turning breech baby by external manipulation

[sakoon]

Has anyone had this done? i have an ultrasound on monday then have to decide to go ahead with turning the baby by external manipulation on tuesday. Im getting a bit stressed about this because of the thought of something going wrong. Just want to hear some experiences. Really would like to avoid a c section as i was hoping for a natural birth. this is my first baby.

[OceanPrincess]

Sakoon I don't have any experiences for you sorry but wanted to wish you all the best

[Chocaholic]

Not personally but my mother had external manipulation to move my sister into a better position when she was about 36 weeks pregnant. My sister did move and was born naturally 3 weeks later.

Mum said it was uncomfortable and boring but not overly painful. She also said she kept needing to go to the toilet (geez, like thats new to a pregnant lady!!).

Good luck.

[paradise lost]

My XSIL had it done with her #1. They did it at 36 weeks. All went fine, her baby was born 5 weeks later, vaginally.

Bx

[Tobily]

I had a lady last year who had this done at 37w - first baby. It worked and she had a natural birth.

[Me+him+bub]

my DF' was in the breech position and the OB attempted to turn him didnt work but he was still born vaginally with no pain relief, so it can be done!

[Olive]

you can also try things such as accupunture in order to gets bubs to turn! so if the manual turn is unsucessful, look at the alternatives!!
goodluck hun!!

[misty]

There are risks involved, but these can depend on a number of different things that you may or may not know until after the u/s. each persons situation is different. It depends on how much experience the doc, turning bubs has at doing that. How much monitering is going on to ensure everything is going right. Why you bubs may not have turned in the first place - which is the reason for the u/s (some bubs have short cords, or knotted cords or cords wrapped around necks - but this is determined by u/s before attempting to turn bubs).

Talk with you midwife and doc, ask what they would advise you to do, but make up your own mind, and don't feel pressured into trying to turn bubs if you don't want to - but if you want to and your midwife and doc agree, then by all means go for it.

Also ask what your options are if bubs doesn't turn. some hospitals will only do c/s if this is the case. others will allow you to make the decision between trying for a vaginal birth or a c/s.

[Salsa]

I choose not to do it with DS1. I knew someone who it had an unfortunate outcome for and this probably swayed me, but I also felt a strong sense not to do that in DS particular situation anyway (he was in an odd posistion so I think in hindsight it was right to leave him). I tried many other things to help him turn but he did not budge, so even more reason that I think it was right in his case not to.

As Misty said, check with your carers as there can be a number of things to consider whether its worth trying and I agree, do not feel pushed into doing it if your really not sure or comfortable about it, even if you want to avoid a ceaser.
I have heard stories of babies turning finally just before labour too all by themselves.

[sakoon]

thanks for the well wishes everyone. I had the ultrasound today and babys head is up and legs extended reaching the head and its butt is basically in my pelvis. So i have been told there is almost no chance that baby will turn on its own. I honestly feel like its been trying to turn but kinda stuck, been saying that to my husband, sounds a bit silly but i feel true.

Anyway i had a talk to the breech midwife and she explained everything very well. So will have the procedure tomorrow. A bit nervous but hoping that the baby turns. They said i have a lot of amniotic fluid which is a good sign as it will make turning it easier.

[misty]

I hope everything went well for you, and bubs was turned successfully.

[sakoon]

They tried to move the baby but were
unsuccessful as its bottom is sort of lodged in my pelvis. Went on a
ventolin drip for 1 hr to increase heart rate and expand uterus then
with monitoring on ultrasound, they first had to push its butt out
then turn the baby but they could not, it would not budge and they
pushed really hard.

Basically its head is up and its legs extended straight towards its
head.

Have a c section scheduled for 9th march, ill be 40+2 weeks pregnant

[Evie76]

Well, Sakoon.

At least they stopped before any real harm was done.

Imagine if the baby still turned???? Wouldn't that be weird? Just think.... at least you don't have someone's foot up in your lung - there's a positive for you!

[paradise lost]

Well, Sakoon.

At least they stopped before any real harm was done.

Imagine if the baby still turned???? Wouldn't that be weird? Just think.... at least you don't have someone's foot up in your lung - there's a positive for you!

Actually it sounds as if the feet AND the head are up in her lungs!

Sakoon if you still want to birth vaginally you should be aware that of all the breech variations, yours is the safest to birth vaginally - the circumference of the thighs/belly as the bum comes down is the same as or greater than that of the head - the main concern with breech births being that the head is the biggest bit and will become stuck, but with the frank breech (which you have) the hips do all the stretching necessary and the head is usually birthed without any problems.

I have a friend who had her #1 in Germany. Frank breech, vaginally born, no drugs except pitocin, no tears, total labour 5 hours. Her waters broke and she had to travel a long way to the hospital (2.5hours i think - her ob was a breech specialist but she'd never met him, baby wasn't due for 4 weeks but came out with postmaturity signs so they were obviously several weeks off with their dates!) when she arrived she felt ready to push but wasn't quite fully dilated. Dr. put her in a chair (one of the gynae chairs, not a standard one!) put her on pitocin and physically put his hand in and held the baby back to reduce the pushing urge for 40 minutes until she was fully dilated and very stretchy, then he let go and told her to push next time she felt like it. Baby slid out in one push.

If you're eager to birth vaginally it's worth talking to your Ob, and if he isn't comfy with breech births (they don't get as much practice as so many do sections all the time for breeches) there will be someone else who is at your hospital and you can ask to see them. Obviously if you're just as happy to have a section you should ignore me Best of luck either way!

Bx

[Evie76]

Yes. It is possible to give birth to a breech baby. My mother did twice. Both of my insolent brothers were breech.

I worry that C-sections seem to be the solution to everything. I'm probably completely wrong.

I can't imagine it would be easy to give birth to a breech, but mum said she didn't have any difficulty. I was the difficult one as I was the first and I had turned. May be worth discussing like Hoobley said.