Any comments on VB vs CS for breech baby?

[bugalug]

hi there

My first bub was breech, and we decided to have a c section. I wasnt very keen on the idea of an ECV, due to the risks for bub and myself, and a breech vaginal delivery sounded risky aswell. We were pretty much advised to have a c section delivery as soon as we knew out little boy was breech.

I just naturally thought i would have a vaginal birth, but when i founf out i had to have a c section it was a bit weird at first but because it was for the safest arrival of our little man we didnt think twice.

I had a no problems BF after the op - you often hear that its hard due to a sore belly but i fed normally in a normal BF position. Yes bubs is taken away, but this happens anyway doesnt it? My hubby was with bubs when he was taken away to be weighed etc and i was stitched up. Dont get me wrong, they hand bub to you as soon as they cut the cord and clean them up, we have great pics of us with bubs.

I had a pretty good recovery, the first nite is hard when you haev to rely on the midwife to get bubs up for a feed and change nappy etc. But i was up and walking the following morning and had my c section late afternoon.

At the end of the day its up to you & whats best for ur bub and youself - thought i would let you know a little about my experience with a caeasar deleivery. If you want to know more just let me know, i;m more than happy to share.

[Pandora]

... Yes bubs is taken away, but this happens anyway doesnt it?

Nope it doesnt always happen. With DS they did all the cord cutting, cleaning etc with him on my belly afterward. At and some hospitals they dont take them away after CS either.

If your OB is confident enough to do a VB surely she must think the babies positioning is OK, or else she will want the position to be a certain way for her to do it - did she say anything specific?

[numa]

Thanks ladies for your posts!

Trillion thanks for the links, very interesting and useful

Bugalug for your story - was glad to hear you were fine with BF afterwards

Jellybean for your birth story - was your bub a breech too?

Purplemamma you have given me hope mine will still turn - do you have any links to stats? Everything I read didn't sound good for vaginal breech, so I would love to read something that indicates VB is safer than CS for breech.

Ellibam - good point about going into labour first and the benefits of the hormones, I hadn't thought of that..My sister won't be there but my Mum and DH will. Mum was also at her breech birth - mum is very instinctive and has very positive feelings about her own births, she'll be calm and reassuring.

Mantaray, thanks for the link, what an amazing guy hey!

Rayray, I must say I'm not totally sure where my OB is coming from. She discussed the study regarding safety of breech birth but then said the validity of it is questionable because most of the participating hospitals were in South America. She said she'll do a VB for breech if asked by parents because of risk of being sued if something goes wrong. I always get the impression she thinks I'm worrying far too much about things (probably true, but hey I'm a beginner!) and she seems very unfazed about everything.

I'm sure she is very skilled - she is the head of Maternal Fetal medical unit at Monash Medical Centre and used to be the president of RANZCOG - she would have seen it all and then some! I guess in the next appointment I'll go through all possible options and pros and cons for each with her.

Also at the hospital prenatal workshop the nurse said that the automatic CS for breech policy at Monash is changing, and they are starting to do more breech vaginal births again.

If anyone knows of any studies with statistics, other than the South American one, I'd love to read it!

[Trillian]

Kelly would probably have some more stats about that. If your ob is confident about you being sucessful despite all the info she has, I would still give it a good shot - I think you have a great support network in your Mum because she's BTDT with a breech baby of her own and knows that it can be done. But if baby is still high and can't engage because of the leg postitioning then that does bring in cord prolapse into the situation and that is a problem in itself. How far past dates is your ob willing to let you go? You might just need that little bit extra time to allow baby to turn too. Also, have you tried any acupuncture or Bowen Therapy to help baby to turn? Often babies can get 'stuck' because our stomach muscles are too tight so they tend to hold everything in better than someone on a subsequent pg. I really hope that bubs does turn around for you so you have a little less pressure and worry on your shoulders about it but I know that what ever you decide to do will be right for you.

[numa]

Thanks Trillion . I think my post was a bit confusing - my sister was the one who had breech bub - she was full frank - I saw her cute lil bum come out first!

I have been doing moxibustion with my acupuncturist and also myself in between, I also see a osteopath regularly and she said there is nothing structurally that is affecting bubs position, she said my pelvis is great (haha!). I try to remember to do inversions and keep meaning to go swimming....

Your comment about tummy mucles being tight made me think about the mind/body connection, which made me remember that maybe I need to let go more - I can be a bit 'tight' mentally and try to plan for everything rather than trust in the process...

xx

[Pretty Butterfly]

I'm not too sure where my stats came from, maybe from Kelly!!! But with good position and no cord prolapse, the risk is very minimal... less than surgery...

But if bub is in a good position, and I was lucky she was for a while, and the middie or Ob know what they are doing, there isn't much more risk than a normal VB.

An ultrasound showed cord well out of the way, and bubbas butt planted firmly in my pelvis, so pretty much perfect position.....

She turned at 36+ 2 I think.... The main "exercise" I done was laying upside down on a slope.. you can lie on an ironing board, but i just layed with my butt on the lounge, and head on the carpet for just a little while, a few times a day...

Also letting her "swing".... knees on lounge, and hands on floor,(like your about to crawl off the lounge) so your tummy is "free swinging'

I believe doing both of these helped her unstick her butt and start to turn, and she was pretty deeply planted!!!!

So good luck for turning her, or good luck on getting the birth you want hon!!!!

[numa]

Thanks Purplemamma . I tried your way of doing inversions and it was good - hard to stay for long - but will keep trying to do them for short periods.

Am trying to stay hopeful....