Breech/ c-section question

kyan11916 · January 2016

Baby is breech and has been for awhile. Have any of you opted to wait until you go into labor on your own before resorting to a c-section for a breech baby? I've heard of babies flipping at the very end and in some cases not until labor starts.

GAgirlinSDakota · January 2016

My last baby was a c-section b/c he was breech. I hate sections, but I personally wouldn't wait until labor to make the call. You never know how quickly labor could go for you, and you might not have time to safely make that decision. Too many things could go wrong.

katiedid0907 · January 2016

My DS was a csection because he was breech. I wanted to wait until I went into labor but my doctor really didn't want me to do that. I was told that if my water broke because his head wouldn't be "plugging the hole" I could have cord prolapse which would be an emergency.

nickicb7 · January 2016

I spoke to my midwife about this too! She said there are stories, but it is very rare for them to flip in labour. If you consider your uterus is contracting, that's not an action that makes it open to such a large movement. I don't think the chance is worth the risks that come with going into labour.

ashhsa · January 2016

My bub is breech- csection scheduled for the 5th, and my due date is the 8th!!
This is not my choice- I live in a country town and have public health care (Australia) so no choice but to do what the doctors tell me- I'm petrified of going into labour as I won't be able to deliver at the hospital closest to me if I do- (as they are a country hospital without emergency facilities) and the thought of having to make my way to a hospital not close to me in an emergency situation is terrifying! As it is the closest hospital is a 40 minute drive. Especially as I've allready has a hospital stay for preeclampsia...

MississippiCatfish · January 2016

Lurking from Feb16. My first baby was breech until 38 weeks (flipped after 1 trip to the chiro, even after an unsuccessful version attempt at the hospital). My doctor did allow me to schedule my c-section for 41 weeks, but I never asked about laboring. I think it's worth asking your dr, though. The risks associated with a breech birth are much more correlated with later stages of active labor - engaging, pushing - than early labor. Especially if you agreed to come in right away when you went in to labor (which is basically what I had to agree to with mine, beause he wanted to verify that LO hadnt flipped back to breech.)

ETA grammar

kyan11916 · January 2016

I'm going to ask my midwife this week. She was out of town at my last appt and I met with a different dr who went ahead and scheduled the c-section for 39 weeks. When I asked her the risks of waiting until I go into labor she mainly just said babies normally won't flip after 39 weeks. She also said something about the baby's bottom could get lodged in the pelvis. I'm fine with the scheduled c-section if it's the safest route but they make it seem like it's the only option so I was just curious if any of you had experience with waiting until labor starts.

@MississippiCatfish that's encouraging that your baby flipped so late!

claireloSC · January 2016

They also schedule them for 39 weeks because they would rather not do surgery on a uterus that is contracting. It is rare to flip 39 weeks +, as they are generally too big. They start stressing if your LO hasn't flipped by 36 weeks. ECVs are done at 37 weeks because that's when they are considered small enough for it to work, but big enough to be delivered if something goes wrong. My baby flipped back to breech and then back again a few days ago, but I was only 35+6.

Achae · January 2016

This is interesting to me because I just saw an article saying they recommend laboring for a bit before having the section because it's healthier, I didn't know there were risks associated with it. My biggest fear is having a section and I'm 36 weeks and pretty sure LO is still breech

awakemysoul37 · January 2016

My little guy had been head down until two days ago. He seems to be flipping nonstop since then. I have no idea what he's going to do and I'm stressing about getting a c section if he doesn't flip back

kyan11916 · January 2016

awakemysoul37 said:
My little guy had been head down until two days ago. He seems to be flipping nonstop since then. I have no idea what he's going to do and I'm stressing about getting a c section if he doesn't flip back

@awakemysoul37 How far along are you? At least he's still going back and forth so maybe he'll settle head down. I've had a head in my ribs as long as I can remember. Lol

Knottie1433440300 · January 2016

I'm having a scheduled c section for frank breech after 39 weeks. Version didn't work for us. Doctors wanted to wait till after 39 weeks but didn't want to risk going too close to 40.

maureenmce · January 2016

@Knottie1433440300 - Can I ask what your version experience was like and if you had any reservations? My LO is currently frank breech and we'll be meeting with the dr on Thursday for my to have a final ultrasound to confirm her position and discuss a possible version for next week. I was reading into it a little bit last night and got a bit nervous about the potential complications (cord issues, placental abruption or going into labor) and felt a bit discouraged with the success rate (about 50-58%.) Trying to go into the dr appointment Thursday as informed as possible. Thank you!

