Breech extraction

millerlm · November 2012

Can those of you that have had a breech extraction tell me about your experience? Throughout my entire pregnancy, baby A has been vertex and baby b smaller of the two has been breech. My doctor has said all along that they will try to turn baby b after baby a comes out and if that doesn't work then do a breech delivery as a last resort. I know there are risks with a breech delivery so was hoping to hear your experience. I definitely would like to try for a vaginal delivery.

Mrs.Greg · November 2012

My Baby A was head down and Baby B was breech. I delivered DD1 vaginally and I was scared to death of a c-section. My dr said we could attempt a vaginal delivery and try to flip Baby B after Baby A was born and if she didn't flip, he'd do a breech extraction. He did say there was the risk of needing a csection if Baby B was in distress, small chance but a chance nonetheless, but I was willing to take that risk. Baby A was delivered quickly, she was 6lb 15oz. Baby B, while she was delivered quickly as well (she was 6lb even), it seemed like an eternity. They were only 7 minutes apart and a couple of those minutes my dr tried to flip her. She was doing fine, not in distress or anything and they were watching her through u/s, but she wouldn't stay head down. My dr gave up trying to flip her and just reached up and grabbed her by her feet and guided her out. Even though she was nearly a full pound smaller than Baby A, and had a much smaller head, her head got stuck. I can't lie, there was a lot of tension in the OR. Everyone was urging me to push and I was so exhausted, I just couldn't. I finally (of course "finally" was only a minute or two, if that) pushed once and she came right out. She had to get some air and when I saw that, I felt so terrible that I couldn't muster up that last push sooner. My heart beats faster every time I talk or even think about their delivery, even now nearly 16 months later and she's absolutely fine. I'm happy and feel so lucky that my dr was willing to do a breech extraction and even though it was so tense for a moment, I still feel their delivery went very well.

MrsOjoButtons · November 2012

My babies were EXACTLY the same size as Mrs. Greg's!

Baby A was vertex. I fast, easy, spontaneous labor and delivery. My OB attempted to turn baby B for like 30 minutes but his water broke diamniotic. My OB would not do a breech extraction, so I had to have a csection for B.

macchiatto · November 2012

A breech extraction is actually a little less risky than trying to turn the baby; here's a blog post I wrote with the links that helped me decide I preferred a breech extraction if possible:

https://rootbeertwins.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-if-baby-b-is-breech.html

Both babies were head-down when my induction started. After A came out (after 3 hrs of pushing) the OB did a u/s, found B had flipped to breech, and pulled him out. They were born 7 minutes apart so it was pretty quick and easy. I was just thankful I had an epidural.

flgator · November 2012

good question; glad to read the responses. I'm planning for a vaginal delivery as long as Baby A stays head down. Baby B has been breech or transverse for many weeks.

raraavis28 · November 2012

flgator:
good question; glad to read the responses.nbsp; I'm planning for a vaginal delivery as long as Baby A stays head down.nbsp; Baby B has been breech or transverse for many weeks.nbsp;

Same....all these breech Baby Bs! My Baby B just flipped breech too even though he had been head down like his brother...little rascal! At least he has several weeks to flip back so I'm not too worried yet....

Ourfamilyof5 · November 2012

I just had my babies 5 days ago so you can probably scroll down and find my birth story. I had a double whammy...

Both babies were head down when I started pushing. Baby B flipped to transverse as soon as her brother was out and the doctors were not able to turn her. All my OB could feel was her arm when she reached up and she could not deliver her that way which is why I ended up with a c-section for the second baby.

All that to say, I would still try for a vaginal delivery as long as your OB is comfortable with trying. My recovery has been painful and the first day was horrible, but even with all of that, I would still try for vaginal hoping for the best rather than just electing a c-section! Each day is getting better and you just make it through because you have to. GL!

DelaBella · November 2012

I delivered my twins on 9/6/12 vaginally, A was vertex, B was breech. Baby A was born normal push delivery, weighing 6 lbs 11 oz at 3:01 p.m. Baby B was a breech extraction, weighing 7 lbs even at 3:06 p.m. I would highly recommend the breech extraction if you can go for it. Having a vaginal delivery was crucial to getting me back on my feet in time to take care of my two babes.

My active labor with the twins was probably 2 hours total (1 hour of "practice pushing" in the regular delivery room, another hour in the OR where all twin deliveris were required to occur). After I delivered my Baby A, I was completely exhausted and could not believe that I had to labor and deliver Baby B. The doctors and nurses put Baby A on my chest, and while I was somewhat distracted admiring my new baby, they reached right in and pulled my Baby B out. It was uncomfortable and an odd sensation, but not painful thanks to the epidural and beat pushing out a second baby any day of the week!!

millerlm · November 2012

Thanks to everyone for responding. I feel much better about the breech extraction!

Rynleigh · November 2012

My Perinatologist says that if Simon is head down she'll let me go vaginal and then go in and "Grab James by the feet and pull him out" lmfao

She said that she firmly believes (from research and experience) that it's safer for her to pull him out by his feet in one hand than to risk trying to flip him. She said that if I'm comfortable with an epidural, she's comfortable with extraction.

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