Breech Baby....External version?!?

Question

I'm 35 1/2 weeks pregnant and my little boy is still breech. The doctor says its unlikely he'll turn this late in pregnancy and has scheduled me for an external version (where they turn the baby) for the 18th. I wasnt nervous at all until some ladies told me horror stories about how a version can go wrong and your baby can die or end up with severe brain damage. Now I'm scared to death.

Has anyone had experience with an external version and are there serious risks like I've been told?

the doctor would like to avoid a c-section due to scar tissue from a surgery i had on my intestions when i was a baby. They have given me the option of a c-section, however they do not know how well i would heal with all the scar tissue.

Answer 1

During an external version they will run a 20 minute strip on the baby to make sure his heartbeat is fine (they will probably also do another ultrasound). Then they will slick up your belly and firmly encourage the baby to turn head down. They will regularly check the heartbeat. The danger is called an abruption where the placenta is dislodged from the uterine wall- if this occurs an immediate C-section would be done. This occurs very very infrequently. The ultrasound before hand shows them where the placenta is and they will not put a lot of pressure there. The whole version procedure is being done to spare you a C-section or a really long labor as the soft buttocks are not very efficient at forcing the cervix open..

Answer 2

Hi! I'll be 38 weeks pregnant in a couple days and my little girl is breech also. Back when I was 36 weeks my doctor gave me the options of have the version done or just to go ahead with a C-Section at 39 weeks. I knew it would come down to those decisions because the baby had been like this for 3 months now and hasnt changed, so I looked up some imformation on how a version is done and watched a video on how it is done. So I had already knew what the risks were before my doctor said anything. When She gave me those options I asked her if she could tell me what the risks are for the version, and sure enough they were the same as what I had researched. So I just chose the c-section. My doctor said that with a version there is a 50/50 chance that it will work and if it does work then there is a chance that the baby might go back to being breech. There is also a risk of the placenta breaking away- distress of the baby-and possible breaking of a bone. But there is only a chance and its a chance you have to risk. I just figured that im so far along now that It just wasnt worth it to me. But I worry about everything lol. Im sure you will do fine. Just talk to your doctor more about it and have them reasure you that your going to be ok. Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck with everything!

Answer 3

I am 38 weeks/5 days and scheduled for a c-section on Monday for a breech baby. I was offered a version but told that most of the time it doesn't even work, and that there is a whole lot of pain involved. I know that there are a few small risks involved (I think they're mostly with problems with the umbilical cord, though), but the doc who told you he's unlikely to turn this late was very wrong, unless you have a very large baby or very low amniotic fluid. My baby was breech, so they scheduled the section, then she turned normal, and just today I found out she was breech again. This all happened within the last week and a half, and I'm at almost 39 weeks now! I would try a few methods to encourage the baby to turn such as getting on your hands and knees, lying on your back and elevating your hips, drinking a whole bunch of water, and putting bright light or playing music very low on your belly. If the baby turns right now, though, there is a chance she/he will turn back before birth, or even during labor!

Answer 4

I am having this done next week on the 12th. I know that I don't want a C-section. I have a high risk Dr ( I'm not high risk he is just one of my regular clients at the restaurant that I worked at) So I do trust him and think that he would only do what is in the best interest for me and my child. I have been told both ways that it hurts but it is a whole lot better than the pain of a C-section!! I am just making my husband drive me to the visit just for safety reasons. (we live 20 miles away from the Dr office and I would rather not drive back home if I'm in a lot of pain) Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 5

My girl was breech and the doc offered me that option, but she didn't seem fond of it, and we opted for the surgery instead.

I have watched one on the discovery channel and the way the patient was acting, you'da thought she was in full-blown drug-free labor! The docs will monitor the baby the whole time because it can be distressful. If it is too much for the baby, they will do an emergency c-section.
Did your doc not offer you a choice? If you are worried about this, talk to your doctor. Make her tell you everything, the good and the bad. Then you decide WITH your doctor.

Answer 6

External versions are NOT supposed to hurt. Unfortunately, under the rough hands of OBs, they often do. I would recommend looking into http://spinningbabies.com for more information on turning babies into optimal fetal positioning.

There are other options:
~ have your baby vaginally and breech - many babies turn while IN LABOR and the ACOG has recently put a statement out that it is just as safe to have a breech vaginal birth as a breech cesarean birth in most situations. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3272.htm (take a look at the part right before 'types of breech')
~ Wait - many MANY babies will still turn this late in the game - I have no idea where he got HIS information from. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3272.htm (take a look at the first part after the heading 'introduction')
~try to turn him yourself via the positions listed on spinningbabies
~Try going to a chiropractor and attempting the Webster Technique - it has great success
~ Try going to an acupuncturist and attempting moxibustion - it has an even better success rate

Or, let nature take its course, educate yourself on breech birth, and have him vaginally however he decides to be born. There are so many options and most interventions carry some type of risk. Good luck!

Answer 7

My son used to be breech and I had a variation at 36 weeks. I went to the health facility in case there have been disorders with the method and so they had to give the little one instantly. I sat round for many years (you consistently do on the health facility). Finally, the general practitioner got here in and I used to be given intravenous Fentynal. It made me completely out of it, like I used to be floating and now not rather there within the room. The general practitioner pressed rather tough on my stomach in countless areas and used to be equipped to show the little one very swiftly, not up to 60 seconds. However, my little one's heartrate dropped and might now not come again up for practically five min. They even introduced the entire OR employees in to prep me for an emergency C-segment. I most effective kind of keep in mind this since of the Fentynal. His heartrate got here up a couple of min later although. We went to have an ultrasound and he used to be within the right function. He stayed that method too... all of the method till forty two weeks, at which factor, I ended up with a C-segment in any case. The variation wasn't too unhealthy although. It did depart big bruises on my stomach so it need to have harm... I simply could not inform since of the medications. I reccommend it, however it is not a assured repair, and there are dangers. The C-segment wasn't so unhealthy both. In the tip, the principal factor is a healthful little one.

Answer 8

The doctor did an ultrasound and I knew which way the baby was facing and I did my own over a long period of time, like 3 hours. Kept goosing her around. Everything turned out great.

Have them induce you though right away after they finish because baby could flip back.

Answer 9

I've never dont the external version for breech i turned my baby girl on my own with my dr showing me how to do it. I had to place both hands at the top of my tummy and push with both hands going in a clockwise motion. it worked for me.