30.5 Weeks and found out yesterday baby is breech?

Question

Who else has this happened too? I'm not too concerned, either is the doctor. My husband is. If you've had this happen did your baby turn? did you have ECV? Did you try any of those "home remedies"? did you end up having C-section anyway?
Please only answer if you know what I'm talking about, not what you've heard. Thanks.

This is my 3rd child. I know she has time to turn not to mention room :)

ECV-turning the baby by pushing her into position, externally.

Answer 1

Hi,

As you've mentioned, at 30 weeks the baby's got lots of time and room to turn still.

At 34 weeks we found out that my baby was footling breech - automatic C section around here. But they got me into an ECV research trial - early (34 weeks) vs normal (36 weeks). I was randomly put into the normal category, so in two weeks we gave it a try. It was the full-on medical thing, they prepped me so they could do a C-section in minutes if need be (risk of tearing the placenta) - no food since midnight, IV drip going, etc - we were right across the hall from the OR. I got an under-the-tongue spray of nitro, then they started. Two doctors, one protecting the placenta with one hand, and trying to tuck the baby's chin down with the other, the other doctor pushing from below to get him out of my pelvis. Three attempts - two they stopped because he wasn't moving, the third I stopped because it hurt way too much. The head OB said they'd at least shifted him so he wouldn't be footling, and I could try a natural delivery -- but in seconds he was kicking downwards again.

I tried a few of the home things, but nothing worked. I bawled for a good week before talking to my mom about it. I did NOT want a C section, but she helped me to see it was okay. You see, I was breech too. I got stuck half in, half out, turned blue, they thought I was dying. Hearing my mom talk about it, her voice all ragged and teary nearly thirty four years later, changed my mind. I did NOT want to go through THAT. C section sounded better!

So, yes, I had the C section. I went into labour the day it was scheduled, so it was an emergency C/S. Nowhere near the horrible experience I thought it would be - I mean, it was tough because I was scared and stressed and freaking out, but it wasn't cold, unfriendly, or anything like that. My midwife held my hand until my son's dad was there (he couldn't be in the room during the prep/spinal), then stayed and told me what was going on. The nurses, doctors, students (footling breech is rare, and it was a teaching hospital, I'm told I had an audience) were all friendly and cheerful despite it being 4 am.

However ... I'm relatively certain that had he not been footling breech I would've wanted to try a natural birth. Not sure what I'd do next time around, if there is a next time, should the baby be breech!

I hope that helps you and your husband! Glad you're not too concerned about it.

M

(editing to add that yes there are big risks with ECVs, but that's why they do them now like they do. I would not advise doing an ECV in an OB's office. They had me prepped for a C/S, monitored my bp, O2, monitored the baby's pulse, any sign of contraction, checked the baby with ultrasound throughout, moved him with care taken as to position of the placenta and where his limbs would be, then afterwards monitored me for a long time for contractions. However, the risks are still lower than delivering a breech baby. Also note two other things - it has a roughly 60% success rate at 36 weeks (can't remember sample size, something like 1000 patients in the trial of the study), and one of the OBs leading the study said he's done over 1000 version attempts himself, knows of only one case where it failed and the baby turned on its own later. A baby breech at 36 weeks has an estimated 2-5% chance of turning before birth. Just some stats to know :) Check out http://www.utoronto.ca/miru/eecv2/ for more info, if you're curious about the study, should be a link to the trial (eecv1) too.)

