Natural breech birth?

[Persephone1]

transverse has to be a a csec. there is no physical way you can het a child out that way
breech is different.
please read this Breech Birth | Homebirth: Midwife Mutiny in South Australia
it will give you lots of information about breech
get on to the spinning babies www now get bub moving while it still can easily. see a chiro/physio accupunturist.. its best to get your body in to alignment so baby will simply go into the rigth position.

Thanks Oorki, I didn't realise transverse was actually worse than breech. This makes me a bit sad...vaginal delivery is what I've been aiming for during the entire pregnancy, so to realise that if he doesn't move very soon, my only option is c-section, is very hard. But I will try and move him over the next fortnight and hope for the best. If nothing else, I'll have to accept those things I cannot change!

I'll keep everyone updated.

ETA: Does anyone know where I can buy Moxa Sticks on a long weekend? I'm seeing the acupuncturist but not until next Thursday - I need those sticks now! According to Spinning Babies, doing moxibustion works best between 34 and 35 weeks - I'm on a deadline here!!!

[chocolatecatty]

Just googling moxa sticks and they say they should be readily available at your local Asian stores/supermarkets or acupuncture clinic...if you have any nearby? Apparantly they look like cigars so perhaps hide any spares so DH doesn't smoke any after the birth!!

[Olive]

wow cat not long!!!
so is your bubs breech?? have you thought about homebirth then?

[Visitor8]

if it was ME and it wasn't a footling breech, I would show up at the hospital in labour about to push the baby out Breech births were SO common and it's sad that now you have almost no choice

[Emma09]

Hi Ladies,
My baby was bum first breech, I was a public patient at a largish melbourne hospital.
They said there policy is not to "allow" first time mothers to vaginally deliver breech babies.
There was 1 ob at this hospital that told me if I happen to go into labour before my C section date, she would help me deliver vaginally.
She was absolutely lovely and tried to manually turn Zoe, the name of that procedure escapes me and was certainly not for the faint hearted!
If you were in Melbourne, you could possibly seek her out, PM me if you would like her name.
I ended up with the C section and not disappointed about my "choice".
I tried everything to get Zoe to turn, but she was happy with her bum stuck in my pelvis!

[chocolatecatty]

Nope, not breech. Just been thinking about all the scenarios for some reason! DH isn't keen on homebirth (I'd LOVE one but anyway), he's happy with the FBC. But if bubs was breech....I've always turned up at the hossy 10cm (not totally deliberately but I do like to stay away!) so I guess the same might happen and they'd let me birth. Who knows. I think Dr. Lee is at the Angliss but apparantly not doing breech anymore

It's such a shame though, as MM84 said. I just watched that link by Oorki Galoorki, saw a footlong breech....I hate that the birthing culture has become so fearful of breech when a lot of breech births can be handled safely with a bit of experience.

Persephone - some encouragement - my friend's bub was breech up to 38 weeks. They did those breech manouveres on her at the hossy and got bubs to flip, but about 2 minutes later he flipped right back to breech....so she was booked for a c but when she turned up at the hossy for it they found he'd flipped again on the sly, so she ended up with a VB.

[chocolatecatty]

Just asked the FBC at the Angliss and they said Dr Lee still assists breech births. I asked what his 'rules' were (episiotomy, upright, stirrups) and the midwife said he'd try to get you on the bed (so I imagine stirrups?) but she'd assisted him with many upright births too, so you'd just have to push what you want!

She also said you had to nag him for a breech delivery opposed to a ceaser - but as long as he knew you were serious about it then it would be fine.

So that's encouraging.

[Persephone1]

How ironic that when I posted the OP, I didn't really think that Bub would stay breech. And here I am, over 35 weeks, and he's breech. I had a scan 4 days ago which showed that he's "footling" breech, only technically it's too early to call him "footling" because he's not engaged in the pelvis.

The hospital response was to book me in for an ECV, which will happen (if I agree) in 4 days. There was no discussion about whether I wanted an ECV, or any time to answer my questions about it - it was just assumed that this is what I wanted (the "assumed acquiescence" is incredible). I've kept the appointment but am still undecided as to whether I'll go.

Since then, I've seen my acupuncturist, and an osteopath, and we're doing moxibustion at home, but so far no luck in turning him.

Discussions with my Doula and others have given me lots to think about. I can try and find an Ob who might support me for a vaginal breech birth, and Lionel Vaginal's name gets mentioned all the time as a possibility. Apparently there are some Obs at Box Hill Hospital who are supportive of vaginal breech births as well. I don't know if "footling" will make them reluctant to help. I have to consider whether changing hospitals at this stage is best for me and Bub. I actually don't know if anyone at the Mercy (in H'Berg) would support me for a VB - will have to ask.

The other thing is...it seems to me that an ECV is recommended at this stage (36 weeks) because after that it becomes more difficult to move the baby. But that doesn't mean Bub won't move on his own after 36 weeks - I know of women who have turned up at the hospital at 40 weeks and Bub has moved within the last 48 hours. So perhaps there's some hope in that as well.

I am trying to be "okay" with any outcome, but becoming "okay" with it all is quite consuming, and I'm worried about it affecting my anxiety levels and destroying the enjoyment of the last weeks of pregnancy. I swing between "what will be, will be" and "I'm going to do everything I can to get a VB, whether it's breech or not." I would like to be focussing my attention on relaxing, resting, and looking forward to meeting my little man. If someone has a crystal ball I can use, let me know.

Thanks for all your support ladies, and for answering my questions,
Seph

[Amity]

Hugs whatever you decide! It's a difficult decision.

Thinking of you.

[*Infinity*]

More hugs to you Seph, its a difficult spot to be in but I guess it gives you somewhat more of a chance to prepare for lots of different scenarios.

I just wanted to say though that you & bubs still have a good few weeks left for the little one to turn and engage head down. The majority of babies do - so trust in that if you can.

The other option if you haven't considered it already would be birthing at home with an Independent Midwife - many of them are still happy to support breech vaginal birth - I guess its whether you're comfortable with that and changing your care at the last moment.

Good luck xx

[Alan]

Hi Steph
One of the main reasons for not doing an ECV before 36 weeks is that this can start labour and obviously we don’t really want that to happen too early