Hey all. It’s been a while since I posted, since I got pregnant this time around, as we’ve had a ton going on.
At my 35 week appointment, I was told the baby is breech. My doctor said there was really nothing I could do about it, but that he’d check again. I go in on [name_f]Monday[/name_f] for 37 week appointment, and he’s going to see if she’s still breech. Last week, he felt around and said she might have turned, so he’s doing an ultrasound. From my end, nothing feel different and I’m fairly sure she hasn’t turned.
Through my research, I know there are a few ways he can try to get her to turn, so I’m hoping women who have had their babies turned by one of those methods can maybe post about their experiences. I also know it’s likely I’ll have to have a c-section, so I’d love hearing about experiences with those too. Or really, just anyone who’s had a breech baby can chime in.
Hey dantea, sorry to hear about a complex and overwhelming pregnancy/life situation. Firstly, breech babies actually do frequently turn all the way up until the beginning of labor. [name_m]Even[/name_m] the initial uterine contractions can help them flip. That being said, you can’t bet on it and neither can your doctor, so they might recommend a version (in the US, external cephalic versions only, almost never internal). Have you read a little bit about them yet?
I can answer any questions you’d like, technical or not, about c-sections too. Again in general-- you should speak to your OB re: their and the hospital’s policies-- if you show up to L&D in labor with the baby still breech, you will automatically be sent for a section. You might plan one as well, if she hasn’t flipped by a certain benchmark (39 weeks, say). The reasons for this are rock-solid: the most favorable breech position (frank breech) has a 50-fold higher death rate than does a vertex birth, with a total mortality rate of about 3%. Essentially no obstetrician is willing to incur a 50-fold higher risk of death in order to preserve a vaginal birth option.
I’ve been trying to log in for a few days just to respond to this thread. Whew, finally!
So I’ve had three babies (#3, 4, & 5) who were breech at near-term. And zero c-sections, fortunately.
[name_f]Elise[/name_f] was breech and my OB at-the-time did ECV at 37 weeks (this was after I tried a bunch of different things to get her to turn, including acupuncture). I stupidly didn’t follow the instructions to wrap my belly after they’d turned her, and she flipped into breech again. At 39 weeks my doc did another ECV and induced me immediately afterward for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. It was very lucky because on the second round of ECV, the doctor was about to give up for having tried so hard to turn her, but I begged her to try one more time, and around she went! Turns out the cord was around her neck, which may have been why she wanted to be in her favored position in the first place, but she was fine and there’d been a ton of monitoring in case things went south.
[name_m]Zach[/name_m] was breech at (can’t remember exactly when we discovered it) 35 weeks, I believe? I did moxibustion a bunch of times in my bedroom with my husband helping me, and he turned. Induced at 37 weeks (cholestasis).
[name_m]George[/name_m] was breech at 32 or 33 weeks (again, can’t remember exactly) and we knew I’d deliver at 37 weeks or sooner due to the cholestasis. I did moxibustion ONCE, and he turned; they induced me at 35 weeks. I was amazed, because I did not expect it to “work” (it’s possible that he would have turned on his own, of course).
So, in conclusion, give moxibustion a try. You can order the moxa sticks online and have them shipped ASAP in order to get going with it. I think w/ [name_m]Zach[/name_m] I was doing it 20 min/night for at least a week before they checked me and figured out he’d flipped.
I should add that ECV really isn’t that bad. People freak out about it being painful but I honestly didn’t think so, and my pain tolerance is not terribly high. They gave me sublingual nitroglycerin (medication absorbed underneath your tongue that relaxes your uterine muscles) and I focused on relaxing and visualizing her turning into the best position. It’s kind of a rocking motion that the doctor will use. And of course they will stop at any time if you want.
I also don’t mean to downplay the nuchal cord thing with [name_f]Elise[/name_f], but I don’t want to scare you into thinking your baby has the same thing going on–from my limited knowledge that’s not necessarily the case.
I never did get any notifications about people responding to this post. O_o
She’s turned over now, so my worries weren’t founded (unless she turns back). I did a ton of research on the ECV and c-sections, but hearing personal stories is always comforting to me. She’s quite large, so my doctor doesn’t seem worried that she’s going to turn back over as she really doesn’t have the room to. I’m 37+3 now and 3 centimeters dilated, so hopefully she comes before she has a chance to try and flip again.
A little late to this thread - I haven’t been able to login for weeks! [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear she turned Congrats and all the good vibes that she stays down!
