nothing bad came of it.

heatherjh · September 2012

We had low fluid for the last trimester and she was breech. We had our C-Section @ 37 weeks instead of 39 because they felt it would be much safer. The last OB appointment leading up to the c-section, I was already dialated to 3, and this wasn't my first preg. I think if I would have started labor, we'd have ended up in ER anyways because she wasn't able to get out of breech with her fluid so low.

lil_jen051708 · September 2012

Vegasbb:

*If you had a breech C-section - when did you schedule it for? Did you wait for your due date or schedule it for 39 or so weeks? We scheduled ours for 39w 3d (happened to work best for our schedule). OB would only schedule it at 39w and on. My water broke and labor started at 38w5d.

*What are the advantages of trying to schedule the C- section before I go into labor? Does this matter that much? They do not really want you to go into labor as it can cause some problems listed by the other posters. Once my water broke, they wanted me in the hospital ASAP. We were in the OR as soon as it was ready.

*What kind of incision did you get for a breech baby? I'm worried they will have to do a vertical incision and I won't be a good VBAC candidate. I had a horizontal one just around my underwear line. I'm on the fence about a future VBAC as I had an excellent recovery with the c/s.

*My placenta is anterior. I'm guess this doesn't matter at all? Anyone with experience with this?

Any other tips, advice, etc related to breech presentation C-sections? Thanks in advance! Get some big underwear for at home that have a high waist or steal a few mesh panties from the hospital. Also, get a pair or two of high waisted yoga/sweat pants. I had some maternity yoga pants from Old Navy that had a flap to sit under your baby belly... I pulled that flap up so it helped hold my incision and didn't rub. The whole c/s experience wasn't as bad as I had figured. I was also sad when the OB recommended it (I wasn't a great candidate for the ECV as it was my first, there wasn't a lot of room there and nothing was stretched from previous babies. He was always breech but he has a perfectly round head and my vagina is in one piece!

lil_jen051708 · September 2012

Also, ask your pedi if your LO needs a hip ultrasound to rule out hip displasia (that might be the wrong spelling). Luckily our DS did not have it and his hips have straightened out just fine (He was Frank Breech with his feet at his face most of the pregnancy). Also, DS had a knot on his neck from the way he was positioned in me, I can't remember the medical terminology but physical therapy was needed to stretch his muscles.

smerka · September 2012

I tried a version and as soon as the doctor put her hands on me, I was screaming in pain because I have back problems. DS2 was due on 9/11, but he was born on 9/1. I think they would have done it a couple days later, but Labor Day was involved, and that was the day we got. With DS1, I was induced and recovery was awful. My scheduled csection was sooooo much easier even with two kids to take care of. Don't over think it. It's about getting baby here safely.

Kris2011RN · September 2012

I had a c-section because my baby was breech. We tried to do the ECV but it failed, I knew in the back on my mind that it wasn't going to work because his head was measuring really big. We scheduled the ECV when I was 3 days away from my due date, mainly because the date the doctor wanted was the day after Labor day and all the c-section spots were filled up.

At all my appointments my doctor told me that if I went into labor just go into L&D and tell them that baby is breech, and they can do a quick check to see if he was still breech. My OB also told me that if I went into labor they wouldn't stop it, I would just have a c-section if he didn't turn.

My incision is horizontal (yes I had a Anterior Placenta as well) and my doctor said that it is the same size that it would have been for a non-breech c-section. During the operation I asked if it was harder to get out a breech baby and everyone in there said yes, but I didn't feel a thing it just took a long time for LO to come out.

GL with everything, I hope you have a quick recovery.

emberlee3 · September 2012

DD was breech. I wanted to try for a version. I scheduled it for 39 weeks exactly. I had been having prodromal labor for over a week by then. I was very nervous that I would go into true labor because I had a fast labor with DS, and I did not want to risk a breech vaginal delivery.

I didn't tolerate the epidural (blood pressure dropped and DD's heart rate dropped), so we went straight to c/s instead of attempting version.

I had a low transverse incision. Very low and small. Placenta was anterior. Not an issue.

emilyj77 · September 2012

It took me quite a while to come to terms with having a c-section due to breech presentation. DD was breech for the whole 3rd trimester and at 36 weeks we made the decision not to do a version - too risky, low success rate, and why inflict trauma on her when we knew that she was ok? So my advice to you is use this time to come to terms with delivering via c-section. Focus on the outcome of a healthy baby and a healthy you.

Other advice: I had trouble breast feeding (low production) which can happen with scheduled c-sections. So get lots of help from a lactation counselor while you're in the hospital and once you're home.

If you don't want people worried about you (Mom's & Dad's) don't tell them the time of the operation. We did, and then didn't call them for a couple hours, which made them worry. We were just too busy with DD to call.

Relish the fact that you can sleep in your own bed the night before, shower and get ready at home and then go have your baby. I did my hair, even put on some light make-up. Recovery for scheduled c-sections is much easier than those who have labored and then had a c-section. You'll do just fine!

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