Answer 2

My baby was also breech at that time, my doctor suggested I lie down on the floor and raise my legs on the couch. at 38 weeks she was face down (don't know if what I did helped or if the baby just turned on her own). However I still needed a c-section, heres why; when I went to the hospital (already in labor) Doc said I was 4 cm dilated so I figured I'd have the baby soon this was at 7:30am. by 6:30pm I was barely at 5. The doc had broken my water when I got there just to speed things up but it obviously didn't help. Anyway she came in my room at 6:30 to check me and still a 5 she suggested that I have a c-section I asked if I can wait a while longer to see what progressed (she gave me another hour) she came back at 7:30 and still the same. She told me that I should get the c-section because I could develop an infection that will harm me and my baby so I cried and said ok. I was also terrified to have a c-section (I was shaking the entire time) I held my husbands hand extremely tight. But it wasn't bad at all honestly, I was more afraid to feel them cut me and of course I didn't. Ask your doctor what you can do to try to turn the baby if he/she hasn't already suggested an external version. I hope your baby turns and you have a nice vaginal delivery however if you need to get a c-section don't worry it's really not as bad as you think, the recovery after however is difficult as far as getting up to walk, your stomach muscles are very sore, and by the way if you do have a c-section, the staples they put WON'T HURT when they take them off, I was afraid of that the whole time I was in the hospital and the incision is very small not noticible at all. It's been two weeks since my delivery and I have healed well. Good luck with everything!!!

Answer 3

I haven't personally had that happen, but my doc never checked for position until 36 weeks. I have a friend who had a baby about 2 weeks ago and the baby was breech at 35 weeks. The baby turned on her own by 38 weeks and all was well. In fact, I have known at least 3 other women who had the same deal happen. Don't worry. Baby has time to turn and more than likely will before time to go. Baby may even turn at the very last minute.

Answer 4

I was about that far along when I found out that my daughter was breech. The only remedy that I am familiar with to help turn the baby is massage- your doctor or a proffesional would massage the belly and move the baby, turning him or her from the outside. I have heard this to be very effective. It did not help in my case as she was way too big to have been able to turn regardless of what was done., she was long and overdue- I wound up having a C-section- my doctor was mistaken regarding how far along I was.
Depending on the size of your baby, I would look into the massage or any method that you find to be reasonable and effective- but start now in order to get the full benefit

Answer 5

My first child was breech. I tried all the home remedies and he did not turn. I scheduled the c-section and the day before, had to go in for some tests and another ultrasound. My son, who is now 15 decided to turn, but not fully. He was almost sideways. I went home and just laid around. The next day, I arrived for my scheduled c-section and he had turned back around with his butt down. so I ended up having a c-section anyway. It wasn't bad though and I recovered fairly quickly.

Answer 6

Hello I was 37 weeks pregnant and in early labor so they scheduled me to have a Csection a week later. They had told me it was too late to try the exercises because by that time they are too big to turn and IF they do it isn't the safest of situations. The Csection really wasn't that bad and my husband having worked as a medic in a charity birthing hospital said that Csection is WAY safer than trying to go natural and having complications. It went fine though and now she is a defiant little 3 year old. hope that helps at all.

Answer 7

If i were you i wouldn't sweat it. Your baby still has plenty of time to turn in the right position and if for some reason it doesn't they try to turn the baby manually and stuff. I have heard that is painful and it doesn't always work. I personally would just go for the C-Section and get it over with if the baby doesn't turn. Good Luck to you.

Answer 8

Some people mentioned natural remedies, but they did not specify what they were. My first one was transverse at 30 weeks. I used the breech tilt to get her to turn. It worked for me. They say it works 75% of the time. You lie on your back with your hips higher than your head. Lie that way for 20 minutes at a time twice a day. It gets the baby to turn himself.

Answer 9

the baby may easily turn back round but if it shouldnt the doctor will arrange for you to go in where they will try to manually turn it which is usually easy, i know that when i was expecting my daughter she wouls lay so uncomfortably and i would manually turn her to get her feet out my ribs,,, its quite easy to do but unfortunately some babies turn themselves back into the breech position thus meaning a c- section but more often than not once the baby is turned if it doesnt by itslef then it will stay head down as its head slowly engages ready for the long process of birth

Answer 10

My son was breech up until a few days before i delivered. He was also four days late....havign teh doctor try adn turn him was NOT comfortable. But your still early enough that the baby still has time to turn. Try sitting on a birthing ball or exercise ball or even a large kids ball....this might help...i never tried but a friend of mine swears by it.