Knottie1433440300 · January 2016

My doctors really eased my mind about the procedure and the risk is fairly low for complications, so we decided it was worth a try. They performed it after 37 weeks, just in case we needed an emergency c section, to make sure baby was ready. They did explain it only works 50% of the time. I had been going to a chiropractor every day and trying all the spinning babies exercises in hopes of turning him and the last resort was the version. The procedure itself lasted about 40 minutes. They hooked me up to an IV just in case. Doctor checked on baby's position and decided which way he would try to turn him. He noted the position of the placenta and stayed away from that area (mine is on the left). I'm not going to sugar coat it, it hurt, and I have a high pain tolerance. He said he pushed as hard as he could without breaking the babies bones. We took a break after he tried for a while and monitored the babies heart rate, baby wasn't phased at all. Baby's butt is stuck in my pelvis, so Doctor tried to dislodge it by shoving his hand up and pushing, this was honestly the most painful part. We tried another version but little dude is perfectly happy where he is at. Doctor didn't want to attempt again as to stress the baby out. Baby got monitored for 45 minutes after. He was doing great. Went in for a stress test the next morning, baby passed without issues. Would I try it again? Yes. But it's a personal choice, I really wanted to try to avoid a c section and I trust my doctors so I felt perfectly comfortable with it. ive come to terms with having a c section, and as long as baby comes healthy, the way he comes won't matter in the moment. Best wishes with making the decision and determining what's right for you!

maureenmce · January 2016

@Knottie1433440300 - Thanks so much, that's really helpful. I've been to a chiro as well and have been doing the spinning babies stuff also, so this would be a last resort for us too. I'm just nervous because ****trigger warning, loss mentioned**** my coworker's sister lost her baby at 37 weeks from a placental abruption. It wasn't related to a version, it just randomly happened, but placental abruption has been my biggest fear this whole time. I understand that it's a rare complication and if possible, I would really prefer not to have a c section, but I'll admit to being completely scared of the idea of a version. But it's good to know they monitored your baby 45 min afterwards and that you came in the next day for a test as well. That's very reassuring.

Anyway, definitely a lot to think about - thank you for sharing the details of your experience!

claireloSC · January 2016

@maureenmce that's why the doctor is right there, so they can be sure to take care of you if it becomes an emergency situation. Assuming they perform it right by L&D, I think you and baby would be fine even in the worst case scenario of abruption.

maureenmce · January 2016

@claireloSC - True, true. The thing that scared me about the situation I mentioned though is that it happened in a hospital.

I'm not 100% sure of the details, like if it started at the hospital but they didn't realize it was serious until later, or what, but it just spooked me. This is, by the way, why friends should not tell you stories about terrible pregnancy/birth related things until after your baby is born!

Anyway, I think, if it comes to that, we'll probably opt to at least try the version. The only other thing I'm weighing in my mind, risk wise, is whether it's better to have a guaranteed 39 week baby via c section, or risk the (small) possibility of having a 37 week baby via emergency c section, if something were to go wrong in the version.

I'm such a worst case scenario thinker, sometimes I focus too much on the risks, but I like to be prepared, mentally, for all options. As much as you can be, anyway!

claireloSC · January 2016

@maureenmce I totally understand, I'm the same. Information gathering is a good way to cope with stress! I'm about to go take a tour of the hospital I don't plan to deliver at, but will go to if anything is wrong with baby since my hospital doesn't have a NICU. I do really feel like they monitor things closely during an ECV, more so than the jaded nurses as L&D who probably get sick of people thinking gas is labor. Lol. Maybe you can bring up your concerns to your doctor and see if they can address them? And yes, people do tell the worst stories! I spent 20 minutes crying over the loss thread on the third trimester board last night.

awakemysoul37 · January 2016

@kyan11916 38+2. His head was engaged for two weeks and now it seems to be that he flips at night. I've been using the yoga ball and have been walking almost 2 miles a day which helps but then at night he flips again. Pretty terrified of having a c-section:/

mullenixj · January 2016

I had a version today at 37+6. I was right in l&d in case an emergency c section was needed. I had an epidural and a medication to relax the uterus. After 2 attempts over 45 minutes the doctor was unable to get the baby to turn. Because I had an epidural I had to stay at the hospital for 4.5 hours after the procedure and the baby was monitored the while time. No distress for the baby at all but my blood pressure dropped really low and, not going to lie, it hurt even with the epidural as the baby is in my ribs. I am brused and sore but glad that we at least tried to avoid the c section. My baby wasn't breech until 36 weeks so didn't have much time to work with the chiropractor before the version. Now we'll have a c section next Friday unless the baby decides to move again (doubtful). I think if I didn't do the version I would have felt like I didn't do enough to try for a vaginal birth.

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