Hi,

I'm only just seeing this now, sorry to not reply sooner!

Does your Ob think s/he can do an external version in your case? Sometimes bubs is so low in the pelvis it's very difficult to do but that's more common when bubs turns breech DURING labour. I think in the US the success rate for external version is 65%, with the other 35% staying breech. My SIL had a successful manual version in the UK at 35wks, before they began they did an ultrasound on her bump to locate the placenta, the cord, and bubs various limbs to get a good idea of where everything was and how safe it would be. She said it was uncomfortable but not painful, and she was relieved when it worked. They monitor you both before, during and after the version and if bubs shows distress they stop/put him/her back the way they were.

I would say yes, it's probably worth having a go. If you go to Spinning Babies website you'll find other tips on how to help a breech baby turn. It can be more difficult for a frank breech to turn as they have less leverage because of where their feet are, but it can happen. If i were you i'd talk to your ob, tell them you're keen to have a vaginal birth and discuss a plan of action for helping bubs turn. If you try and it doesn't work you'll know bubs has decided that bum first is how s/he MUST be born and can re-think from there. As an aside i do know one woman who's #1 was a frank breech born at 39weeks in Germany, vaginally, without even any tearing! She had to drive 250km in labour to an Ob who was able to deliver vaginally, but it could be your ob has just assumed you'd prefer a c-section, without really asking, kwim?

HTH

Bec