Jenny Dowd was the on call consultant with Ds1. She's lovely and works privately out of Freemasons. Whilst she gave me a local in case of episiotomy, I didn't need one and only had a small tear. Didn't need stitches.
The other OBs I'd consider for breech would be Lionel Steinberg at St Vincent's or Danielle Wilkins at Jessie McPherson (Monash). Both of them are comfortable working with private IMs. I'd ask your IM for a suggestion as well.
For a breech birth, I would also choose to birth in hospital, despite the restrictions. That's just me.
I would highly reccommend, if you've got the money, to take your Midwife into the hospital with you. There may be a few small issues with that depending on if she has visiting rights etc, but these issues would be minute compared to birthing with health care providers who you arent familiar with and who are familiar with what you want.
Are you planning on birthing with the baby breech if the babe does not turn?
My outlook is that you still have 6-8 weeks left for the babe to turn. I'd say continue to plan for a homebirth at this point but do educate yourself on OB's willing to support a breech vaginal birth - If this is what you want ofcourse. Obviously you are in contact with a hospital if you're booked into have an ECV however don't let them railroad you into a c/s if thats not what you want. It really saddens me that women are rarely given an option to birth vaginally with a breech.
Remember, 6-8 weeks is plenty of time and many babies have turned right up to the point of labour. Keep faith in yourself and your babe and never forget what is important to you and your family.
My IM will definitely be with me regardless of the place/mode of birth which is great. I have a back up booking for my homebirth at the Mercy, where my IM actually used to work, however they are fairly conservative when it comes to breech and if I went into labour, and went to the Mercy, it would depend on who was on shift and whether or not they were qualified/confident to support me, otherwise I would be going straight to theatre for an "emergency" c/s. Doesn't sound too promising and knowing now what labour is all about, I don't feel great about being in that situation and then going into a c/s unprepared and/or the chance of having someone not skilled to help me in that moment.
This is why I am now looking into an Ob who has an interest in supporting a vaginal delivery just to get more information so I know what all my options are and can then make a decision - or feel like I have choices ahead of me, instead of the two extremes of a homebirth or a c/s.. I can't get my head around it. I also have a GP obstetrician who I have been seeing through this pregnancy who will attend my homebirth however he doesn't work in hospitals so if baby remains breech I would need to find someone else or book an elective c/s. I am getting the ECV done at Box Hill as this is where he has connections and I would prefer to get it done by someone my support team knows and recommends.
So much to think about! I guess now that I am 35 weeks I am just trying to be mentally prepared and educated for any situation so that no matter what happens I have been able to make an informed choice (or at least feel like some part of what happens is our decision, not something I have been forced into), and if necessary, make the best out of a situation that is far from my ideal and my hopes for this birth. "Letting go" is what I am trying to do, while being educated and informed at the same time... what a headache.
Come on baby! All it takes is a tiny weeny somersault, right?
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